Teenagers have so many things to deal with throughout their young lives. With emotional, physical, and mental factors at play, it can be difficult for them to deal with all of these issues at the same time. On top of this, teenagers in foster care have even more worries to deal with than the average teen.
Foster care for teens has never been more important than it is now. Giving teenagers a safe environment to navigate their feelings and challenges is vital for building brighter futures.
So let’s take a closer look at the challenges that teenagers in foster care face, how you can help them thrive, and why young people in care need you more than ever in 2026.
Why do so many teenagers need foster care?
Recent figures show that more than 80,000 children are in care as of November 2025. Of these children, more than 50,000 are teenagers. This could be for a variety of reasons, but there are statistically more teenagers in care than children who are much younger.
Teenagers in foster care carry a lot of trauma, so it’s important to bear this in mind and have compassion when helping them. The majority of children who enter care have experienced abuse or neglect, whereas others have experienced factors such as a breakdown with their birth family or parental illness.
Becoming a foster parent to a teenager can give them the safe space they deserve to come to terms with the issues they have faced in their short lifespan and look towards building a positive future.
What are the biggest challenges teenagers living in care face today?
Young people have so many challenges to tackle throughout their time in secondary school and college. As well as the usual issues of social media, fitting in with their peers, and bullying, teenagers have the added stress of worrying about exams and what they’re going to do once they’ve left full-time education.
We are often told at this age that our grades will define our future, and this can be a big responsibility to take on board at such a young age. Not everyone is lucky enough to know what they want to do when it comes time to choose a career!
Teenagers in care have all of these issues and more to deal with. They may have complex emotional issues surrounding their personal circumstances and how they came to be in care. Not only have they got trauma from their past to overcome, but they will also have to think about what they are going to do once they leave care. Without a solid support network behind them, this can be a daunting prospect. Children in care often feel isolated and alone; facing a future in the world without someone caring for them must be terrifying.
Becoming a foster parent to a teenager can help them to feel less isolated, ensure they have that much-needed support network to look beyond their time in care, and think about what’s coming next.
Why you should consider becoming a foster parent to a teenager
Opening your home to a teenager who needs your support and dedication will be one of the most rewarding things that you could do. Although fostering children of any age comes with its challenges, this also makes the highs so much more worth it. Fostering teens is an emotionally rewarding endeavour, as you can see how you’re helping them thrive in real time.
You’ll be giving those teenagers a helping hand when they need it most, and you’ll be actively changing their future. You can give them a safe, stable environment to study for exams and think about what’s next for them once they leave care. There are so many teenagers waiting for foster families to give them the help that they need, and you could be just the person they’re looking for.
Long term fostering will give teens in foster care the stability they need to worry about the everyday things that affect other teenagers. You can help to change a young person’s future and make a positive difference in their lives.
How to prepare for fostering a teenager
If you’re thinking about fostering a teenager, you’ll want to make sure that they have everything they need to thrive. Here are a couple of things to bear in mind when preparing to foster a teenager:
- Create an inclusive environment so that they feel welcome to express themselves.
- Build trust with them so that they feel they can come to you with their worries.
- Advocate for their needs so that they have everything they need to thrive.
- Prepare them for independence after their time in care so they can develop essential life skills they’ll need as an adult.
- Make sure they’ve got a room in your home that they can make their own.
- Take advantage of our excellent training to learn more about fostering and delivering the support any children in your care will need.
What support do foster carers get for teenagers?
Here at Fostering People, we are passionate about ensuring our foster parents get all of the support that they need to do what they do best – caring for children and giving them the love they deserve.
Supporting teens in foster care shouldn’t be made harder by a lack of support, and we want to ensure that you have all of the tools you need to do an outstanding job. We have a variety of support for foster carers to suit your needs throughout your fostering journey.
If you chose Fostering People, you can expect stellar support every step of the way.
- The support we offer our foster parents is ranked highly by Ofsted.
- We have a helpline that is open 24/7 so that there is always someone to talk to.
- As a foster parent for Fostering People, you will have access to a dedicated team of professionals, including social workers and other professionals.
- You will have a dedicated social worker assigned to you who can discuss your needs and offer guidance.
- There are dedicated support groups for new foster parents and plenty of local groups that bring foster parents together so you can share experiences with one another and talk to others who know what it’s like to support teenagers in foster care.
- Fostering People also offers respite care if you need a short break from fostering.
- As a foster parent, you will also have fostering allowances and tax relief to support you when you foster teenagers.
Start your fostering journey today
Curious about starting your fostering journey so that you can give teenagers the care they need? Or want to know more about who can foster? Give us a call on 0800 077 8159 or fill out our enquiry form to find out more.
Supporting teenagers in foster care will be one of the most rewarding things you could choose to do. Get in touch today to change a young person’s future and help teens in care thrive.
