The Tumbleweed Runaway Program is a non-profit, community based agency, founded in 1976 which provides emergency services to runaway, homeless, and otherwise at-risk youth and their families. Tumbleweed's Basic Center Program  services are free of charge and include: crisis intervention, emergency shelter, family mediation, short-term individual and family counseling, adolescent support groups; information advocacy, and referral to other community services; parenting courses, aftercare; and assistance with locating runaway youth and reuniting them with their parent/legal guardians. Tumbleweed's crisis counseling and youth shelter services are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days per week.

Tumbleweed's mission and goals are all directed toward the prevention of homelessness, running away, and delinquency; addressing severe family conflict; as well as responding to other social problems among youth ages 10-18. Runaway and homeless youth tend to be vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, and are prone to delinquency as a mechanism for survival. Through the provision of specialized social services, and access to direct assistance, the Tumbleweed Runaway Program has been able to substantially address the human service needs of this vulnerable population.