The foster care system is vast and complicated. This system is designed to provide essential support for children and teens who need safe and stable homes. While the foster care system provides crucial benefits, it can also come with challenges for the people inside it. For teens in foster care, navigating the system can come with challenges that affect their mental health. These difficulties are not uncommon; research shows that up to 80% of children in foster care experience significant mental health challenges. As a parent or guardian of a foster teen, understanding the challenges your teen may be facing can help you provide the support they need to thrive.

How the foster care system can affect the mental health of children and teens

• Feelings of uncertainty — A teen in foster care may feel like their life lacks stability. If they’ve spent a long time moving from place to place, they might have a hard time trusting that anything is certain or permanent. This can make it difficult for them to adjust to life with your family. Your foster teen may feel as if any connections they make with your family are only temporary or not worthwhile. They may feel anxious and uncertain about the future. If your foster teen is experiencing anxiety related to uncertainty, you can help by making them feel at home and taking steps to show they belong.
• Grief — Many teens in the foster care system have already experienced major loss. Being separated from their biological family can cause significant grief in your teen, even if the separation was necessary for their safety. Your foster teen may mourn the loss of family connections, friends, community and familiar routines. Grief is a part of life. If your foster teen seems fixated on their loss and continues to grieve without improvement, though, it could be a sign of a more significant mental health concern. Your foster teen may be experiencing complicated grief, which occurs when grief symptoms extend beyond what is considered typical. Complicated grief may not get better without treatment. If your teen is experiencing complicated grief, professional intervention can be vital. They may also require trauma-focused therapy from experiencing neglect, abuse or multiple placements.
• Difficulty trusting — Teens in foster care may have difficulty trusting due to past experiences. Your foster teen may feel like they’ve been betrayed by their biological family, former foster families or the foster care system. This can make them hesitate to trust you. If your foster teen seems distrustful, it’s important not to take their feelings personally. Try to understand what they’ve been through, and work to build a rapport. Be patient, letting them open up in their own time.
• Identity challenges — Adolescence is a time of self-discovery. A person’s teen years often involve exploring their interests and defining who they want to be. The foster care system may complicate this process. Without a stable environment, a teen in the foster care system may have a hard time maintaining a sense of identity. They may feel disconnected from their roots, or they may feel as if they need to change their personality to adapt to new settings. These identity challenges can take a toll on their mental health. If you’re fostering a teen who seems to be struggling with their identity, it can be important to show acceptance. Encourage your foster teen to explore their sense of self and act authentically.
• Emotional dysregulation — Past trauma and instability can make it harder for teens in foster care to manage their emotions. If your foster teen seems to have trouble controlling their feelings, building coping mechanisms can help. You can work with your teen to build coping skills geared toward emotional regulation. You can also help them access treatment designed to address the drivers behind mental health symptoms.

Help your teen get the mental health support they need at Lightfully Teen

Whether your teen needs help adjusting to life changes or regulating their emotions, Lightfully Teen is here to help. We offer multiple levels of specialized treatment geared specifically toward teens. Our treatment framework is based on evidence and driven by compassion. We take a unique approach to treatment called Precision Care Model (PCM), which you can think of as a fully personalized framework for exceptional care. Our PCM uses the most effective aspects of modalities like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).

Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step with your foster child, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of your teen.