Running away is often an adolescent's survival response to abuse a home. Runaways arrive on the streets feeling hopeless and helpless and can interpret seduction as affection. Thus, they are prime targets for pimps and hustlers and are likely to become involved in drug dealing and prostitution. Although deinstitutionalization is the proper strategy for the majority of status offenders, it has created a disastrous void for the children who are not equipped to make correct decisions regarding their well-being and safety. They are often distrustful of all adults and therefore may not accept the services of alternative youth shelters and other agencies. Thus, secure facilities should be provided for the youths who have run from open setting and require treatment in a secure setting to keep them from home. The most disturbed adolescents will require long-term treatment lasting 12-18 months. The security of these facilities must be maintained not only by locks and bars, but also and primarily from increased staff coverage and expertise. Treatment should include the building of the social, practical, and moral skills necessary to survive in the world.