Teens in Foster Care

The Need is Greater Than Many Realize

When many people think about foster care, they picture a young child.

They imagine rocking a baby to sleep, reading bedtime stories, or maybe even helping a child learn how to ride a bike. Those moments are beautiful, and they’re often part of what draws families to foster care in the first place.

But there is another group of children who need families just as much: teenagers.

Across Georgia and the country, thousands of teens in foster care are waiting for a stable home. In Georgia alone, more than 2,800 youth between the ages of 13 and 18 are currently in foster care. [1] In 2025, approximately 75% of referred children at WinShape Homes were age 10 or older.

The need is clear, yet older youth are often overlooked. Why?

For prospective foster parents, that hesitation isn’t because they don’t care. Let’s be honest, fostering a teenager can feel intimidating. Some people assume that teens enter care because of behavior issues. Others fear they won’t know how to navigate the effects of trauma. Many simply assume they’re too late to make a meaningful difference in a teenager’s life.

The reality is much different.

Teenagers in foster care don’t need perfect parents. They need caring adults willing to offer stability and guidance as they bridge childhood and independence.

Looking Beyond the Stereotypes

One of the most common misconceptions about teens in foster care is that the majority of the time they are there because they are rebellious or out of control. In reality, youth enter foster care because of circumstances beyond their control. Neglect, abuse, parental substance use, housing instability, and other family crises are among the most common reasons children enter care.

When teenagers arrive in a foster home, they often carry the weight of experiences no child should have to navigate alone. Some have moved several times. Some have experienced broken trust with adults who were supposed to protect them. Others are grieving the separation from their family, even when entering care was necessary for their safety.

That matters because what can sometimes be labeled as “difficult behavior” is often a response to loss, uncertainty, or trauma.

When we shift our perspective, we begin to see something important: these teenagers aren’t problems to solve. They’re young people who need consistency.

The Teen Years Matter

Many families are drawn to fostering younger children because they want to help shape a child’s future from the beginning.

That’s a beautiful desire, but it’s important to remember that no one outgrows the need for caring adults.

The teenage years are full of milestones and decisions that help shape a person’s future. Teens are discovering who they are, navigating relationships, developing independence, and preparing for adulthood. One of the unique opportunities that comes with fostering teens is walking alongside them through these important moments. Teenagers are learning through experience and taking on new responsibilities. Along the way, they’re going to make mistakes.

A healthy family doesn’t eliminate mistakes; it provides a safe place to learn from them. For foster teens, that can be especially meaningful. Many have experienced instability or relationships that felt conditional. Living in a home where grace and accountability exist together can help them build confidence while learning important life skills.

More Than Providing a Home

Fostering teens offers a unique opportunity to take on a mentorship role as a parent. You’re helping bridge the gap between childhood and adulthood by providing encouragement, teaching responsibility, and creating space for a young person to learn and grow.

For Christians, this can reflect the heart of discipleship. Throughout Scripture, we see the importance of walking alongside others, speaking truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Fostering teens offers a practical opportunity to do exactly that; not by fixing every challenge, but by faithfully showing up and pointing them towards Jesus.

You May Be Exactly What a Teen Needs

If you’ve ever considered foster care but assumed teenagers weren’t the right fit for your family, it may be worth taking a second look.

Foster teens aren’t looking for perfect parents. They’re looking for people who will show up consistently.

At WinShape Homes, we believe every child deserves to experience the love of Christ through caring relationships and supportive communities. No one is ever too old to need a family. And sometimes, the simple act of showing up can change the course of a life.

Work Cited

1. Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Family & Children Services, Child Welfare Data Portal. Available at: Georgia DFCS Child Welfare. Accessed July 2026.