ginal22564
Dec 22, 2011, 10:51 AM
We are providing care to a 16 year old boy, who is a school friend of our son. We are in the state of Texas. The boy became homeless this summer, after his grandmother, who he was being raised by, passed away. He was taken in by an aunt, but for some reason she turned him out. Over the summer he was on his own for a while, basically unsupervised without stable care. He actually has a lot of family in our town, but none that are willing to take him in and provide any care full time. His birth mother is a drifter who is on drugs, from what I am told. His birth father just got out of prison in October, 2011, but has never had custody of him. We let him visit him most weekends, and it seems to be going pretty well, though he drinks quite a bit, but really seems to want a relationship with his son. I have no idea if anyone claims guardianship of him, but he doesn't think anyone has legal custody of him. We provide everything for him, shelter, food, clothing, enrolled him for health benefits, he hadn't had medical or dental care in years unless an emergency. I have him passing school for the first time in 4 years. It feels like his family wants him around on weekends for having fun, then everything important and all responsibility goes to us. Should we pursue any type of legal guardianship or custody? Would we have any financial benefits in doing so? Thanks for any help.