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Adopt Lehigh Valley Kids

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Teen Foster Care and Adoption

Show up for Their Future

There are thousands of teens waiting for foster and adoption placement in Pennsylvania. You can change the trajectory of a teen’s life by becoming a foster or adoptive parent. The teen years are a special time of making lifelong memories and building a positive sense of self-worth. Be the safe, caring family a teen can count on, and you’ll experience the joys of guiding a teen into a brighter future. Whether you are single, married, an empty nester, or have no parenting experience, teens need you, and we can help you be the family that shows up for their future.

Connect with a Salvation Army team member

Fostering or adopting a teen is an incredibly rewarding journey, but we understand you may have questions. Here are the ones we hear most often; click on each question to see the answer:

"Teens are so independent. Will they want to be part of my family?"

Most teens in foster care did not grow up in a nurturing environment.
Even though teens seek independence, their need for connection with a family who can be supportive, caring, and encouraging doesn’t end.
Birthdays, proms, graduation…there are so many beautiful life-long memories you can make with a teen who needs you.

"Can I afford it?"

The cost of raising a teen is the same as a younger child; you’ll just pay for different things (rather than diapers, it’s cell phone bills; not formula, but groceries to fill the pantry)
Higher monthly support is provided to parents fostering teens to help offset costs like housing, clothing, allowance, activities, medical insurance, and other common expenses.
While you need to be self-supported, you don’t need to be wealthy or even a homeowner to provide a loving home for a teen.
Adoption through the foster care system is essentially no cost to parents.
The state of Pennsylvania offers low and no cost opportunities for higher education for children who have been in foster care.

"Is it harder to parent a teen?"

Teens don’t need constant supervision like babies/infants; they typically like to sleep in.
Teens are seeking independence in a loving environment.
Teens require much less daily care than a young child—no dressing, feeding or bathtime struggles, so you are freed up to do more fun things together!
While all kids in foster care have experienced trauma, teens are better able to communicate their needs, so you can work together on solving challenges.

"Do I have what it takes to parent a teen?"

If you can provide a safe home, commitment, love, and supportive guidance, then you have the most important pieces needed to foster a teen.
First-time parents, singles, families with other children, and empty nesters can all provide a stable, loving home for a teen.
Teens need someone to listen to them, to show them their worth, to teach them to make good decisions, and to celebrate their accomplishments. Parenting experience isn’t required to do any of those things.
And never forget, it takes a village, and The Salvation Army will be there to help make sure you have the training and support you’ll need.

At The Salvation Army, we seek to give all children a bright future, and to do so, we offer parents the resources they need to feel supported in their teen foster and adoption journeys.

Just as you aren’t alone in your questions about fostering or adopting a teenager, you’re not alone in the process. When you work with our team at The Salvation Army, we are here every step of the way, helping our resource families with:

Educational resources
Peer mentors and connections with fellow resource families
Personal attention - quick responses, accurate information, and advocacy
Training & information

For over 30 years, The Salvation Army Children's Services: Foster Care and Adoption Program has connected children in the Lehigh Valley and Southeast Pennsylvania with safe, caring homes to help them heal and thrive.

We serve children and families in Pennsylvania within a 50-mile radius of Allentown, PA. With office locations in Allentown, PA and Souderton, PA, we are ranked in the top 5% of children’s service agencies monitored by the State of Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. Learn more about us here.

Help guide a teenager into adulthood

No parent is perfect. No teen is perfect. Most teenagers are looking for a place to call home and someone who’ll be in their corner. If you are willing to provide stability and love to a teenager in need, we can help you do it.

Connect with a Salvation Army team member