Problems Facing Runaway Children (Essay Sample)

Problems Facing Runaway Children
Abstract
There is little knowledge available to the public regarding the problem of runaway children. The problem is even worse in developing countries according to a United Nations report released in 2012. However, there is a significant number of runaway children in developed countries including the United Kingdom and the numbers are said to be rapidly rising. With lapsing time, the problem is said to be getting worse by the day due to deteriorating financial conditions and lack of consideration by governments and social work services. In the UK, for instance, the Children’s Society and other social work agencies responsible for childcare point out that an estimated 100,000 children under the age of 16 run away from their homes every year. Latest statistics also indicate that the number is on the rise amid little concern from concerned authorities.
Introduction
"Runaway children" is a term that refers to children found missing from their homes for a given period, which could be a few days. In a broader scope, it is a deliberate or voluntary act by a child to leave their home out of considerable financial or family issues to join the public without adequate care. However, the UK has no known definition of a child as everyone under 18 years is considered a child. Since there is no law defining whom a child is, children aged between 15 and 17 consider themselves independent and act in such a manner. Due to lack of understanding and knowledge on missing or lost children, there are fewer acknowledgements among the UK residents. The problem is under serious consideration by UNICEF because the trends across the world are worrying. In fact, the problem has grown to incorporate rising cases of abductions and kidnapping across the world and the UK in specific. This study shall delve into an expansive literature review on the problem of runaway children in the UK by looking into various aspects that contribute relevance to the study. It shall incorporate the problems of runaway children, the causes and reasons for runaway, the problems children face after running away, role of concerned social work organizations and NGO’s, the effects to the society, conclusions and recommendations.
Literature review
Problems of runaway children
Experts have outlined a number of reasons why children opt to run away from their homes. However, of utmost concern are the problems of such runaway cases. Runaway is considered a profound social issue as such children encounter deplorable conditions that include neglect, physical and sexual abuse, insecurity due lack of parental protection and care, lack of education and failure to become successful in case they have an education. These are some of the problems that such children encounter once thy runaway.
Research questions
What are the causes and reasons of running away?
What are the effects of runaway children to the society?
What are the problems encountered by children who run away?
What role do social work agencies and other organizations play in supporting runaway children?
Research methodology
The research shall focus on secondary information from published reports on runaway children over the past few years. Such reports shall incorporate expansive literature both published and unpublished by social work agencies, NGO’s and authorities including the UK government, Children Societies and international bodies such as the UNICEF.
Analysis and discussion
The analysis and discussion will focus on reviewed literature from various sources to examine the causes and reasons for the increasing number of runaway children, the problems they face after running away, the effects to the society, any criminal activities associated to increased runaway children and the role social work organizations in supporting runaway children.
Conclusions and recommendations
Conclusion will depend on the resea...