My question involves juvenile law in the State of: Connecticut and Illinois
I am a minor under the age of 18, and just acquired my high school diploma. For one year, I was planning on attending a community college in Illinois while living with my friend (over 18) and her mother (paying a monthly rent for water/utilities/help w grocery bill/etc). For my first year of college, I will still be under the age of 18. Since this is a community college, I cannot live on campus, and therefore am able to have the college cover liability/become "guardian" of me. Is emancipation the best way to legally handle this situation?
I've been researching ways to make the situation legal, and so far I have come up with the following:
Power of Attorney for a Minor
The issue with a POA is that I am not sure if that still means I can legally live out of state with another adult who legally is not a guardian. From what I've researched, POA's are generally able to cross states with a little more paperwork and hassle.
Legal Guardianship
Another option is to have my friend's mother become my legal guardian. I wished to avoid this because I was told she might have to put me on her insurance plan instead of my parents. However, guardianship laws state that parents are still responsible for a lot of costs, and I found one site that stated a child may stay under a health insurance plan even if they are going out of state for college (not sure if that meant the minor would be living on campus or not). Legal guardianship is also a hassle because it goes through court, and since my friend's mother lives in Illinois while I live in Connecticut, it would not be plausible to have either side attended court located in the state which we don't reside. However, legal guardianship seems like the most legal way EXCEPT for the fact that the reasons for which a guardian is taking over a child doesn't necessarily apply to me (marriage, military, parent unable to be present at the time, harmful environment, etc).
Caregiver Affidavit
I do not know if this crosses states nor if if is a valid way for me to live OOS as a minor. I know it doesn't give guardianship to the person, but from what I've been reading, it seems as if it could work for certain things.
Emancipation
This one is another hassle. I would be working and be paying for my insurance, car, etc, but would only be paying rent for living in Illinois with my friend. I must provide proof I can live financially independent, but would I be considered financially independent if I was still living with another adult (but still paying rent)? I feel as if me living with my friend and her mother would look like I was not financially independent.
Are there any other legal ways to approach this? Which way is the best/most reasonable? My parents would give consent to any of these situations as they are the ones who are most concerned with me legally living OOS as a minor.

