During placement, the caseworker will talk to the child or youth about runaway behavior.
How can everyone prepare if a child or youth is a runaway risk?
To start, the caseworker must create a runaway prevention plan with the child or youth and the caregiver.
During the meeting to create this plan, the caseworker:
- Leads the discussion with the child or youth.
- Talks with the child or youth about any recent desire to run away.
- Takes actions the child or youth thinks would help them decide not to run away, if appropriate.
It is important for the caregiver and the caseworker to know how to talk to a child or youth about running away.
- Talk to the child or youth about relevant personal history or a desire to run away.
- Help the child or youth feel that it is safe to talk about this, and remind the child or youth that people are available to help and support them.
