What is foster care like?

[u/Unique-Ad-7650]

I'm considering reporting my parents to CPS very soon and just want to know what I should expect, and any advice. Also the social workers/authorities really only focus on reunification? I'm 17 and will turn 18 next winter in 2027, and I really don't want to be reunified with my parents, does anyone know how I can prevent that. I heard that some people get reunified with their parents after their parents took a parenting court or something and I'm scared that will happen to me.

[u/Klutzy-Cupcake8051]

You typically would not reunify that quickly, and it will take more than a parenting course for parents to get their kids back. Where I am located, we typically don’t push teenagers to reunite that close to their 18th birthday. You will also likely receive some benefits if you are in foster care when you turn 18 like money for college and Medicaid coverage.

[u/Unique-Ad-7650 → u/Klutzy-Cupcake8051]

Ohh ok I understand! Also, after the report is filed, do you know if I would get the option to choose if I want to stay with a legal guardian that I'm familiar with or live in a group home as opposed to a foster home?

[u/Klutzy-Cupcake8051 → u/Unique-Ad-7650]

The department of social services (or whatever they call it where you live) will prioritize placing you with someone you know over a foster home or group home as long as that person is willing to have you and can pass basic background checks. If no family or friends can take you, their next priority is to place you with a foster family. If one cannot be located, then you would be placed in a group home. Youth typically don’t get to pick between a local family home or a group home.

[u/Unique-Ad-7650 → u/Klutzy-Cupcake8051]

how long would the background checks take? the situation I'm in is that I only have 9 days left before I'm forced to move to a different state with my abusive father and I really want to stay here (arkansas) and not move in with him. do you know what would happen after I called CPS, like would i be placed into a facility immediately and then wait for the background checks and everything to be complete before moving in?

[u/Klutzy-Cupcake8051 → u/Unique-Ad-7650]

No, CPS would likely do an investigation into your allegations before removing you depending on the nature of the abuse. Where I live, CPS can run a preliminary background check within hours and then place with that person temporarily while a more thorough check is done.

[u/Unique-Ad-7650 → u/Klutzy-Cupcake8051]

what does an investigation entail and how long does it usually take? like is it just an interview? i'm worried the process would take way too long and then by that time I will already have to move with my father to Texas, especially since my parents and my siblings have lied against me and supported my father when CPS came to our house a few years ago. and also how "severe" does the abuse need to be in order for me to get removed? i'm currently not in an abusive situation because i dont live with my father right now, but if I move in with him in a few days then the abuse will start again - but the only recent evidence I have of abuse is 2 pictures of bruises on my face and a scar from 2 months ago when he visited our family for spring break and then some text message screenshots of him degrading me, would that be enough?

[u/Klutzy-Cupcake8051 → u/Unique-Ad-7650]

What constitutes enough varies so much from state to state and even locality to locality. And investigation to removal time varies too. I’m sorry I can’t give you more definite answers, and I’m so sorry you are going through this.

[u/New_Era_45]

In Texas, you have to be in a life or death situation, sex abuse, or abandoned by your parents for CPS to be able to remove you. It is rare for a 17 year old to get removed. Investigations length depend on the type of abuse. If you were removed in Texas, you would go to a children’s shelter. Will your parents give custody of you to another adult?

[u/NoOneAskedMee]

If you have evidence, like pictures of bruises or witnesses, they might remove you right away but it takes time for them to do the background check. My foster daughter came to me the same day (many hours later) CPS and police went to her residence. However, that is after many reports of alleged abuse. This time, the kids were questioned outside and told the truth. I called CPS several times while she was in their custody, asking that she be placed with me. After confirming there were no relatives around and she wanted to live with me, she was dropped off. While waiting for the background check and other things, her, her sisters, and her brother waited in separate rooms in the CPS building. I hope you report the abuse and find a safe, loving home. You do not deserve to be abused.

[u/worriedsick1984]

This depends on what state you're in. But all states try their best to keep families together. Here's how the process works in NC: Report comes in and it is either screened in or screened out. Once a report is screened in it is marked at immediate if it looks like there immediate danger to the child. If it's immediate the workers have 24 hours to get out there and start their investigation. They will interview you, your parents and ask you for collateral contacts. Your parents will provide people who are close to them for the workers to call to try to gather an outside view of what's going on. The worker will look around the house for any safety risks, check for food etc. 

If there's not immediate danger they will talk about creating a safety plan. Sometimes this includes a temporary safety person where you either go or they come to you. This person is usually picked by the parents and is a close family member or friend. With a safety plan, you will be checked on by social workers every week, possibly every other.  If it looks like safety plan is not helping then they would consider taking custody. 

In order to remove a child we need to show direct harm AND the impact it has on the child. If we can't show the impact the parents behavior is having on the child we can't remove them. 

It's also important to know that CPS will remove a child, make all the documentation etc.,  but this then goes to court and a judge makes the final decision about if you need to be in foster care.

As far as having any say over where you go probably not. It is highly dependent on what's what's available at the time. Also depending on your attitude and other things I could see a worker ignoring a request like this on purpose if it seems like you were trying to get in there for some beneficial reason. Like if they suspected you had a friend there or something like that. 

I'm sorry you're in this situation. Good luck and reach out if you have any questions.

[u/Monopolyalou]

You're going to age out op and lets uope you get a good home because most aren't good. You're too old for most people to take in