Who They Are and Why They Run: A Scoping Review to Understand Running Away in Child Welfare System

Abstract

Although the issue of children running away from child welfare system (CWS) occurs in various contexts and has detrimental consequences, to our knowledge, it has received limited attention in academic research and practical interventions. This scoping review examines risk factors and motivations for running away among children in the CWS, drawing on 33 studies published between 1991 and 2025. The findings reveal that key demographic risk factors associated with running away from CWS were identified as older age and urban residence. The effects of gender and race/ethnicity remain inconsistent across studies. Child-related risk factors were identified as histories of abuse and criminal behavior, while findings regarding the role of children’s health in running away from CWS were mixed. Family-related factors were identified as parental incarceration and single-parent households. CWS-specific factors such as length of stay, unmet needs, placement instability, and poor system management were also associated with increased risk. Motivations for running away reflected both pull and push factors. Pull factors included reconnecting with family, maintaining social relationships, and substance use, whereas push factors involved seeking freedom from restrictive environments and escaping bullying within CWS. The review highlights the urgent need for needs-tailored and trauma-informed approaches within the CWS to reduce risks and address the complex needs of vulnerable children. It also calls for more research on runaway behaviors, targeted policies for diverse racial and gender groups, and improved practices to address bullying and unmet needs through diversified services.

Keywords

running away child welfare system motivations risk factors

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