I have a question, a friend of mine, her 15 year daughter has runaway from home. As I thankfully have never been through this nor anyone close to me, I would like to know what happens when they kid is found or returns home in regards to the Department of Children and Families??? Does the parent face any charges? Any investigation?

Only if turned into that department.

Usually the police handle this stuff.

Hope they find the child.

I am so very sorry for your friend.

I do not have any answers to your questions though.

It really depends, but most of the time they are sent to a children's home for observation for awhile.... but it depends on the county and their stance on it.

Usually the police turn the child over to the local "DH" or detention hall, where they face charges of being a wayward child. Sometimes Children's Services does an investigation, sometimes the police bring your child home... it really just depends. But the parents are not usually held to blame, as long as they reported the child as missing.

Good luck to your friend, and the child.

From my experience with witnessing runaway situations, depending on your state (I live in Colorado) really not much happens. The child has to undergo some interviews, such as to the wherefore and why's. As long as there isn't any abuse involved, parents are usually not held responsible. Runaway kids do not necessarily end up in detention hall or anything of that nature, unless they got in trouble while out there. But I think it really depends on the state and county you live in. Since my county has a curfew, that in itself poses a problem. But the parents shouldn't have anything to worry about, in that sense.
I hope though, they found the girl

thanks!

thanks lilith!

thank you all for your input, just got off phone w/my g/f. The police have forwarded the case to Dept of Children and Families as the child/kid/pain in the a$$ has been missing for over 48 hrs.

NYC DOCF has started an investigation, this just doesn't sound logical to me; so I asked.

I too wish her luck and hope her daughter returns home ASAP and safely.

I know when my son ran away they returned him home to me. But he wasn't gone very long, just a day. I think it depends on how long they are gone and the circumstances that led up to him leaving

they investigate incase the run away was from an abusive home.....

"supposedly" no abuse - I cannot say either way as I am not there. Girl got busted for cutting out of school and was scared to face her mother.

No Fran.. they have to do it for everyone.. the "CYA" factor.

thanks again!

I am just at a loss as I am soo far from her.

thank you all

Just an update!

The girl did return home late last night, she called her mother from a local police station and has been reunited with her.

thank you all for all your thoughts and input

Yippee!! Safe and sound.

Usually at the whim of the police, it is their decision on whether or not the child needs to be analyzed by Children Services. That is how it works where I'm from in Utah it could be different state to state, but usually the reason why they ran away comes up as does where they went, who they were with, what they were doing at the time, etc. Usually detention is done because as far as I know the cops don't like handing over their cases to DCFS (at least in Utah).

Fran... thank you very much for letting us know... and am glad she is safe and sound. And GROUNDED, I'm sure!