You Can Foster a Teen’s Future!

If you are considering fostering a teen – and we hope you are – you might have some important questions. One of them could be:

Is there truly a need for homes willing to foster teens?

The answer is emphatically yes!

Every day, there are about 1,000 teens in OKDHS custody placed outside of their homes. While one-third of these teens are placed in some form of kinship care, only about 20% are placed in “regular” foster care – that is, foster homes who did not previously know the youth. Compare this with another 20% who are currently placed in some form of congregate care (group homes, shelters, etc.). Many are awaiting and searching for placement in a home setting.

The need for foster homes willing to take in teens is steadily increasing. Making the commitment to provide a loving home for a teenager can be challenging but greatly rewarding. It is a unique opportunity to help shape the future of a young person!

There are a variety of support services provided to youth ages 14-21 in OKDHS custody. Youth 18-21 may elect to stay in voluntary care in their foster home while completing high school and the foster home continues to receive support from OKDHS. These include teen conferences, life skills workshops, and funding to assist youth with goals related to education, employment, and extracurricular activities. For certain youth, funds may be available to help with post-secondary education. Consultation services offer Hope Science-centered assessment and planning tools and facilitated transition planning for the 17th year.

For more information and resources visit Oklahoma Successful Adult Program.