FURS also has a Mobile Response Team of caring and trained individuals that can come directly to where you are to help you solve problems and connect you to local services and support. FURS services are for YOU, are voluntary, and are driven by your input on how they can be the support team you need.
Call, Text, or Chat with FURS
- You will be connected to a trained counselor or peer who will listen to you. FURS is a safe, judgement-free and private space to talk about your worries and vent.
- Consistent with your right to live in a safe and healthy enviroment, you should not be fearful of punishment or retaliation from your caregiver for calling FURS. The Mobile Response team will work with you to help address this if needed.
Mobile Response
- If you choose to request a mobile response, your local county will send a team to your location to speak to you directly and provide support.
- They will help you and your caregiver find ways to stabilize your situation and come up with a plan that helps keep you safe.
Follow Up
-
Within 24 hours FURS staff will reach out and ensure that your needs were met and that you feel safe.
-
FURS will work with you and your team to connect you to ongoing support as needed.
When should I contact FURS?
Have you had disagreements with your caregiver or Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP, formerly known as group home) staff? Frustrations with the people who are supposed to be helping you? Are you not feeling safe? Here are some scenarios when you might give FURS a call for some immediate, private help to make sure you are SAFE and SUPPORTED. These are only a few examples of what FURS is intended to help with, you can call ANY TIME for ANYTHING that’s affecting your STABILITY.
Are your relationships being valued?
Your resource parent cancels your sibling visit because they say they need the car to go pick up their grandson from the airport. Your resource parent regularly cancels visits with your siblings and parents at the last minute and doesn’t value your relationships. You’re very frustrated and you feel like you want a new placement.You call the FURS helpline because you can’t reach your social worker.
This example might not apply to you but if there is something affecting your stability, please call the hotline.
Are you frustrated with the STRTP Staff?
You’re placed in a STRTP; you became angry at STRTP staff after having a discussion at dinner. You feel unsupported by staff and you’re thinking of running away. You call the FURS helpline and request that the mobile response team come to your STRTP to help you feel safe and calm the situation between yourself and staff.
This example might not apply to you but if there is something affecting your stability, please call the hotline.
Have you been left without support?
You were living with your biological mother after reunifying with her a few months before your 18th birthday. Your dependency case is now closed. You and your mom had a big argument and told you that can find somewhere else to sleep. You call the FURS helpline at 2am.
This example might not apply to you but if there is something affecting your stability, please call the hotline.
Feeling unsupported about your Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression (SOGIE)?
You’re placed in a resource home and you are starting to explore your sexual orientation and gender identity expression (SOGIE) and you’re interested in attending some events to connect to the the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, and asexual or allies (LGBTQIA+) community. Your resource parent is reluctant to transport you to these events and is not supporting you in your decisions. You call the FURS helpline because you need someone to talk to.
This example might not apply to you but if there is something affecting your stability, please call the hotline.