Sponsored– Across North Carolina, thousands of children rely on foster families for safety and stability. Yet one group often waits the longest for a home: older teens. Typically defined as youth between 13 and 17, older teens in foster care are often overlooked by prospective foster parents who feel more comfortable caring for younger children. Approximately 2,300 teens in North Carolina’s foster care system are waiting for adoption1, often facing steeper odds of finding permanent families than younger children. The need for foster homes willing to support teens remains critical across the state.
Many teens enter foster care after significant changes in their lives. Some may have lived with relatives or moved between temporary placements before entering the foster system as teenagers. Others may have spent years in care without finding a permanent home.
When teens are placed in supportive foster families, they gain consistency and guidance when preparing for adulthood. A steady adult presence—someone who shows up for school events, offers encouragement, and helps navigate everyday decisions—can make a powerful difference in a young person’s confidence and sense of belonging.
Fostering older teens creates opportunities for meaningful, lifetime connections. While some people assume teens don’t want families or that it’s too late to make a difference, the opposite is often true. Many teens still want connection, guidance, and someone they can count on.
In these situations, foster parents play an important role not only in preparing teens for life after high school, but in helping them maintain connections to siblings, relatives, and their cultural identity. This may include learning how to budget, apply for jobs, learn to drive, and explore college or training programs.
Becoming a foster parent in North Carolina may feel like a big step, but the process is designed to prepare families and ensure they have the support they need. Foster parents provide a temporary home and stable environment for children and teens while families work toward reunification or another permanent plan. They partner with social workers, birth families, and other professionals to help youth stay safe, continue their education, and maintain connections.
The first step in becoming a foster parent is learning about the foster care role. Prospective foster parents can attend information sessions, watch an online orientation video, or speak with local agencies to understand what fostering involves and what placements may be a good fit.
The next step is choosing a licensed agency to work with throughout the process. Agencies guide families through training, licensing, and placement while providing ongoing support.
After selecting an agency, prospective foster parents complete training and meet required standards. Training prepares families for the realities of foster care, including how to support youth who have experienced trauma, communicate with social workers, and help children adjust to new environments. Families complete background checks and other requirements designed to ensure a safe home.
Next, an assessment of the home and the family’s preparedness to foster is conducted. During this step, agencies work with families to review their living space, discuss household routines, and confirm the home meets safety standards. Licensing allows families to officially welcome foster youth into their homes. Once licensed, families may receive placement calls and begin providing care.
Foster parents are never expected to do this important work alone. Support continues well after a child or teen is placed in a foster home.
In North Carolina, foster families can connect with networks such as the Foster Family Alliance of North Carolina, which offers community, training opportunities, and peer support. Programs like Success Coach provide guidance, helping teens and caregivers build stability.
Foster parents receive monthly financial assistance to help cover everyday costs, and youth in foster care receive Medicaid coverage for medical and behavioral health services. These resources allow foster parents to focus on building relationships and helping teens thrive.
Older teens in foster care also receive support as they transition into adulthood. Eligible youth may choose to remain in care through a Voluntary Placement Agreement (VPA)2, allowing them to continue receiving support as they pursue education, employment, or other goals.
Programs such as NC LINKS help youth build essential life skills, from financial literacy to career planning. Education programs like the Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program and NC Reach scholarships help eligible students pursue college or vocational training.
Together, these resources help create a pathway from foster care to independence and opportunity.
Fostering an older teen is about more than providing a place to stay. It’s about offering stability, encouragement, and belonging when it matters most. Older teens need caring adults who will guide them through high school, support them as they plan their futures, and help them build the skills and confidence they need to flourish.
By opening your home to a teen in foster care, you can help change a young person’s life. North Carolina provides training, resources, and community support to help foster families every step of the way.
If you’ve ever considered fostering, now is the time to learn more and make a lasting difference for a teen who needs someone like you in their corner.
1https://governor.nc.gov/governor-proclaims-foster-care-month
2A Voluntary Placement Agreement (VPA) for foster care, specifically in North Carolina, is a contract allowing youth to remain in Division of Social Services (DSS) custody until age 21. It enables extended support, including monthly stipends, housing assistance, and social worker support for those in school, working, or with disabilities.
VIDEO LINK
https://ncswlearn.org/presenter/Foster_Parent_Orientation/story.html
