As summer heats up, the number of teen runaways is on the rise, a concerning trend noted by experts at the Texas Center for the Missing.
Melissa Rangel, a case manager with the center for over 11 years, shared insights into this troubling pattern.
Recommended Videos
“The number of pre-teens and teens running away continues to increase in the Greater Houston area,” Rangel stated.
She explained that while every case is unique, the common thread is the rising number of runaway incidents involving increasingly younger children.
“It’s alarming because the ages of those who run away are getting younger and younger,” Rangel shared.
Rangel emphasized that these runaways often leave behind their phones to avoid being tracked by their parents. She highlighted the statistics from the Texas Missing Persons Clearinghouse, which reported 7,471 missing children cases in Harris County alone in 2023, representing 27% of all missing children cases in Texas.
To address this issue, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office established a task force last August to prioritize returning these children home before the start of the school year.
“The task force established by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office last August was a priority for Sheriff Gonzalez. Its goal was to bring those children back home because they needed to get back to school,” Rangel shared.
READ MORE: ‘Kids need to be in school’: HCSO attempts to locate reported runaways ahead of new school year
During the summer months, the risk of runaways can be increased by high temperatures and heightened emotions. Rangel, a parent herself, shared practical advice for parents to help prevent runaways. She stressed the importance of mentoring programs, like Big Brother Big Sister, and the significance of maintaining open lines of communication with children.
“One key piece of advice I give to parents is to have regular conversations with their children about internet safety and the risks of running away. These conversations should happen often because kids are listening, even if they don’t show it. Having those conversations often makes a difference,” she said. “The younger you start and the more often you speak to them, the more it will help when they are tempted to run away.”
Rangel also advised parents to set boundaries on internet activity and to be aware of what their children are doing online.
“If your child all of a sudden is receiving messages 24/7, you know something is wrong,” she warned.
In addition to these preventive measures, Rangel highlighted resources available at the Texas Center for the Missing, including free internet safety training for children, parents, and the community. She encouraged parents to utilize these resources and to maintain an active role in their children’s online activities.
“Knowing what your child is doing online can make a huge difference in preventing them from running away,” Rangel shared.
If parents suspect their child has run away, Rangel urged them to act quickly.
“The first step should be to call the police and file a missing persons report. Those initial hours are crucial,” she emphasized.
If you or someone you know needs assistance, the Texas Center for the Missing can be reached at 713-599-0235 or through their website at centerforthemissing.org.