My grandmother has a cute story about my mom running away the year she turned six.  Mom packed a suitcase with crackers, blankets, and toys, and headed toward the local park.  She came home after running out of crackers, and likely before anyone had begun panicking.

Parents of teens realize their older child planning to run away might have more determination and access to more resources than the average 6-year-old in the 1940s.  Today's parent should also worry about the immediate vulnerability of their child who has run away, due to exposure to drugs, crime, prostitution, and other dangers of living on the street.

The Idaho State Police receives more than 220 reports of runaways every month, and says about half of the children return home within three days, and 75 percent within a month.  Unfortunately, the police lack the manpower to vigorously pursue each of these cases, and note that in Idaho, it is not against the law to run away.  The burden of finding a runaway child, therefore, rests with his family.

The Polly Klaas Foundation (www.pollyklaas.org) says that children who feel safe and who have a sense of self-worth and personal security are less likely to run away.  For parents who are concerned that their child might be considering running away, the organization recommends talking with her openly and honestly, teaching her to be accountable for her actions, providing opportunities for her to gain independence appropriate to her years, and making her emotional and physical safety an absolute priority.

If your child does run away, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (www.ncmec.org) suggests taking the following actions immediately:

• Remain calm; think about the reasons why your child might have left and where he might be.
• Contact his friends, school, relatives, and anyone else who might know where your child is. Enlist their help in looking for your child. (In Idaho, it is a misdemeanor to knowingly provide housing or other accommodations to a runaway child under 18.)
• Report your missing child to local law enforcement. Contrary to popular belief, there is no waiting period for reporting a missing person. Although it is not illegal in Idaho to run away, law enforcement officials will enter your child's information into the FBI's national Crime Information Center's databases, to which law enforcement agencies across the country have access.
• Provide law enforcement officials with a recent photo of your child. If possible, provide other records or identifying information as well, such as dental records or fingerprints.
• Check into any methods of communication your child may have used, including email and internet, cellphone, and traditional telephone. Look for clues about people your child might have been collaborating with or plans he might have made to visit a place or person.
• Keep a notebook about the investigation. Record contact information for those helping you look for your child. Make a note each time you check in with them.
• Be honest with law enforcement officials about your child and your relationship with him. Family members might be reluctant to share information about their child's lifestyle that puts him in a bad light or casts doubts on their parenting, but this information could include important clues that might help with the investigation.

The Idaho Missing Person's Clearinghouse of the Idaho State Police Department (http://isp.state.id.us/identification/missing/index.html) suggests contacting your local police department or sheriff's office as soon as you realize your child is unaccounted for.  The Clearinghouse maintains statistical data on Idaho's missing and maintains information on available resources to help in such cases.  It works with local law enforcement agencies in Idaho and other states and operates a helpline to record messages about missing persons [(888) 777-3922].

The Polly Klaas Foundation website also lists a 24-hour helpline [(800) 587-4357] staffed with professional caseworkers.  The site includes guidelines on recovering missing children, child identification kits, and other resources.

Although most teen runaways are likely to return home within a month, many are also likely to be repeat offenders.  Experts note that teens become vulnerable as soon as they leave home due to exposure to drugs, alcohol, crime, prostitution, and exploitation, and each subsequent runaway episode exposes the child to potentially escalating dangers.  The need for immediate action is therefore paramount.

Parents who are concerned that their teen is going to continue to try to run away should establish a file of information.  Include current photographs, updated dental and medical records (or contact information for professionals who maintain it), a list of identifying marks, and even videos of your child-especially if he changes his appearance or mannerisms.  The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children also suggests having your child fingerprinted, and notes that DNA sampling of high risk children is becoming more common.

Finally, while it is common for parents to react with anger and fear immediately upon their child's return, they should instead remain calm and offer unconditional love and time for healing.  Sometimes dealing with the core problem that caused the teen to run away is too complex for the family to address on its own, and parents should seek professional counseling.

Beth Markley is a freelance writer and nonprofit consultant.  She lives in Boise with her husband and two children.