Did you know nearly half of the children in foster care in Utah are teens? And like their younger siblings, most are in foster care because of abuse or neglect in their home?

In many ways, teens in foster care are similar to other teens you know. They worry about how they are viewed by their peers and about “fitting in”. They think about the algebra test tomorrow and the dance next Saturday.

Unlike most teens, they also worry about where they will be living a month from now. Did their biological parents make it to counseling? How is their younger brother that they haven’t seen in two weeks? They wonder if they should try out for football or choir, or if they will even be at this same school next year. They are unsure about making new friends in a new place when they don’t know how long it will last. For some teens in foster care, these concerns are so overwhelming that they don’t spend as much time caring about things like school or friends.

Children are generally placed in foster care for their own protection from abuse or neglect in their biological homes. It is not due to their own misbehavior. Like anyone, they develop habits and behaviors based on what they experience and the environment they come from. For teens in foster care, this may mean developing certain behaviors that helped them survive in the past.

Behaviors could include food or “hoarding” food because in their biological home their often was none. It could mean being dishonest about things that led to them being mistreated in the past. It usually includes having a difficult time learning to trust others. Some have not experienced rules or consequences and have a difficult time learning to adjust with that change.

Many worry about what the future holds for them.

Yet with all of these challenges, children in foster care also have so much potential. As a foster parent, you have the opportunity to see their development up close as they learn to trust their environment and feel safe. For example, the combination of a safe home and a relationship with a supportive adult who cares about their education can lead to important strides in school.

One thing that is certain for all teens, including those in foster care, is that they are at a difficult time in life. They are developing independence and preparing to make the transition to adulthood. Teens in foster care need support, guidance, and mentoring that most teens receive at home. While many teens in foster care have experienced caring for themselves, they aren’t prepared for long-term success as adults.

Like all children in foster care, the initial goal for teens is to help them return to their biological family. Caseworkers work with the parents to help them try and resolve the problems at home so that it is safe for the children to return. When parents are unable to make needed changes, children cannot return home and another long-term plan is needed for their care and support.