Child Elopement From Foster Care and Residential Settings

Open Access

Abstract

Legal notes ; The article discusses the issue on child or youth elopement from foster homes in the U.S. It reports that between 1.6 million and 2.8 million youth run away from foster homes with abuse and neglect as the primary reasons for elopement. It cites that government policy and federal laws on the care of foster youths are strictly implemented and that responsibility rests on the caregiver. Also discussed are examples of preventive measures for youth run aways from residential and foster homes.