[Natasha2012]

I am 17 years old turning 18 in 7 months and they just placed me into foster care. It doesn't make any sense to be in foster care because I am going to be turning 18 soon. I want to get on my own and do things for myself I am still in school and abide by all of the laws the only thing that I don't have is a job. Can I still be able to get emancipated? Isn't there a such thing as the FIL program that can help?

[Fr_Chuck]

Which is why of course you need to be in foster care since you don't understand why.

No you are there till you are at least 18.

No you can not get emancipated,
1. there is no reason
2. you have no job to afford to live on your own, to be emancipated you have to afford to pay for your own apartment, live on your own not with someone.

Where do you plan on living ? How do you afford to pay for food, medical care and so on.

So you are being placed in care for your own good ( has to be a reason due to home life)

[seekingserenity]

You are on the very brink of gaining independence. There is no need to rush, I hope. There is much preparation to be done and you are in a place where you can receive guidance to best insure a successful future.

I hope that you are able to find employment and help in transitioning into independent living before you turn 18. Foster care is there to provide you with a safe and supportive environment because you are a minor, something went wrong, and now the state is responsible to care for you until you reach the age of majority. And after that there may not be a lot of help available so be patient and take the help that is offered.

I know it may be difficult right now to be in an unfamiliar environment as well as apart from people you are familiar with, some of whom you may still have a good relationship with. And you may also have the stress of having been mistreated or neglected. There may be counseling, mentoring, support groups, and valuable friendships with peers that you can access through this experience. Right now, there is a lot of help available to you. Use it and set yourself up for success. Michigan will allow you to age out of foster care at 18. It would actually be beneficial to allow you to stay until you are 21.

Independent Living services should be made available to you and should include help with all of the skills you will need to be prepared to live as an independent adult. Ask for help with setting up a personal budget, basic cooking, home or apartment maintenance, job readiness classes and mock interviews, locating available housing and/or housing subsidy, completing high school or obtaining a GED, filling out financial aid forms for higher education, aptitude testing to help decide your future career choice, available mentoring and/or counseling to provide additional support now and in the future.

You are in foster care for a short time and someone thought for a good reason. Make the best of it. I wish you all the success and peace of mind life has to offer.

[JudyKayTee]

Are you in foster care by Court Order or some other arrangement?