Includes bibliographical references and index.

Ch. 1. Why do teens run away? Teens run away to gain control of their lives / Ruby J. Martinez -- Street teens are not in control of their own lives / Noam Schimmel -- Teens run away for many reasons / Julie Mehta -- Gay and transgender teens are at increased risk of becoming street teens / Nicholas Ray -- Kids are running away because of the bad economy / Ian Urbina -- Ch. 2. What are the consequences of being a street teen? Street teens often turn to prostitution to survive / R. Barri Flowers -- Many street teens become physical or sexual victims / Maureen Blaha -- Gay and transgender street teens are at greater risk of becoming sexual victims / James M. Van Leeuwen ... [et al.] -- Many street teens indulge in risky sexual behavior / M. Rosa Solorio ... [et al.] -- Ch. 3. How can street teens be helped? The UK should emulate the US model for sheltering street teens / Kira Cochrane -- US shelters are inadequate for the needs of street teens / Martha Irvine -- Street teens are better off in foster or group homes / Meghan Stromberg -- Older teens cycle out of foster care and return to the streets / Carol Smith -- Street families can make street teens safer / Joanne O'Sullivan Oliveira and Pamela J. Burke -- Street families can make street teens more violent / Rene Denfeld -- Ch. 4. Are street teens a global problem? Street youth are vulnerable and need to be saved / Kevin Clarke -- Many street teens are resilient and adapt well to street life / Macalane J. Malindi and Linda C. Theron -- Street children are often victims of police brutality / Evgenia Berezina -- Street youth are a menace to society in Nigeria / Toye Olori -- Community nurses can help UK street teens / Alison Moore.