This document is the text of a Congressional hearing on the plight of missing children. Chairman Paula Hawkins' opening remarks discuss the provisions of the Missing Children Act of 1982 and its success, the Missing Children's Assistance Act of 1984 authorizing the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the continuing need to…

Administered Adolescent Life Change Event Scale to 55 adolescents on probation or in detention for offenses. Results suggest that these adolescents are more stressed than nondelinquent adolescents in prior study (Yeaworth, 1980). Results suggest no relationship between total amount of stress experienced and total offenses committed. (Author/NRB)

This paper discusses several factors that contribute to running away, characteristics of runaways, and approaches to dealing with runaway youth. The decision of a youth to run away is usually the climax of several smaller events that have built over time and contribute to the youth's feeling out-of-control at home, in school, and in society. Peers…

This study examined the associations between lifetime mental disorder, comorbidity, and self-reported postrunaway arrests among 428 (187 males, 241 females) homeless and runaway youth. The analysis examined the pattern of arrests across five lifetime mental disorders (alcohol abuse, drug abuse, conduct disorder, major depressive episode, and…

This paper evaluates current knowledge about the prevalence, dynamics, and short- and long-term effects of sexual exploitation among missing children. It is based upon empirical research findings from books, papers presented at professional meetings, doctoral dissertations, works in progress, and more than 75 articles in professional journals.…

Data collected from 149 runaways (15-20 years old) revealed that 38% of the males and 73% of the females reported having been sexually abused. Sexually abused females were significantly more likely than nonabused females to engage in delinquent/criminal activities. (CL)

Explored relationship between sexual abuse and adolescent prostitution by comparing 70 sexually abused children with 35 prostitution-involved children on 22 variables. Findings suggest that relationship is not direct, but involves runaway behavior as intervening variable. Concludes that it is not so much sexual abuse that leads to prostitution, as…

Shelter staff from 8 states completed Client Information Records on 2,019 runaways. Found significant differences in problems reported by physically abused and sexually abused runaways when compared to nonabused runaway peers. Runaways who were both physically and sexually maltreated were significantly more vulnerable and much worse off than those…

This research examined outcomes and use of specific types of services 6 weeks, 3 and 6 months post-discharge for a large sample of runaway/homeless youth using crisis shelter services. Data were collected for 371 runaway/homeless youth using emergency shelter and crisis services at eleven agencies across a four-state midwestern region. Outcomes…

What has in the past been called the missing children problem is in reality a set of at least five distinct problems, each of which needs to be researched, analyzed, and treated separately. The problems are family abductions, nonfamily abductions, runaways, thrownaways, and lost, injured, or otherwise missing children. Many of the children in at…

This report describes the activities of the Administration for Children, Youth and Families in the Department of Health and Human Services, and the status and accomplishments of runaway and homeless youth centers funded during fiscal year 1984 under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act. The report also examines the status, operations, and…

This report provides the text of and materials related to the Missing Children's Assistance Act of 1983 (S.2014), a bill reauthorizing and amending: (1) the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 to provide for assistance in locating missing children; and (2) the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act. Sections of the bill focus on…

This document gives the changes in existing law made by a bill, S.1174, to amend the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, as well as the accompanying Senate report on the bill. The purpose of the bill is to make grants to the states representing up to one-half of the cost of establishing or expanding and operating a missing…

Views the designation of "runaway" as a social process, with the concept of "career" being central to this effort by allowing for an identification of where in overall process young persons see themselves. Becoming a runaway is conceived as process of action and reaction, as the end product of a person's actions, reason, and symbols. (Author/NB)

Discusses the problem of youth who run away from home because they are abused or neglected and the role of alternative youth services in dealing with these adolescents. (SS)