CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATES INDICATE THAT AT LEAST 40,000 YOUTH (AGE 10-17) RUN AWAY ANNUALLY IN NEW YORK STATE. STUDIES SHOW THAT THE PRIMARY REASON YOUTH LEAVE THEIR HOMES IS FAMILY CONFLICT, WHICH CAN INCLUDE BEATINGS, SEXUAL ABUSE, AND FORCIBLE RESTRAINT. ANOTHER FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO RUNNING AWAY IS PEER GROUP PRESSURE FROM OTHER CHILDREN ALIENATED FROM THEIR FAMILIES. RUNAWAYS USUALLY FIRST SEEK ALTERNATIVE LIVING ARRANGEMENTS WITH FRIENDS. SURVIVAL NEEDS AND EXPERT MANIPULATION BY EXPLOITERS FREQUENTLY PRESSES RUNAWAYS INTO PROSTITUTION, DRUG TRAFFICKING, OR STEALING. RUNAWAYS OFTEN BECOME INVOLVED WITH THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM; A STUDY OF DETENTION CENTER POPULATIONS IN NEW YORK STATE IN 1975 SHOWED THAT 23 PERCENT OF ALL SECURE DETENTION ADMISSIONS AND 35 PERCENT OF NONSECURE DETENTION ADMISSIONS INVOLVED A PETITION ALLEGING THE CHILD HAD RUN AWAY FROM HOME. HOWEVER, THE USE OF JUVENILE COURT, DETENTION, AND CORRECTIONAL MECHANISMS WITH RUNAWAYS IS POTENTIALLY DETRIMENTAL AND HAS BEEN OF LIMITED EFFECTIVENESS. CONSEQUENTLY, YOUTH SHELTERS AND RUNAWAY HOMES HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED TO DIVERT YOUTH FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND PROVIDE NEEDED SERVICES, INCLUDING MEDICAL CARE, FOOD, SHELTER, AND CLOTHING, AS WELL AS ASSISTANCE IN DEALING WITH OTHER PROBLEMS AND PLANNING FUTURES. CURRENTLY, THERE ARE 10 MAJOR RUNAWAY PROGRAMS IN NEW YORK STATE. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE SHORT-TERM SHELTER TO ABOUT 3,000 YOUTH ANNUALLY; HOWEVER, THE NUMBER OF RUNAWAYS IS MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT SERVED BY CURRENT PROGRAMS. ONE APPROACH FOR MORE ADEQUATELY FUNDING RUNAWAY PROGRAMS IS TO AUTHORIZE AN APPROPRIATION INCLUDED IN CURRENT FUNDING CATEGORIES, WHICH ADDRESSES THE PROBLEMS OF RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH BOTH OVER AND UNDER 16 YEARS OF AGE, SINCE MANY OF THE RELEVANT FUNDING MECHANISMS ONLY TARGET YOUTH UNDER 16 YEARS OLD. TABULAR DATA ON THE INCIDENCE OF RUNAWAYS IN NEW YORK AND THE NUMBER OF RUNAWAY PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED. APPENDED ARE DISCUSSIONS ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE RUNAWAY PROBLEM.