Home > Family Life > Fostering and Adopting - Teenagers

Fostering and Adopting - Teenagers

By: Beth Morrisey MLIS - Updated: 13 May 2021 | comments*Discuss
 
Fostering foster Care children In Care

Fostering and adopting teenagers is not necessarily an easy task, but it can literally save the life of a teenager who has no one else to which they can turn. Fostering, or taking teens in temporarily, allows them to have a safe haven after traumatic or troubling circumstances. Adopting, or making a teen a legal member of your family, gives teens a second chance at the kind of life that they deserve. Families who feel that they have enough love to give should consider investigating more about fostering or adopting teenagers.

Fostering Teenagers in the United Kingdom

When a teenager is fostered it means that the Local Authority is legally responsible for the teen, but families or individuals are needed to carry out the day to day tasks of caring for him or her. How long a teen remains fostered will depend upon his or her specific case. For example, teens with certain disabilities may remain in the care of the Local Authority for the rest of their lives while other teens may only stay in the care of the Local Authority until they reach a legal age limit and still others may return to their own family if circumstances permit. Foster parents who undertake responsibilities for teens are paid for their efforts, usually a weekly fostering fee plus maintenance per child. Each teen that is fostered generally has a care plan that provides more information on the types of decisions made regarding his or her best interested. People interested in becoming foster parents should contact their Local Authority to find out more about fostering in their area.

Adopting Teenagers in the United Kingdom

Younger teens in the United Kingdom who can not live with their birth families are fostered by the Local Authority, meaning that the government has legal responsibility for them and they live with temporary foster parents. Individuals who want to make these teens a legal and permanent part of their families will need to be approved first by an adoption agency and then by the Local Authority. This also holds true for individuals who wish to adopt teen relatives, teens from other areas of the country and teens from other countries. When teens are adopted, an Adoption Order is issued. This means that the birth parents have no further legal rights or responsibilities regarding the teen and the adoptive parents assume them instead. Once an Adoption Order is issued it can not be revoked. However, teens may desire to keep in touch with their birth families in the manner of an “open adoption”. This is something that each family will need to work out for themselves.

Fostering and adopting are both means by which teens are given new, safe, supportive homes. While fostering tends to be a more temporary measure, adopting is permanent. However, both are important in order to remove teens from unhealthy environments and allow them to move towards a brighter future. Individuals who would like more information on becoming a foster parent or an adoptive parent should contact the Local Authorities in their area to find out about these processes.

You might also like...
Share Your Story, Join the Discussion or Seek Advice..
[Add a Comment]
I am from the uk ???? If you need to know where I am.
Rosie - 13-May-21 @ 4:09 PM
Hi I am 11 years old and my name is Annie. I love to do drama and go on outings. I also love animals and hope to have one one day. I am in need of a family who will listen to me and pay attention to me and not use me As a slave or something or take me for granted. I love school and want to be a teacher when I’m older or at least a teaching assistant. I would like a family because you see my mom passed away when I was only 1 and my dad left me in a care home when I was 3 as he didn’t really want me and he was alcoholic and like alcohol more then he wanted me so therefore He put me in care home. I am always caring and Love talking (once I get to know you) And would love to be with you and be apart of what you do. I love others company and am always making others day (as-well as making them laugh a lot!). I would love to become part of your family and give you what I have to give back to you and what you have to me. If you think you can be my forever parents and give me the what I have always wanted. A loving home and family. Please contact meand I’ll be happy and forever great full.
Rosie - 13-May-21 @ 4:07 PM
Hi, I am 19 year old, am actually fromWest Africa (sierra Leone). I can't say it all of how am feeling now, but the truth is am badly inneed of parent that much as I have no parent now only my aunts and uncles that haves their own children's to take care of. I just can't say it all now but I needparent who can be my mother and father for ever. I pray to live nomal life. Hope someone take this seriously and to considerations.
kiss - 29-Oct-20 @ 5:56 PM
Hi, Is it possible to adopt a teenager/sibling group in the UK - without fostering them first? We are looking to adopt teens but have been told that this cannot be done without fostering them first ....and to be able to foster... we have been told that one of us would have to give up our jobs (which pay more than fostering income), therefore fostering would force the end of one parents career whereas a biological child could have two working parents from the day they are born who still have time and energy to look after them. This ‘red tape’ rule seems totally unrealistic as were we to adopt the children we would have one year fostering leave and would return to work. Or if we were to have biological children, we would have one tear of maternity leave and then return to work. Seems like so much red tape in terms of having working parents. Like it’s ok to have two working parents for adopted and biological children but not for fostered children (which I understand may have something to do with the fact that there is pay for fosters carers) but why then, can two working parents not adopt older kids without fostering first, where the kids agree to it?
SBooth - 10-Sep-20 @ 9:48 AM
Hi, Is it possible to adopt a teenager/sibling group in the UK - without fostering them first? We are looking to adopt teens but have been told that this cannot be done without fostering them first ....and to be able to foster... we have been told that one of us would have to give up our jobs (which pay more than fostering income), therefore fostering would force the end of one parents career whereas a biological child could have two working parents from the day they are born who still have time and energy to look after them. This ‘red tape’ rule seems totally unrealistic as were we to adopt the children we would have one year fostering leave and would return to work. Or if we were to have biological children, we would have one tear of maternity leave and then return to work. Seems like so much red tape in terms of having working parents. Like it’s ok to have two working parents for adopted and biological children but not for fostered children (which I understand may have something to do with the fact that there is pay for fosters carers) but why then, can two working parents not adopt older kids without fostering first, where the kids agree to it?
SBooth - 10-Sep-20 @ 9:46 AM
Hi, Is it possible to adopt a teenager/sibling group in the UK - without fostering them first? We are looking to adopt teens but have been told that this cannot be done without fostering them first ....and to be able to foster... we have been told that one of us would have to give up our jobs (which pay more than fostering income), therefore fostering would force the end of one parents career whereas a biological child could have two working parents from the day they are born who still have time and energy to look after them. This ‘red tape’ rule seems totally unrealistic as were we to adopt the children we would have one year fostering leave and would return to work. Or if we were to have biological children, we would have one tear of maternity leave and then return to work. Seems like so much red tape in terms of having working parents. Like it’s ok to have two working parents for adopted and biological children but not for fostered children (which I understand may have something to do with the fact that there is pay for fosters carers) but why then, can two working parents not adopt older kids without fostering first, where the kids agree to it?
SBooth - 9-Sep-20 @ 10:16 PM
I’m 16 years old, I live with my single mum who has pulmonary fibrosis, I am an only child. I have no family in the UK, expect my dad who doesn’t care for me at all
Ali - 18-Jul-20 @ 5:54 PM
Hey, I'm Eustace, I just turned 17 a week ago, and I've been looking for adoptive parents who are supportive and would take care of me as their own child, I just want to achieve my goal and channelling my hobbies just like a normal teenager, but that's not possible with my family,my relationship with them is worst and i cant live a life and get a real love I wanted.
eustace - 12-Dec-19 @ 2:17 PM
Hi my name is Blair I’m 16 years old and I am looking for a family (in the UK) who would take me in. I don’t have a very good relationship with my family and they kick me out a lot and I can’t live that life anymore.
BBoy - 7-Nov-19 @ 4:00 PM
Am looking for parents in UK who will love me and adopt me as their child
Lyla - 26-Sep-19 @ 9:26 PM
Am 17 years old i live in South Africa but am a Ugandan Am looking for someone who can adoptme there in England UK THANK YOU
Lyla - 26-Sep-19 @ 9:25 PM
Hello i am nikisha from nepal and i am looking for a parents who wants to adopt teenager as i am 20
Niki - 26-Jun-19 @ 10:53 AM
Good afternoon me and my partner Daniel is looking to adopted/foster a child/teen .I am 30years old and Daniel his 35 Daniel as a son who his 10 but he lives with his mum and we have him over every other weekend .I would love a child/teen to take under my wing and treat as my own I have always wanted children however being gay is kinda hard for me but now am in a happy marriage me and Daniel are ready to up step are future. I don't know how adoption /fostering works but i would love to have more information.
Dinky - 31-Oct-18 @ 12:09 PM
I hope someone will adopt me I’m looking for a family that will love me
Chad - 18-Mar-18 @ 12:03 AM
Marcine - Your Question:
I want to adopt a teenager (17-20) can it be one online or do I have to go to the foster home.

Our Response:
Please see the gov.uk site here for more information regarding the process.
TeenIssues - 11-Apr-16 @ 11:30 AM
I want to adopt a teenager (17-20) can it be one online or do I have to go to the foster home.
Marcine - 10-Apr-16 @ 12:28 PM
Plz give me and my family time to think about it
Jazz - 13-Oct-15 @ 5:41 PM
Hi Just would like some info on fostering teenagers and sables. I have one big room and I have fostered before .
Tasha - 3-Oct-13 @ 11:53 AM
Share Your Story, Join the Discussion or Seek Advice...
Title:
(never shown)
Firstname:
(never shown)
Surname:
(never shown)
Email:
(never shown)
Nickname:
(shown)
Comment:
Validate:
Enter word:
Topics
Latest Comments
  • mari
    Re: Coping With Strict Parents
    My mom , she always have rules in my life . I am 17 and this year gonna be 18 . My mom all the time taking my phone, checking my…
    18 March 2024
  • help
    Re: Coping With Strict Parents
    I'm already 17 and I'm in love with an 18yo girl with acute depression. But when my parents found out, they want me to stop my…
    6 February 2024
  • help
    Re: Coping With Strict Parents
    I'm already 17 and I'm in love to an 18yo girl with acute depression. When my parents found out, they are forcing me to stop all my…
    6 February 2024
  • Ariana Grande
    Re: Coping with a Jealous Friend
    The friends i keep are mostly male friends, because guys don't easily get jealous. My female friends always envy my life; for…
    27 January 2024
  • shallot
    Re: Coping With Strict Parents
    Yo guys, Im 10 and I just had an argument with my mom, now she won’t help me with my drawing homework and my other writing…
    17 January 2024
  • Emre
    Re: Beauty Tips for Boys
    .
    9 January 2024
  • Leana
    Re: Coping With Strict Parents
    So basically im 17 years old when i was 13 years i used to talk with a male who is 22 years! Because of my daddy issues ive gotten…
    15 December 2023
  • THANK YOU
    Re: Beauty Tips for Boys
    WOW THIS IS GREAT! IT IS VERY HELPFUL!
    6 December 2023
  • was
    Re: Steroids
    where i can buy
    28 November 2023
  • Rhirhi
    Re: Coping With Strict Parents
    I'm a 20 year old , my parents are so strict . I stay at home 24/7 , the only time I get to leave the house is when I'm going to…
    26 November 2023