In 2021, a staggering 19,000 young individuals in the US faced a daunting reality: aging out of foster care without the security of a permanent family or the comfort of reuniting with their parents. The crucial transition to adulthood, inherently challenging for anyone, becomes an even more formidable journey for these youths. Lacking the foundation of a stable, nurturing family, they confront adulthood alone, often severed from the supportive services and resources foster care once provided.
Consequently, these young adults are disproportionately vulnerable to a spectrum of serious challenges, including behavioral, mental, and physical health struggles; housing instability and homelessness; difficulties in securing employment and achieving academic success; early parenthood; and a heightened risk of incarceration. These adversities, encountered at such a pivotal moment in their lives, can leave lasting impacts, shaping their futures profoundly.
Surely we can do better. The situation is a real crisis, and the need for families who are passionate about fostering teens is great
About Teens in Care
Teens in foster care, often perceived through a misunderstood lens, are not juvenile delinquents or inherently troubled. Many have faced adversity, such as abuse, neglect, or complex family dynamics, yet these experiences don’t define their character or potential. These resilient and remarkable young people, confronted with challenges beyond their control, deserve recognition for their strength, not stigmatization for their circumstances.
It’s crucial to understand that foster care placement is not a reflection of a child’s behavior but rather a necessary intervention when biological families face insurmountable difficulties. These may include addiction, incarceration, illness, or inability to provide adequate care, leading to situations where a child’s safety and well-being are at risk.
Youth in foster care hold immense potential to flourish in a nurturing and stable environment. They are capable of remarkable achievements and growth, just like any other child. We can help pave their way towards a bright and successful future by providing them with the support and understanding they need.
The Teenage Foster Care Crisis
The absence of a stable foster home can have a lasting impact on a teenager’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
- Teenagers make up 36% of kids in foster care, totaling over 250,000 across the country.
- However, less than 7% of available foster homes accept teens. Many potential foster parents prefer to take in younger children or babies. This preference could be due to various reasons, including perceived ease of care, the desire to experience parenting stages missed earlier, or assumptions about the behavioral challenges of older children.
- Without stable foster placements, many teens end up in group homes. Others bounce between temporary shelters.
- Nearly 25% of teens who age out of foster care will become instantly homeless when they turn 18.
Benefits of Fostering Teenagers
While fostering teenagers comes with unique challenges, it can also be enriching. Reasons families should consider teen foster care include:
- The opportunity to make a massive difference at a critical point in a young person’s life before they age out of the system
- Helping guide teens towards positive choices and preparation for independent living
- Enjoying activities and conversations appropriate for their age and development
- Being inspired by teens’ resilience despite difficult upbringings
- Developing meaningful relationships on the brink of adulthood
Foster families provide the stability and support all teenagers need while gaining perspective from a remarkable young person.
Consider Helping a Teen Transition Into Adulthood
Thousands of teenagers need foster homes every year, making the need urgent and vital. By understanding the unique challenges and opportunities that come with fostering teenagers, more individuals and families may be encouraged to open their homes and hearts to this often-overlooked group.
Providing a nurturing home environment for a teenager, even temporarily, can change the trajectory of their life for the better. If you have any interest or capacity to foster youth in need, please contact Alpha Treatment Centers today. There are young people in your community who need you.
For more than 30 years, Alpha Treatment Centers, Foster Family Agency, and Alpha Adoption Centers have provided resource homes for children and youth and facilitated adoptions. Accredited by CARF International, our organization helps build strong, resilient families. Contact us if you’re ready to make a difference in a child’s life!