While the DCF's welfare program unofficially referred to my friend in a Notice of Case Action as the "non-relative caregiver", attempts to confirm this legal relationship were met with confusion. The representatives we spoke with had no idea what we were talking about and refused to acknowledge that this relationship is even possible. My parents cannot act on my behalf because one is 4000 miles away and the other is an irresponsible drunk and WILL not act for me.
However, we HAVE confirmed, through various channels, that the friend has no type of guardianship or custody of me, will never have guardianship of me, and is currently seen as a friend who I am living with for free. My father has no custody of me. My mother will not reveal her location to me. Attempts to contact my mother by the state have not been successful (she does not answer the phone to unknown numbers in fear of being reached by a debt collector). Therefore in the eyes of the state I have no legal guardians and have had none for over two months. My friend cannot take me to get a flu shot, see the doctor/dentist, sign for me at the DMV, etc.
Today I spoke on the phone with my DCF investigator. She was condescending and sarcastic in the way you expect someone who sits around all day doing nothing making $40k a year would be. I learned that if I were placed in foster care rather than with my friend, the foster parents would have temporary custody of me. To give my friend temporary custody would be extremely difficult then, as she would likely have to fill out an additional form.
The system is broken is all I'm saying. It is getting frustrating. Why not at that point simply recognize me to be an adult, so I can finally begin living my own life? Just because I have not existed for an arbitrary number of revolutions our planet has made? I could have filed for emancipation but that is broken on its own. You need to pay a filing fee and wait up to 2 months to process the order. Time and money. What child ready to become an adult can expend either of those resources? Something needs to change here. /rant