Well, these are all setup questions because, of course, the answers are inwards today's episode of the Social Work Podcast. Maureen Blaha, the Executive Director, talks nearly the National Runaway Switchboard which was established inwards 1971 in addition to serves every bit the federally-designated national communication scheme for homeless in addition to runaway youth. Recognized every bit the oldest hotline of its form inwards the world, NRS amongst the back upward of to a greater extent than than 150 volunteers handles an average of 100,000 calls annually. NRS provides crisis intervention, referrals to local resources in addition to didactics in addition to prevention services to youth, families in addition to community members throughout the province 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Over 13,000 youth direct keep been reunited amongst their families through the NRS dwelling solid gratis computer programme done inwards collaboration amongst Greyhound Lines, Inc. The NRS Crisis Hotline is 1-800-RUNAWAY in addition to for to a greater extent than information, yous tin privy see their website at http://www.1800runaway.org.
In today's interview, Maureen in addition to I talked a footling flake nearly what's dissimilar for kids who are runaways in addition to homeless today than inwards 1971 when the Switchboard was established. We likewise talked nearly why the cease of the schoolhouse twelvemonth is an at direct a chance fourth dimension for teens inwards crisis in addition to utter nearly some signs the parents tin privy aspect for, what things parents, teachers in addition to adults tin privy practise to address this number of teens inwards crisis. She talks a footling flake nearly the operate of social media including a novel alive chat service that has been implemented on the website in addition to how that's a way to connect amongst teens who maybe don't experience comfortable calling but who experience real comfortable chatting. And finally, nosotros talked a footling flake nearly how they got Chris "Ludacris" Bridges involved to practise their most recent world service announcement.
Download MP3 [30:00]Bio
Maureen Blaha is the executive manager of the National Runaway Switchboard (NRS), a seat she has held since Nov 2000. Blaha foremost demonstrated a potent commitment to youth in addition to solid unit of measurement issues every bit manager of the statewide kid abuse computer programme for the Children’s Home in addition to Aid Society of Illinois. Prior to that, she served every bit the legislative liaison for the Massachusetts Office for Children, a kid advocacy in addition to regulatory agency. Blaha is a co-creator of the Blue Bow Campaign for Child Abuse Prevention (Illinois) in addition to the Great American Wagon Pull: Families Pulling Together to Prevent Child Abuse, in addition to is a founding fellow member of the National Family Support Roundtable
Transcript
Jonathan Singer: Maureen, cheers thence much for joining us on the Social Work Podcast. You know, the National Runaway Switchboard was established inwards 1971 in addition to I know that it was a real dissimilar era, yous know, time. Nixon was president. We were yet inwards Vietnam. The Beatles had simply broken upward in addition to I was wondering if yous could furnish a footling historical context, yous know, actually what was dissimilar for runaway youth inwards 1971 than today.
Maureen Blaha: In 1971, the National Runaway Switchboard was actually founded inwards Chicago every bit a local hotline in addition to it was inwards response to a grouping of providers who worked amongst at direct a chance youth in addition to some of those who ran from dwelling solid in addition to it was actually the thought that if at that topographic point was an chance for kids to attain out to ane telephone number, ane seat that that would live a skillful affair to furnish some crisis intervention in addition to acquire these teens into the kinds of services that could live helpful. Then nosotros trammel ahead 3 years to 1974 when Congress passed the Runaway in addition to Homeless Youth Act in addition to that was actually an acknowledgement that kids that run from dwelling solid were non bad kids but that was actually frequently a vociferation for assist in addition to these were non kids that should live involved inwards the juvenile jurist system.
And thence this whole myriad of services to serve this runaway in addition to homeless youth population was developed including an chance for a national hotline in addition to MetroHelp at that fourth dimension applied for in addition to got the grant in addition to at that topographic point thousands in addition to thousands of calls that came inwards in that airplane pilot menses in addition to thence it was decided that this was a skillful affair to direct keep this national communication system. Now, when I aspect dorsum at the statistics from every bit far dorsum every bit nosotros direct keep them, the reality is that it hasn’t the rationale, the reasons that kids are running haven't changed that dramatically. The number ane argue that teens telephone scream upward the National Runaway Switchboard is because of solid unit of measurement dynamics in addition to that has non changed through the years.
Jonathan Singer: When yous say solid unit of measurement dynamics, what's an example?
Maureen Blaha: One instance is that there's a lot of fighting that’s going on inwards the dwelling solid in addition to the adolescent is feeling, yous know, simply stressed past times that. There may cease upward existence a divorce that ane time to a greater extent than the teen is feeling similar well, maybe I had something to practise amongst it. If I left the situation, maybe things would acquire amend or at that topographic point may live a novel parent, stepparent inwards the mix and, again, when yous think nearly adolescence in addition to all of the changes that they're going through, they're form of wondering how practise they stand upward for into this novel solid unit of measurement construction but the other reality is that inwards some places it's abuse that’s going on inwards the dwelling solid in addition to these kids are running. They don’t desire to live subjected to that anymore or kids are existence thrown out of their homes in addition to frequently that tin privy relate dorsum to their sexual identity.
Jonathan Singer: So, for example, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender youth who are – the parents say I don’t concur amongst this. I don’t believe you. Get out.
Maureen Blaha: Exactly.
Jonathan Singer: You know, you’ve mentioned a yoke of dissimilar ideas that I think are actually interesting. You’ve talked nearly runaway youth, youth who are homeless in addition to and thence youth who are thrown out in addition to I’m wondering are those the same kids? Are these the same ideas that are used interchangeably or is a runaway kid dissimilar than a homeless kid, dissimilar than a throwaway kid?
Maureen Blaha: Well, let's start amongst the throwaway. That actually is a kid that the bring upward is maxim you're no longer welcome here. So fifty-fifty if the National Runaway Switchboard’s finish is to reunite families, nosotros sure as shooting recognize that going dwelling solid is non ever an option. So, inwards fact, when nosotros aspect at our statistics, at that topographic point are statistics that where kids when they telephone scream upward volition seat every bit existence a throwaway. The runaway youth are, yous know, those that accept the pace to run from home, ane time they're away from dwelling solid well, they're homeless. You know, they are – it's non the same scenario every bit a homeless solid unit of measurement that because of economic science direct keep lost their dwelling solid in addition to it's a whole solid unit of measurement looking for shelter, this is on the street mayhap in addition to needing condom shelter.
Jonathan Singer: That’s actually helpful. Thank yous for making those distinctions because they practise good similar at that topographic point are some differences but the basic thought is that yous direct keep kid who is no longer inwards the dwelling solid for diverse reasons.
Maureen Blaha: Yes.
Jonathan Singer: One affair that I thought was actually interesting from your website was that yous say that the cease of the schoolhouse twelvemonth significantly increases the direct a chance for runaway, same amongst the kickoff of the schoolhouse year. Why is that?
Maureen Blaha: Well, nosotros believe that this is when at that topographic point is a modify inwards routine that that tin privy crusade stress for a lot of adolescents. Let's utter nearly this fourth dimension of twelvemonth which is the cease of the schoolhouse year. It may live that things aren't going thence good at dwelling solid in addition to hither is this, yous know, prospect of 2 in addition to one-half to 3 months of existence dwelling solid in addition to that’s non feeling quite correct for this adolescent or at that topographic point could live an expectation that this youth would direct keep gotten a labor either past times pressure level from the parents or pressure level themselves, they're non – that they can't brand that work. Jobs are tough these days to uncovering for youth inwards detail in addition to thence because their coping machinery is yet aren't every bit fine tuned every bit adults, they frequently experience that, yous know, taking off is a amend selection in addition to when they're nether stress that’s what happens in addition to at that topographic point is stress that is caused past times changes inwards routines. Again, inwards this instance sort of the cease of the schoolhouse year.
Jonathan Singer: Now, practise yous likewise uncovering that there's simply a weather condition effect, yous know, because it's warmer in addition to it's easier to non live inwards the dwelling solid because it's non freezing mutual frigidity in addition to you're non worried about, yous know, getting frost seize amongst teeth that kids are to a greater extent than probable to simply leave of absence in addition to rest out in addition to that’s why they're no longer inwards the home?
Maureen Blaha: Well, I practise believe that that could direct keep something to practise amongst it. I don’t know that there's been a lot of enquiry on that. You know, ane of the things is that of class we're national so, yous know, nosotros acquire calls all twelvemonth long from fifty-fifty warm climates every bit well. What I think is truthful nearly climate though is that some of the survival techniques may live different.
Jonathan Singer: Could yous utter a footling flake nearly that?
Maureen Blaha: So, for example, if at that topographic point is a teen that’s run from dwelling solid inwards Chicago inwards the winter, it's non going to accept him real long earlier he realizes that he can't hold upward on the streets. If you're talking nearly a teen inwards say Miami, Florida, yous know, at that topographic point may live parks that they could alive in. I know that inwards Oregon at that topographic point are, yous know, places that teens practise congregate where they're camping ground out in addition to that mightiness live of class inwards weather condition that permits. So, yous know, I think that that volition play a business office but what is absolutely truthful is that for kids that run from home, they cease upward on the street that is non a condom surroundings for America’s youth. In fact, initially they acquire real vulnerable to live victims of law-breaking in addition to the longer they're on the streets they'll practise simply nearly anything to survive.
Jonathan Singer: And it sounds similar the National Runaway Switchboard has developed some novel applied scientific discipline to connect amongst these kids. There's a alive chat service that yous have. Could yous utter nearly what that is in addition to how yous decided to launch it?
Maureen Blaha: Absolutely. We are constantly – yous know, ane of the things that yous would enquire me at the kickoff of the interview is what's actually changed inwards the runaway population in addition to although their reasons for running may non change, the way that they are seeking assist may direct keep changed in addition to thence amongst the proliferation of social media in addition to technology, the National Runaway Switchboard wants to live every bit relevant every bit possible. So, to that cease nosotros are doing much to a greater extent than at nowadays amongst social media in addition to and thence simply of late had an chance to ready this alive chat which is actually our instant messaging thence that it is yet some other way for kids inwards a hard province of affairs to connect amongst a trusting adult who is at that topographic point to help. We likewise believe that for some youth, picking upward the telephone maybe somewhat intimidating, yous know, they’ve got to part their story, form of utter nearly why they're calling where it may experience a footling less intimidating to practise an instant message.
Jonathan Singer: Yeah in addition to I tin privy reckon because, yous know, kids these days are used to texting. They're used to IMing. That’s how they communicate. Kids don’t telephone scream upward anymore. You know, there's this misconception that when yous give a kid a cellphone, they're going to operate it every bit a telephone in addition to inwards fact it's an cyberspace device amongst a keypad. It absolutely meets the kids where they are inwards price of their operate of technology. So, a kid leaves home, at what dot would they telephone scream upward the Runaway Hotline?
Maureen Blaha: That’s corking enquiry Jonathan in addition to our historical information betoken that most of the youth that telephone scream upward the National Runaway Switchboard, our niche seems to live those kids that are away from dwelling solid inside the foremost ane to 3 days. Now, that’s non to say that nosotros don’t likewise acquire calls from kids that direct keep been away from dwelling solid for a long fourth dimension but it seems that most of our callers based on our information telephone scream upward inside the foremost ane to 3 days. And ane of the things I practise desire to utter a footling flake nearly is nosotros had gotten funding to practise this real amazing enquiry that isn't – there's non a lot of enquiry done on this population thence nosotros were real excited nearly it in addition to this enquiry included human face upward to human face upward interviews amongst teens that were inwards shelters in addition to on the streets in addition to ane of the things that nosotros did utter nearly is, yous know, what mightiness live the barriers to scream for for assist but how would yous desire to help, enquire for assist in addition to the high bulk of those that responded to that said that when they actually wanted how they did desire to direct keep a conversation either human face upward to human face upward or over the telephone amongst a trusting adult. So, fifty-fifty though they communicate quite extensively using social media in addition to other technology, when they are inwards a hard situation, the bulk say that they desire to utter to a trusting person.
Jonathan Singer: That’s actually encouraging because I would imagine it would live – it volition live actually hard to part the subtleties of what your experience is similar 48 hours later on leaving dwelling solid 160 characters at a fourth dimension or inwards a chat box.
Maureen Blaha: Right in addition to for us at the National Runaway Switchboard, yous know, nosotros – non that nosotros can't come upward across every bit non-judgmental in addition to supportive inwards our alive chat but, yous know, the tone of vocalisation and, yous know, we're hither to assist and, yous know, sometimes what nosotros uncovering amongst our callers is they mightiness non say anything for a while. They're form of simply on the telephone scream upward in addition to nosotros tin privy live patient in addition to say we're hither to listen, accept your time. You know, yous lose that when it is through the other agency of connecting.
Jonathan Singer: Right because if you're on chat in addition to yous don’t respond for 3 seconds in addition to thence somebody thinks that you're gone.
Maureen Blaha: Exactly.
Jonathan Singer: Absolutely. So, beside alive chat, how else tin privy runaways’ friends in addition to families attain out to the National Runaway Switchboard for help?
Maureen Blaha: Well, the alive chat – likewise our website which is where the alive chat of class is housed but there's lots of opportunities on our website that include crisis electronic mail thence a youth could ship us an electronic mail in addition to we'll respond. We direct keep a bulletin board where an anonymous posting tin privy decease upward in addition to nosotros tin privy respond in addition to other teens across the province tin privy respond. We direct keep a corking youth-centric department of our website which is an ezine where at that topographic point are articles that are relevant to teens today in addition to there's blogging on there. So, it's an chance for youth to connect every bit well. And in addition to thence our website has lots in addition to lots of information, tips for parents, tips for educators, a corking department for the media. So, there's a wealth of information there.
Jonathan Singer: Now, if I were a bring upward – allow me say this a dissimilar way. When I was preparing for this interview, I thought nearly the Beatles vocal She’s Leaving Home…
Maureen Blaha: Mm-hmm.
Jonathan Singer: … which has that great, yous know, picture of the daughter she writes depository fiscal establishment complaint hoping to explicate things to her parents. She leaves. The mom finds the note. She’s totally shocked, has no thought this was happening. She breaks downward in addition to cries in addition to and thence she says how could yous practise this to me basically. Are parents normally surprised that their kid runs away? Like would they plough to the National Runaway Switchboard website because they were shocked that their kid ran away or practise parents come upward to the site because they're afraid that their kid mightiness live taking off in addition to thence they're looking for, yous know, signs or signals to allow them know what's going on?
Maureen Blaha: Well, I think that both of those things. I likewise think that parents attain out to us belike to a greater extent than frequently past times calling than going to the website but they attain out when their kid has run from dwelling solid in addition to they are, yous know, facing every parents’ worst nightmare, what practise I practise now. So, nosotros utter amongst parents nearly the province of affairs in addition to some of them are surprised. Some of them ane time nosotros probe a footling to a greater extent than form of get down to admit that maybe at that topographic point were some alert signs that they missed but nosotros encourage them to file a missing children’s – missing person’s study for instance at nowadays because amongst children at that topographic point is no waiting menses in addition to and thence nosotros tin privy link them amongst resources that assist to locate children. That’s non our labor but nosotros practise direct keep resources.
So, the ane affair that nosotros direct keep for parents likewise is that they tin privy telephone scream upward in addition to leave of absence a message for their kid that has run in addition to nosotros encourage the bring upward to telephone scream upward all of their child’s friends to say at that topographic point is a message waiting in addition to nosotros volition practise that message relay dorsum in addition to forth for a piece in addition to and thence ultimately offering to practise a mediated conference telephone scream upward to get down that straight communication betwixt the bring upward in addition to the child.
Jonathan Singer: Well, that sounds similar an incredibly valuable service. What a corking idea. You know, that enquiry makes me think of the folks who heed to the Social Work Podcast, typically social workers in addition to other helping professionals, how would helping professionals operate this resource? How tin privy they most effectively operate the resources that are on the website in addition to operate the telephone number? What would yous similar to reckon social workers practise amongst this information?
Maureen Blaha: Well, ane of the things that nosotros desire is to brand sure that all social workers are aware of this service. We know that lots of them are in addition to that it's a resources that they tin privy part amongst the people that they piece of work with, yous know, both teens in addition to adults every bit good in addition to that nosotros would encourage social workers to see the website to reckon nearly recent, yous know, trends in addition to enquiry that we've done every bit good every bit tips for people working amongst kids. We likewise direct keep the runaway prevention curriculum in addition to if their social worker is inwards a schoolhouse setting to maybe think nearly if they or ane of their colleagues could implement the curriculum that has fourteen modules that tin privy live used separately or together that actually touching on all issues that kids are dealing amongst from anger administration to runaway reality to cyberspace security in addition to thence that’s something that is gratis of accuse available on our website or they could telephone scream upward in addition to nosotros would ship them a disk amongst that information.
Jonathan Singer: Wow, okay, that’s great. That’s great. Now, yous direct keep this world service announcement, this PSA amongst Chris “Ludacris” Bridges in addition to I was wondering how did yous connect amongst Ludacris to practise this PSA?
Maureen Blaha: Well, yous know, that’s a corking enquiry in addition to he has acquire quite a passionate speaker in addition to real engaged inwards this number in addition to it all started dorsum inwards 2006 when he released his vocal called Runaway Love that yous may or may non remember. It was a Grammy winning vocal in addition to the Runaway Love vocal in addition to and thence the video actually was depicting issues that youth human face upward that ultimately could outcome inwards a runaway episode in addition to coincidentally he actually sought us out. He was looking for an organization to connect amongst that he felt was, yous know, a skillful ane to partner in addition to thence nosotros connected amongst him in addition to the Ludacris Foundation (http://www.theludacrisfoundation.org/) in addition to he has been involved amongst our organization ever since in addition to similar I said a passionate spokesperson nearly this issue. He is featured inwards our novel world service proclamation that nosotros direct keep both running on tv in addition to radio in addition to it's actually because he wants kids to know that they are non lonely in addition to that at that topographic point is a seat that they tin privy plough to for help, the National Runaway Switchboard.
Jonathan Singer: That’s great. It sounds similar the National Runaway Switchboard is doing simply amazing materials inwards price of connecting parents in addition to kids, providing resources for kids, resources for service providers in addition to getting celebrities involved which inwards this solar daytime in addition to historic menses if yous don’t direct keep a celebrity similar you're simply non on the radar. So, I think that’s fantastic.
Maureen Blaha: You know, Jonathan, I direct keep to tell yous that nosotros typically handgrip over 100,000 calls a year. At the peak when Runaway Love was existence played all over the seat in addition to the video was existence played all over the place, that twelvemonth nosotros handled 176,000 calls. So, the touching that a celebrity has is beyond fifty-fifty what nosotros had ever imagined.
Jonathan Singer: Wow, that’s amazing in addition to I suspect that agency that kids weren’t running away because of the vocal but rather kids who had run away were reaching out, we're maxim hey, I’m out hither thence tin privy I direct keep some help.
Maureen Blaha: Exactly, because that’s somebody that, yous know, kids relate to in addition to he was sort of hip inwards saying, yous know, there's assist in addition to you're non lonely in addition to thence it was non simply the kids that ran away but kids that were struggling amongst some form of province of affairs in addition to thought yous know what if he says this is a skillful seat to call, I approximate it is.
Jonathan Singer: Just ane in conclusion enquiry earlier nosotros decease in addition to I appreciate your time. I know you're real busy. You're doing a whole string of interviews today. Do yous direct keep whatsoever tips or advice for ways that service providers, parents, teachers, adults or anyone else who is involved amongst youth tin privy combat the runaway crisis inwards the United States?
Maureen Blaha: Well, ane of the things is that I think it's incumbent upon all of us to empathise the depth of this work in addition to ane time to a greater extent than to non accept it lightly if a kid of yours or a teen that providers are working for talks nearly wanting to plea or wanting to run. What nosotros direct keep learned is that that needs to live taken real seriously, that frequently it is ane time to a greater extent than a alert sign to parents in addition to others every bit good in addition to that, yous know, sit down downward in addition to utter amongst that child, uncovering out what's going on, telephone scream upward the National Runaway Switchboard or resources. We direct keep 13,000 resources inwards our database that touching on a myriad of issues that children may live dealing with.
Jonathan Singer: That’s fantastic. I know that when I piece of work amongst kids in addition to they say that that they're going to leave of absence the home, I ever say, yous know, at that topographic point are 2 ways to leave. You tin privy either forcefulness out bridges or yous tin privy brand a graceful leave of absence in addition to if yous actually got to go, let's brand a programme amongst your solid unit of measurement thence that at to the lowest degree yous tin privy come upward dorsum and…
Maureen Blaha: That’s actually – that’s wisdom – that’s terrific. I know ane of our parents – nosotros had reunited a solid unit of measurement in addition to the woman bring upward called us to give cheers us. We don’t ever hear dorsum from people in addition to that’s okay, that’s form of nosotros know our labor is crisis intervention but this detail woman bring upward called dorsum in addition to she said I am telling all of my friends in addition to my kids’ friends to seat 1-800-RUNAWAY on their gym shoes inwards instance they run in addition to thence at to the lowest degree they know a condom seat to call.
Jonathan Singer: That’s beautiful. I can't imagine a amend ending to the interview than that. Maureen, give cheers yous thence much for taking the fourth dimension in addition to talking amongst us today nearly the National Runaway Switchboard.
Maureen Blaha: Well, give cheers yous Jonathan. You were real thoughtful inwards your questions in addition to I actually – I direct keep to say I was thence intrigued when yous talked nearly what the reality was inwards 1971. I don’t think I ever thought of it inwards those price of, yous know, the Beatles breaking upward in addition to Nixon was president thence yous form of got me thinking. Thank you.
Jonathan Singer: Well, that’s great. Well, yous know, when I saw the name, I ever thought of it every bit the National Runaway Hotline…
Maureen Blaha: Mm-hmm.
Jonathan Singer: … in addition to inwards fact I titled my crib sheets National Runaway Hotline but in addition to thence when I was reading the information, I saw that it was the Switchboard…
Maureen Blaha: Mm-hmm.
Jonathan Singer: … in addition to I thought wow, Switchboard, that’s a give-and-take yous don’t hear real frequently these days.
Maureen Blaha: That’s true.
Jonathan Singer: And this picture of, yous know, the switchboard operators similar maxim ane moment, delight hold.
Maureen Blaha: I know. I know.
Jonathan Singer: So, it simply – it was similar this was a dissimilar fourth dimension in addition to era, yous know. Well, thence anyway Maureen, give cheers yous thence much. I actually appreciate yous taking the fourth dimension in addition to talking amongst us today.
Maureen Blaha: Thank yous Jonathan. Take care.
--END--
Resources
- National Runaway Switchboard: http://www.1800runaway.org/default.html
- Hotline: 1-800-786-2929
- Let’s Talk: Runaway Prevention Curriculum: http://www.1800runaway.org/educators/prevent_kit.html
- Agencies in addition to Social Services: http://www.1800runaway.org/helpful_links/agencies.html
- Staller, K (2006). Runaways: How The Sixties Counterculture Shaped Today's Practices And Policies. New York: Columbia University Press.
- Interview amongst Karen Staller nearly the 1960's counterculture in addition to runaway youth: http://cup.columbia.edu/static/Interview-Staller-Karen
- Ludacris: Runaway Love http://grooveshark.com/s/Runaway+Love/2tCLDV?src=5
- The Beatles: She's Leaving Home http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/She's_Leaving_Home
APA (6th ed) citation for this podcast:
Singer, J. B. (Producer). (2011, May 19). #67 - National Runaway Switchboard: Interview amongst Maureen Blaha [Episode 67]. Social Work Podcast [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from /search?q=national-runaway-switchboard-interview
Buat lebih berguna, kongsi:
