As many as 2.8 million children run away* from home each year. CINS/FINS Residential services offer short-term, residential shelters for runaways and troubled youth, as well as individual and family counseling. Our goal is to protect and house teens in crisis. The goal of shelters for runaway youth and children is to help reunite families, identify issues, and help resolve them. We also want to help young people remain out of the juvenile justice system through our prevention and intervention activities.   

LSF has an approximately 98% success rate of youth returning home to their families to rebuild their lives, following their stay at our shelters. LSF shelters are managed and run by staff trained to understand, work with, and advocate for teens in trouble. Youth often face challenging times that require guidance, that is why our team of Master’s-educated professionals and highly trained staff provide a full range of services for troubled youth, ages 10-17, including: 

What does the process look like?  

• Screening and Assignments: We begin by asking you a series of questions to help us gather information about the challenges the young person is facing 
• Referrals: Trained professionals evaluate your concerns and will supply referrals to a suitable provider if necessary. 
• Temporary Shelter: LSF offers temporary shelter and a safe place to stay until permanent arrangements can be made.   
• Counseling (Link to CINS/FINS page): Counseling can help a young person with the tools to manage life’s toughest challenges. Master’s level and Licensed Therapists can work as intermediaries to help the family understand why the young person decided to run away, work out an agreement outlining the conditions they need to follow once they return home, and discuss alternative living situations for you while problems are solved. 
• Case Management: beyond housing and counseling there may still be a need to coordinate referrals to other services as needed, like mental health services, primary care, community activities, mentoring programs, etc.
• Aftercare/Follow-Up for 60 days: After family reunification is achieved, we check back in to ensure things are going smoothly and ensure everyone is safe.  

I know a child who wants to run away from home, should I just contact the parents or guardians?

I want to run away from home, now what? 

Life on the street can be dangerous and put you at risk for some serious harm. Life at home may be really difficult right now but you may want to continue going to school, and continue living your life as best you can. You don’t have to do it alone. At an LSF Youth Shelter we offer more than a warm meal and a place to sleep at night, we can help you find solutions to the issues you are facing at home. LSF offers shelter, food and help. Here is how we can help you:  

• Identify the problems causing you to run 
• Be an intermediary to help the adults in your life understand why you ran away 
• Work out an agreement outlining the conditions you needs to follow once returning home 
• Discuss alternative living situations for you while problems get worked out 
• Provide referrals to family therapists in your area 

• Offer direction to a variety of resources to assist you with your problems 
• Determine the next steps to deal with the problems you are running away from 
• A free way to get home may be available if you want to return 

Where are these services provided?