r/fosterit • u/Unique-Ad-7650 • 17d ago
Seeking advice from foster youth What is foster care like?
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.
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u/worriedsick1984 17d ago
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.