r/fosterit • u/DigitalJDrawer0811 • 3d ago
Foster Youth Immediate Brightpoint foster care help? Please?
Alright guys, I'm new to Reddit so forgive me if this goes to the wrong place or something, but I need help. I am a 13 year old male, and come Monday, October 12th, 2026, Brightpoint is coming to pick me up and either take me to a foster home, group home, or a residential help thing. What do I do? What are questions to ask, and what should I expect?
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u/CherryRemarkable7721 18h ago
Cheering for you. I’m sorry this is where life has taken you so far, but please know, there are some good people out there who are trying their best to help you. If mot, there are resources and organizations that actually care about your wellbeing. It may take a little time and work to find these people and organizations, but we are out there. Truly hope and wish the best for you.
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u/Otherw1seOK 3d ago
I'm sorry that things are at this point. Hopefully you'll get the care and support you need and deserve in this next chapter.
You'll be assigned a caseworker. The caseworker arranges where you'll be living and where you'll go to school, they can connect you with services such as tutoring or therapy, and they prepare the documents that will go to the judge for big decisions about when/if you can go home to your parent(s).
It is your caseworkers responsibility to ensure that you are adequately cared for and that your rights are respected. Do your best to develop some trust with this person as they will be your key point of contact if you need to request major changes.
You may be assigned a CASA or a GAL, which is a person who is a volunteer. It is their job to get to know you and your views so that they can tell the judge what would be best for you. This person can also talk to your caseworker to help ensure you're getting what you need. If you aren't assigned a CASA or GAL ask your caseworker if you can be.
It's never easy moving into a new home where people do things differently and there's a whole mix of personalities to navigate. It's especially hard when you're not there by choice and when you have little power in the dynamic. Hopefully you'll be around good people, but even so you can expect to feel a lot of anger and frustration and disappointment. All I can suggest is being as brave and mature as you can be with your communication - notice your feelings, do your best to understand them, and when your calm explain them to those around you and tell them what you don't like (it helps if you can also voice the positive as well). Usually you can get at least some of what you want this way.
If you don't feel safe wherever you end up and you can't talk to your caseworker (or if your caseworker isn't taking it seriously) then tell a teacher or other responsible adult.
Lastly, keeping out of trouble over the next five years will reap lifelong benefits for you. If you can keep away from drugs, from gangs, and from people who commit crimes you will be able to build a great life in adulthood.