Good News: Monika Hunter Found! Here's How To Help Other Runaways.

This chapter can be closed with relief. Monika returned unharmed to her grandmother's residence. Clearly there are some internal familial conflicts that need to be resolved. As is the case with most teens who run away. I was just checking the statistics and surprisingly found the average teen runaway is white from an Upper Middle Class background. 

What Ms. Hunter may not realize now is that she is very fortunate that another unforeseen incident didn't change the course of her life for the worse. Many kids run away due to abuse and violence. Others are experiencing personal conflicts. I can imagine parents and guardians would be tempted to overreact or try to clamp down the movements of a returnee. This is a situation that requires trained 3rd party counselors.

Between 1.6 and 2.8 million youth run away in a year. Our mission at the National Runaway Switchboard is to help keep America’s runaway and at-risk youth safe and off the streets. Call 1-800-RUNAWAY if you are a teenager who is thinking of running from home, if you have a friend who has run and is looking for help, or if you are a runaway ready to go home through our Home Free program. 

Home Free Program: 

You have left home. You may be tired, scared or hungry. You want to go home and work things out, but you don't have any money or any way to get home. Thousands of teens have been in your shoes. How did they get home? Through our Home Free program, done in collaboration with Greyhound Lines, Inc., more than 13,000 youth have been reunited with their families, free of charge, since the program’s inception. The first step to getting Home Free is calling 1-800-RUNAWAY.

What Happens After: 

Home Free isn't just a bus ticket home. We want you to be safe. We also want you to stay home by helping you rebuild your relationship with your family. In addition to working with you and your parents/guardians to develop a plan before you return home, we also provide you with resources in your community to help you start rebuilding your relationship. We also contact you to make sure you got home safely and to see how things are going. If necessary, we give you the names of other resources in your community to help you continue your success.

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/1800RUNAWAY

Facebook Group Page
Email: info@1800RUNAWAY.org

Continuing the Efforts At Locating Monika Hunter: The Police Are On It!

Monika is still missing but the police are actively pursuing the case in looking for her! The blog posts and updates across social media like Facebook and Twitter has helped bring much-needed attention to this case. The power of the keyboard in getting the word out shows we do have a certain amount of power to affect positive change and spur acts of justice. I got a reply from Monika's sister Renee Jennings yesterday on Twitter and this is the comment she left at the WAOD post to the readers:

Thank you everyone for your prayers and concern. I never imagined do many people would join in the effort to help find my sister and I have so much gratitude. I spoke with Detective Vessels today and he has assured me they will try to locate her. We must keep praying and reposting. Word of mouth brings kids home. I honestly believe this. Thanks again.

Let's keep sending positive thoughts and messages. 

Help Find Missing Teen Monika Hunter!!!!

Cross-posted at What About Our Daughters

15 year-old Elizabeth Monika Hunter has been staying with relatives in Capitol Heights, MD and is now missing as of midnight August 3rd. Her sister Renee Jennings sent a private email that’s been forwarded requesting help. Hopefully we can get this cross-posted at several blogs and across social media to send the word out.

Due to her age and their categorizing her as a runaway, the police said they cannot issue an Amber Alert and will only take information for a Missing Person’s report which takes 48-hours to kick in. Monika’s sister lives in NYC and isn’t able to monitor the situation locally and has asked for help from the blogosphere. 

Prince George Country police department, Palmer Park Precinct will be handling this case. It’s been assigned to Det. Vessels 301-772-4492. Case#09-215-0405. The main number at the precinct is 301-772-4901. Let’s encourage the police to make haste with looking for Monika as the area is apparently unsafe and she is new to the area, has limited to no funds and no cell phone.

Renee has left contact information as well to reach her directly. I’ll publish her email where you may request further contact info. reneejennings@rmediagroup.com. This could be your neighbor, sister, schoolmate whomever. Since only high-profile cases get immediate attention, let's make this one!