What happens when a teen is taking into CPS in TX if they cannot go home due to abuse

[Guest]

There is a long story to this, of course, but the short version is this. I have a friend who has been living with her aunt and uncle for a few years due to alleged abuse by her father (mother is passed away). Recently, her aunt and uncle decided she could no longer live there because they felt she was setting a bad example to their younger adopted children (I am sure there is more to the story, of course). She was sent to her grandmother (father's mother) and was told she would be put in foster care. She decided to run away that night and contacted me afterwards saying she had nowhere to go.

The next day, we notified the police station where I lived. They were not happy with the situation but told us we were free to leave since she is 17 and turning 18 in roughly 8 months. That was on a Tuesday. That weekend, I had to leave for work for a day and the police came to do a wellness check on her. They brought her down to the station and that is the last I heard from her. The police told me she was turned over to CPS. CPS gave me the contact info for the investigator but I have not received a response (and fairly sure they cannot since I am in no way related to the family).

I give this background because it's been over a week since I've heard from my friend. Her phone goes straight to voicemail, she's not active on any social media. My assumption is she's still with CPS. But I'm not sure... when you can't go home and none of the rest of your family wants to take you, what happens to you? She is 17. Would she be held at a juvenile center until the investigation is done? Placed into foster care? Just looking for some information since I'm worried about my friend.

[ccsmod3]

Hi!

Thanks for reaching out to us about your friend. It sounds like you care a lot about your friend and want to make sure she’s safe. It’s great to hear that your friend has people like you since she’s having a really hard time finding a stable home.

We aren’t legal experts so we can’t say for certain what happened to your friend once she went into CPS custody. She may not have access to her phone to let you know. If you haven’t heard from CPS, you could call the police to ask for an update to see if your friend is safe. However, it might be tough to get her exact location since you aren’t a family member or legal guardian. But regularly checking in with the police to find any information about her status may be the only thing you can do unless CPS calls you back.

We are sorry to hear that your friend is having a tough time with housing and custody. Having a support system and people who care about her is great. No matter where she is placed, she will need people who are there for her. She is lucky to have you. If you have any other questions, you can always reach out to us at 1-800-RUNAWAY or chat with us on our website www.18000RUNAWAY.org. Good luck to both of you and stay strong!

-NRS