Runaway, Outreach, Notification, and Intervention (RONI) Project

The RONI Project in partnership with the Denver Police Department, will conduct the intake and follow-up processes for runaway reports within the City and County of Denver. The RONI Team will provide services and supports to the youth and their families.

What happens after I submit a runaway report?

After receiving a runaway report, a RONI Team member will try to find the youth, offer safety planning, harm reduction, and resources to ensure their well-being, connect them with community support, and prevent future runaway incidents. The intervention process follows these steps: 

1. A parent or guardian reports their child as a runaway to the RONI Team.
2. Based on individual circumstances, the DPD may respond.
3. The RONI Team will attempt to contact the runaway youth while providing updates, services, and support to the family.
4. Upon locating the youth, a RONI team member is assigned to provide services and support to the youth.
5. If a youth is high-risk, RONI will partner with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for additional resources.
6. If a youth is missing for more than 30 days, their case will be assigned to DPD’s Missing and Exploited Persons Unit for follow-up.

Available Services and Resources

Available services include but are not limited to: Safety planning, goal setting, basic needs for youth and family, individual and/or family therapy, mentoring, substance use treatment, tutoring, sports, and prosocial activity connection.

Submitting a runaway report and engagement with the RONI Project is voluntary and comes at no cost to the family or youth. If a family or youth chooses to stop working with RONI, the team will only reach out if there is a new runaway report or if the family or youth requests contact. 

Partners: National Center for Missing and Exploited Children