Northwest+Expert+Advice!



= ﻿What do they Think? = = Here is where you find out! = =﻿Q: How often have you saw teens run away during the years you have been at Northwest Highschool? = =Officer Demeropolis: "Atleast two or three every year and this is my fifth year here so we are up to about ten to fifteen, usually they are younger."= =Mr.Dunn: "I have been here 4 years, not very often on average one a year, there have been years that I haven't dealt with any that I know of, they might never get to me and go to consulors, but on average one a year. Juniors or seniors, not yet 18 but around 17."= =Mrs.Disbro: "Once or twice"= =Q: In the case of an underage student running away how can you involve yourself? = =Officer Demeropolis: "First mom and dad have to report the runaway, they file a police report. We suggest to the parents, they don't have to, but we suggest them to go down town to 2020, which is a juvinile detention center, and file charges against their child and say they left with out permission. Then the court will take action to help the teen solve the problem, if it is a family problem there can be family consuling, and if any drugs or alcohol are involved they can treat that as well."= =Mr.Dunn: "I think you obviously involve the parents and police right away. Including Officer Demeropolis, because the biggest concern is their safety.... I think my postion is to involve the administation. Officer Demeropolis and the consulers."= =Mrs.Disbro: "Interview both sides and figure out why the child felt they needed to leave, and get the correct services involved."= =Q: In the case of a student 18 years old or older running away how can you involve yourself? = =Officer Demeropolis: "An 18 year old is a legal adult, they are legally allowed to leave without permission. There is nothing else we can say or do.... It's not always the best move to move out when your 18, you might not have a job and you don't have life experiances, and it's all going to come back and smack you in the face. Sooner or later you'll end up going back to mom or dad, or fall flat on your face when you are 18. That's why I tell teens when the have problems at home don't burn those bridges because when you are older in life you'll want to be able to have that to fall back for that dependancy..you got one mom and dad don't burn it up."= =Mr.Dunn: "If they are 18 or older, we should still involve the parents, but it's a different issues cause obiviously the are no longer "a run away" anymore because they are legally an adult, but still parents and consulers should be involved to help them if they are running with the wrong people getting into things that are unhealthy... Involve someone so they don't do anything they regret down the line."= =Mrs.Disbro: "I would absolutly just tell the guidance consuler right away, as soon as we got the information, that is the procedure we follow here at Northwest."= =Q: Do you know of any local agencies that teens could go to for help with advice about running away? = =Officer Demeropolis: "The Light House, when teens have problems with their parents that they can't work out, we recommend them to go to the light house. We get them a taxi cab to go to and from until the problem is worked out or they are put with a foster home."= =Mr.Dunn: "Personally I don't but the consulers have laundry lists of them, so immediatly I'd refer them to work with the consulers."= =Mrs.Disbro: "Not off the top of my head, like I said the consulers should take it, they are trained in it, I would listen to anyone who wanted to talk, but then tell the consuler."= =Q:What is the best advice you can give to a teenager thinking about running away? = =Officer Demeropolis: "They need to work out their problems with their parents... and if you want to act like an adult and do things they shouldn't be doing, which is usually the case or their parents are stepping on them perse. When I raised my kids I would "shorten the rope on them" I would let them go as far as I wanted and then when it was enough I'd pull it back in, that is my expresion.... A good parent is looking out for their best intrest. SO JUST TALK THINGS OUT!"= =Mr.Dunn: "Talk to someone. Whether it's a consuler or professional phycologist, in the building or not, because teens running away, they obviously have a deep seed problem, so talking to them will help get those problems worked out and get them back to the place, mental state, make them feel better about themselves and patch up the relationships that caused them to run away in the first place."= =Mrs.Disbro: "Talk to either their parents or a trusted adult so that they can get a safe solution accomplished to the problem."=