A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE SUGGESTS THAT KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THIS PHENOMENON HAS BEEN DERIVED FROM FOUR NETWORKS: THE POLICE-LEGAL NETWORK, THE MENTAL HEALTH NETWORK, THE SOCIAL WELFARE NETWORK, AND THE SELF HELP-YOUTH ADVOCACY NETWORK. TWO ADDITIONAL NETWORKS, ABOUT WHICH ALMOST NO LITERATURE OR INFORMATION EXISTS, ARE THE HELPING PEER-ADULT NETWORK AND THE NO NETWORK PATTERN OF INTERACTION. EACH OF THESE SOCIAL NETWORKS IS BRIEFLY DESCRIBED. IN ADDITION, THE FINDINGS ARE REPORTED OF A 1975 STUDY WHICH EXAMINED THE INTERACTION BETWEEN RUNAWAY CHILDREN AND TWO LEADING SELF-HELP PROJECTS IN BOSTON, PROJECT PLACE AND BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS. SOME OF THE SOCIAL, HISTORICAL, POLITICAL, AND ECONOMIC FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE RUNAWAY PHENOMENON IN AMERICA ARE ALSO CONSIDERED....ELW