I wanna leave my group home

[Guest]

I’m 17 years old and live in Massachusetts. I’ll be graduated in June and I’ll be 18 in July. I was with a foster parent with my boyfriends family but she turned out to me a psycho ********** and made me come back here to the the group home. Is there some way I could get her in trouble ? I mean I’ve seen her drive drunk a lot and with her girlfriends baby in the car. She also lied to dcf and said she wasn’t related to my boyfriend in any way and made me lie about the fact my boyfriends sister did not lived with her. I also came back to her house with all my stuff on the side of the street, I mean that can’t be allowed. She barely even talked to me and then she pulled that crap. All I know is she is really messed up and shouldn’t be allowed to be a foster parent anymore and definitely shouldn’t be trusted driving her kids around after partying and drinking. Also I am scheduled to start college July 10th but I’m not 18 until July 20th. I want to run away from this group home when I graduate in a month, could I get arrested? Or get in trouble with the college i want to go to? I’m waiting to leave till I get my diploma so I don’t mess with college. Please tell me what I could do about my ex foster mom and about running away from here

[ccsmod9]

Hello there,
Thanks for reaching out to us here at the National Runaway Safeline.
We’re so sorry to hear about all that is happening to you. You don’t deserve to be treated this way. We’re sorry there are dangerous things happening on the part of your foster parent. It sounds like things are really frustrating right now.
We’re not legal experts here. However, anything you think is neglect or abuse can be reported to Child Protective Services or the Department of Children and Families. If you want to make a report, please visit www.childhelp.org for more information. Drunk driving and lying to officials could be considered a violation.
Leaving your home before you’re 18 years old could result in the police getting involved. Running away isn’t a crime, so it’s hard to say if you’ll be arrested. We’re not legal experts, but typically the police would bring you back home if you’re found. Sometimes, if you’re staying with someone else as a runaway, the person that’s letting you live with them could be charged with “harboring a runaway”. You could call your local police non-emergency number to inquire about leaving home before you’re 18, as sometimes the police won’t do anything if you’re graduated from school or very close to being 18. We can help make this call with you if you’re unsure or uncomfortable making it yourself. All you’d have to do is call us here at 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929).
We’re available here 24/7. We’d love to hear from you to discuss this in more detail. We’d also be willing to help you call the police if you’re thinking you’d like help doing that too.
All the best,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi my name is peaches William's I am 16 year old I live with my mom since I was 2 weeks or 3weeks old until I turn 16.my mom wants to send me to a group home because she feel like I dont pay attention in school and honestly I will say school is not for me.I was suppose to be leaving today February 1 at 11:00 today.but I feel like running away I just cant do it

[ccsmod1]

Hey Peaches,

Thanks so much for contacting us, it takes a lot of courage to reach out and share your story. It sounds like a lot has been going on; you’re really strong to have dealt with them for such a long time. Running away is a big decision and it can be very stressful to figure out what you want to do.

It’s important to consider all the possibilities that can occur if you leave home. You will need to plan out how you will cover basic necessities like travel, food, clothing, etc. If you have a place to go in mind, it’s good to see what the expectations of the living arrangement will be like; rules, the amount of time you’re allowed to stay, if you’re expected to contribute financially, etc. This can all influence your decision to leave.

If you’d like to go over what’s going on in depth, or if you’d like to explore other options that you may have available to you, please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-RUNAWAY. You can also chat us by clicking on the “CHAT” button on top of our homepage. We’re open 24/7 and here to listen and support you in any way we can.

All the best,
NRS

[Guest]

I've been having a lot of problems with my father he has been trying to get me locked up in juvie and called all types of police and officers on me . He won't let me leave the house and he's just driving me insane both him and his wife( stepmom) I don't know what's to do or how to get out of this situation need help

[ccsmod10]

You mentioned wanting to know how you can leave home . The easiest way to leave home is with your guardian's permission. We understand that might be challenging, however, maybe there’s another family member, relative, or a family friend who could help to communicate how you’re feeling to your dad. The second way is through Child Protective Services if safety is a concern. Lastly, you can also look into emancipation options. In most states you need to be at least 16 to be considered and demonstrate that you can support yourself financially and independently. Emancipation often can be a lengthy process and may even cost some money for court fees. We would be happy to look into legal resources if that’s something you are considering.

Please reach out soon so that we may offer support and resources to you. Our number is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929).

Be safe,

NRS

[Guest]

I want leave this group
home i am sick being here my case works are not helping me get out here i realy need to leave

[ccsmod15]

Hello,

Thank you for reaching out to us. We are so sorry to hear that you have had a challenging time with your caseworker and at your group home. It sounds like you’re interested in leaving your group home and, although we’re not legal experts, we’ll do our best to share general information that might help.

What you can do really depends on the kind of issues you’re having at your group home. If you have concerns about your safety at the group home, organizations like Child Help, available by phone at 1-800-422-4453, or at www.childhelp.org , can help you identify your local child protective services agency. If you leave the group home without consent, whomever is responsible for your care can report you as a runaway with the local police station. We’re not legal experts, but from what we know, it’s technically not illegal to run away, but it is considered a status offense in some states. While it may not be illegal for you to run away, anyone that houses a runaway minor may be charged with harboring a runaway or aiding and abetting a minor. If running away is something you’re considering, it may help to reach out to your local police station at their non-emergency number to get more information on how they handle reports. If your concerns are not related to your safety, it may help to explore what your caseworker might be able to do to help with that. Depending on the issue you’re having with your caseworker, it may be appropriate to talk to his or her supervisor to help address whatever is going on at the group home that makes you want to leave. Whatever you decide, know that we will do our best to support you, and encourage you to reach out to us by phone or chat if you’d like to talk more about your situation.

Please know that we are here for you. We won’t tell you what to do, but we’ll do our best to help you stay as safe as possible as you explore your options. You can reach us 24/7 by phone at 1.800.RUNAWAY (786.2929) or by chat at our website https://www.1800runaway.org/ . We’re here to listen, here to help. Stay safe!

-NRS

[Guest]

Any advice on where I should go after leave tomorrow

[ccsmod0]

Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email or bulletin for assistance. If you would like to talk more in detail and share more about how we can help specifically, please call or chat soon. We can discuss some of your options, such as possible youth shelters in your area.
Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).
If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe, NRS

[Guest]

I gave my group home 30 day notice they won’t let me move out my group home wants my boyfriend to be arresting him for kidnapping me is not kidnapped

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email or bulletin for assistance. If you would like to talk more in detail and share more about how we can help specifically, please call or chat soon.
Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).
If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

ima leave pretty soon and run off and drink all my pain away cause i'm sick and tried of being in this group home they so toxic and blame everything on me. they even threating me

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email or bulletin for assistance. If you would like to talk more in detail and share more about how we can help specifically, please call or chat soon.
Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).

We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Hi there, I have been in a facility for 4 yrs and a grouphome for five I'm 23 and I want out I'm in Houston tx none of my family comes, I have not learned nothing from this place when I should of been getting a job learning to live I'm just wasting life, only one of my cousins offered me a place but he's in Washington and the lady who runs the group home says it has to be in this state if I wanted to move with a family member

[ccsmod15]

Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email or bulletin for assistance. If you would like to talk more in detail and share more about how we can help specifically, please call or chat soon.
Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).
If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

Mex ex put me in a group home and I want to get out of it and want to live in a different state

[ccsmod0]

Hi there,

Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on with you wanting to leave your group home. We want you to know that we are here as support to help you through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email or bulletin for assistance. If you would like to talk more in detail and share more about how we can help specifically, please contact our 24/7 crisis support line either by phone or chat.

Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).

If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.

We hope to hear from you soon.

Be safe,

NRS

[Guest]

Hi I Just moved into a group home and i dont feel safe at all I want out right now but nobody's listening to me i dont know what to do

[ccsmod15]

Hello and thank you for reaching out to NRS. We are very sorry to hear that you aren't feeling safe in the group home you are currently living in. You are deserving of safety and a home where you can relax. One option that may be helpful is to reach out to your case manager or social worker and ask if there might be another option for you. We would also like to let you know that you can make a report if you are being harmed in any way. www.childhelp.org is a national abuse website. Their number is 1-800-422-4433. They are available 24/7. It may also be helpful to speak with us through a live chat which you can find on our website at www.1800runaway.org or you can call us at 1-800-runaway. We may be able to provide you with more specific resources and help if you provide us with more details about your situation. We hope this response was helpful to you and would be happy to talk with you again at any time to provide support to you in the best way we can. We are also available 24/7. Wishing you all the best, NRS.

[Guest]

I am 27 years old and how can I move out of a groop home and into my apartment

[ccsmod3]

Hi there, thank you for reaching out. It sounds like you are wanting to leave your group home and move into an apartment. With you being 27, legally you are allowed to move out and go where you want. Unless there is some reason that an adult still has guardianship over you, which can be important to ask about. We can best help if we have more information about what is going on, so if you would like to discuss this further, please call our hotline 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or chat us online at 1800runaway.org. We hope to hear from you soon.
Be safe,
NRS

[Guest]

I wanna sign myself out of my group home at Scott Community Living. I need help to sign myself out

[ccsmod9]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to NRS. It sounds like you’re looking for help leaving and/or signing out of your group home. Although we are not legal experts, we will do our best to share general information that might help.

What you are able to do really depends on the situation and the kind of problems you may be facing at your group home. If you are over the age of 18, you may be able to sign yourself out; however, if you are under the age of 18 and you leave the group home without consent, whomever is responsible for your care can report you as a runaway. If your reasons for wanting to leave are not related to your immediate safety, it may be beneficial to explore what your caseworker or legal guardian is able to do to help and possibly address whatever is going on at the group home that is making you want to leave. Whatever you decide, know that we will do our best to support you. But, it may be easier to do so if you are able to reach out to us by phone or chat to talk more about the specifics of your situation.

We won’t tell you what to do, but we will do our best to help you stay as safe as possible while exploring your options. You can reach out to us 24/7 via our hotline 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or by our online chat found on this website.

We hope to hear from you soon.

Stay safe,

NRS

[Guest]

How can I move out of a group home by my self

[ccsmod11]

(If you feel you are in immediate danger for any reason, please call the police or go to your local emergency room.)

Hi there,
Thanks so much for reaching out to us. It sounds like you’re having a tough time in your group home, and you have our sympathy. You’re really strong for reaching out. We would love to hear more about your story and give you more personalized and confidential help, but we’ll do the best we can below. Please feel free to reach out to us directly any time to talk to a real person. The NRS is here 24/7 via online chat or by calling 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929).

If you’re over 18, in most states you should be able to move out of a group home without permission. If this is the case and you're looking for a place to go, please contact us and we'll help you locate a safe place to help you get on your feet. If you’re under 18 and you choose to move out, however, the person who is in charge of you legally can file a runaway report with the police, which means they will find you and bring you back.

We recognize that group homes aren’t always a comfortable environment to be in. What issues are you facing that make you want to leave? If possible, it may be worth exploring these with the people you are living with to see if these issues can be solved. You may be dealing with issues that are putting you in an unsafe position-if this is the case we encourage you to reach out directly to a case worker or law enforcement to help get you to a safer living arrangement.

We also want to stress how important self-care is during this time. Again, please reach out to your trusted support network for guidance and a listening ear, and practice hobbies that relax you. Maybe this is writing, watching a favorite TV show, or working out. Taking care of your mind and body will help you be better prepared to face your situation.

Again, we would love to chat with you to offer some more personalized guidance, but we wish you the best with everything going forward.

Thanks again for reaching out.
Good luck,
NRS

[Guest]

HI! I'm turning 18 in September, and i've been in grouphomes for a couple years now. I'm so done with it and I don't have a social life anymore because my dcyf worker wont let me have any privledges, even though im doing everything i'm supposed to. Can I just sign myself out after my birthday and leave? I'm getting a job right now so I can take care of myself and i have multiple outside supports.

[ccsmod10]

Thanks for reaching out. It can be hard to ask for help, and we are really glad you did. It sounds like you’ve been dealing with a difficult home life for awhile now. It’s understandable that you are ready to leave.
We can’t say for sure if you would be allowed to leave on your birthday. It depends what state you are living. You can look up the age of majority in your state. If it is 18, then you would be able to leave. Some states also have extended options until you are 21, which have different rules. They can help with housing, jobs, and things like that. You mentioned your worker hasn’t felt supportive, you could still reach out and see if they can help you with the options you would have after turning 18.
It’s great that you have a good support system. If you want to get more specific information, or speak more in depth about these options, you can call or chat with us. We are available 24/7. (1800-run-away or 1800runaway.org).

Good luck!