Abstract :
This paper reviews the research that has
investigated the relationship between family factors and
runaway incidence of Children. It also examines the
prominent theories to understand runaway phenomena. It
aims to assist practitioners and policy makers who work
with children and families to make evidence informed
decisions.
Children runaway incidence is a worldwide
multidimensional issue which necessitates an immediate
response primarily from family system for the best interest
of children. Most of the research confirmed children those
who runaway from homes are at risk of some form of harm
or maltreatment. According to the U.S. Department of
Justice, runaway incidence occurs when a child younger
than 18 years leaves home without permission of their
parents or guardian and who stays away at least overnight.
It is estimated that in a total number of 16, 82,900 children
fall under runaway episode in unites states. The
International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children
estimated that worldwide at least 8 million children go
missing each year. The longer a child or adolescent is
missing, the greater the risk they face. Data on missing
children put out by the home ministry at Parliament in July
2014 show that over 3.25 lakh children went missing
between 2011 and 2014 at an average of nearly 1 lakh
children going missing every year. Conversely, this is a
miserable condition today for India especially where
people traditionally believed children as they are equal to
god and internationally which is a well-known country for
having very good family system to deliver care and
protection obligation to children. This review identified
multiple family factors that influence a child to run away
from home. This review concludes poor parenting practices
of primary caregivers appear to play a major role in the
influence of family environment on runaway behaviour of
the child.
Keyword :
Runaway Children; Missing Children; Family Factors;