What to do while your child is away from home

Do take support from family, friends and professionals

• Do let your child or young person know that they can come home
• Do LISTEN carefully if reasons are offered for not returning home so that you can try to arrive at a solution.

Don’t panic – most children and young people do eventually return home unharmed

• Don’t make rash promises as a condition of their return home e.g. later curfew times; you may change your mind when they return!
• Don’t send them abusive or threatening text or voicemail messages.
• Don’t blame them, call them names or say unkind things.

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