The stories of four among hundreds of runaway youths treated in Slesnick's program illustrate points in this volume, which offers a summary of the information known about runaway and homeless children and teenagers. In addition to describing the breadth of this problem, this book explains different types of runaway and homeless youths and why they leave home by choice or are asked to leave. Slesnick also explains some of the factors common to these children and their families, as well as what happens to the youths when they leave home. Direction and support are provided for parents from this clinical psychologist, who notes that there are few resources and programs across the nation designed specifically to help families with runaway youths.