Being a foster parent for a teenager or a young adult is very different from being a foster parent for a younger child. In the same aspect as a younger child, teens need a loving, supportive, and nurturing home.
Many teens in foster care come from backgrounds in which both positive and negative emotions were often expressed in extreme, inaccurate, or inappropriate ways. Youth need to know how to express emotions appropriately.
They need to feel the joy of knowing that a respected adult cares about them and how they feel. Developmentally, teens are often on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Having someone who can model a caring, calm, and respectful response enhances teens’ positive development. Teens and young adults are adults-in-training. They need - and want - life models, life coaches, and opportunities to develop into the people they can be.
Becoming a Foster Parent