How Foster Parents Can Support Teenage Mothers
Fostering teenage mothers means caring for both a teen and her child in one home. These young moms are still growing up themselves while trying to raise a baby. Most have already experienced instability or trauma and need guidance, structure, and compassion to build a better future for themselves and their child.
READ MORE: What Happens to Pregnant Teens in Foster Care?
Your Role As a Foster Parent
Fostering a teen mother means showing up in a deeply impactful way. You’re helping a young person figure out how to parent, even as she’s still figuring out how to take care of herself. Your role may involve:
- Modeling healthy parenting routines
- Teaching life skills (cooking, budgeting, scheduling)
- Helping with childcare so she can stay in school
- Accompanying her to medical appointments
- Encouraging her as she balances parenting with her own development
The goal is to empower her to parent independently and confidently, without taking over her parental role. In most cases, the teen retains full parental rights unless safety concerns arise.
What Happens After the Baby Is Born?
Each situation is handled case by case. In many cases, the foster family supports both the teen mom and her child together in one placement, called a “whole-family foster home.”
Once the baby arrives, several things can happen depending on the situation and local child welfare policies:
- You may become the foster parent to both mom and baby, especially if the state determines it’s best to keep them together.
- The teen is usually considered the baby’s legal parent, unless there are safety concerns. She has the right to make parenting decisions, even if she’s still a minor.
- If the state feels the teen isn’t capable of caring for her baby safely, the baby might be placed in a separate foster home. This is typically a last resort.
The baby is typically not in the custody of the state unless the teen’s parenting poses a risk. The foster parent supports the teen but does not have legal guardianship over the baby. If safety becomes a concern, a separate placement for the baby may be considered, but only as a last resort.
What If the Teen Already Has a Child?
Some youth enter foster care after having a baby or may be parenting while in care. Foster parents may care for just the teen, just the child (in rare cases), or both together. Whenever possible, the state aims to keep young families together and provide the support needed for reunification or long-term success.
The Role of Young Fathers
If the baby’s father is also in foster care, he may live in another placement or, in rare cases, be placed with the teen mother if it’s safe and appropriate. Some teen fathers are involved and want to parent; others may not be part of the picture. Caseworkers evaluate each situation to ensure the safety and well-being of both the baby and the young parents.
Pregnancy Rates Among Youth in Foster Care
Pregnancy rates are significantly higher among youth in foster care than among their peers. By age 19, about 44% of young women in foster care have experienced at least one pregnancy, compared to around 20% of teens outside the system. By age 21, more than 70% of girls who have been in foster care report having been pregnant at least once.
These numbers point to deeper systemic challenges. Youth in foster care often lack access to consistent sexual health education and medical care, and many have experienced abuse, neglect, or disrupted placements. These are all factors that contribute to higher pregnancy risk.
Why Teens in Foster Care May Become Parents
While each teen’s experience is unique, many are navigating complex emotional needs. Some are seeking connection and love in ways they didn’t receive during childhood. Others are in relationships that lack boundaries or support. There are also cases of coercion or unhealthy dynamics with older partners. Additionally, many foster youth face unstable living arrangements that make it difficult to access birth control or health services consistently.
Why It Matters
Each year, around 20,000 teens age out of foster care and many of them are young parents. Without stable support, they are at higher risk of homelessness, poverty, and losing custody of their children. By fostering teenage mothers, you help break the cycle. You give them the chance to build a better life—for themselves and their children.
