17 and In Foster Care In Missouri

[Guest]

I'm 17 years old and I live in Missouri in a residential. I want to leave on my own and quit living how I've been living my whole life - trapped, used, controlled, molded. I want to know if I could do that without anyone's consent since I'm 17. Or would I have to hide out until I'm 18 if I leave?

[ccsmod15]

Thank you so much for reaching out to us and we certainly look forward to being of help.

I am so sorry that you have lived a life of feeling trapped and controlled. No one deserves to feel that way and am hopeful that in time you will find your own life and express yourself in a much more fulfilled manner.

But you pretty much hit the mark asking if you might have to “hide out” until you are 18. The age of majority in Missouri is 18 so if you were to leave the home a staff member or your caseworker could file a missing child’s report and the local authorities would look to find you and bring you back to the residence.

We get e-mails and calls real often with questions very similar to yours but often they are much younger. The good thing for you is that you are 17 and only a number of months away from attaining 18. So, your time is relatively short although can only assume you still feel that is a long way off. But you might want to consider laying low and being the best you can be and prepare yourself for what I wish for you to be a most wonderful life.

Again, we really appreciate your reaching out to us and please keep in touch. Also feel free to call on us at anytime as we are here 24/7.

[Guest]

Thank you so much for reaching out to us and we certainly look forward to being of help.

I am so sorry that you have lived a life of feeling trapped and controlled. No one deserves to feel that way and am hopeful that in time you will find your own life and express yourself in a much more fulfilled manner.

But you pretty much hit the mark asking if you might have to “hide out” until you are 18. The age of majority in Missouri is 18 so if you were to leave the home a staff member or your caseworker could file a missing child’s report and the local authorities would look to find you and bring you back to the residence.

We get e-mails and calls real often with questions very similar to yours but often they are much younger. The good thing for you is that you are 17 and only a number of months away from attaining 18. So, your time is relatively short although can only assume you still feel that is a long way off. But you might want to consider laying low and being the best you can be and prepare yourself for what I wish for you to be a most wonderful life.

Again, we really appreciate your reaching out to us and please keep in touch. Also feel free to call on us at anytime as we are here 24/7.

The age of majority is 17

[ccsmod7]

Hi there,

Unfortunately, the age of majority is 18 in Missouri, not 17. It is possible that local police will not take a runaway report for 17 year olds because the state of Missouri has contradicting laws and they consider 17 year olds adults in the criminal justice system; however, 18 is still the majority age and that would be up to local police. This website is helpful for looking at ages of minority: https://sexetc.org/action-center/sex-in-the-states/.

Best,

NRS