At the beginning of every year, I find myself thinking less about resolutions and more about intentions. The quieter kind. The ones that ask: Who can I show up for this year? In my work with Seneca’s Resource Family Program, that question feels especially important, because the kids and teens we serve didn’t choose the circumstances that brought them into foster care. 

Many of the youth in our care have already lived through more than most adults should have to. Loss. Disruption. Trauma. What they need most isn’t perfection—it’s consistency. They need adults who are patient, emotionally available, and willing to walk alongside them as they grow, heal, and sometimes stumble.

Why Teens in Foster Care Need Us Most 

One of the biggest needs we continue to see is for families who are open to caring for teens. Teenagers in foster care are often overlooked, even though they’re navigating some of the most critical years of development. Parenting a teen who has experienced trauma can be challenging. It requires flexibility, empathy, and a willingness to listen. There are big emotions and moments of discomfort. But there is also so much potential for connection and growth. 

I’ve seen what happens when a young person finally feels heard and respected. Trust begins to form. Confidence grows. Healing starts. And resource parents often tell me how much they grow too—developing more patience, understanding, and empathy than they thought possible. 

That kind of growth takes time. And it takes support.

Building Trust at a Critical Time  

Ana’s story is one that has stayed with me. 

She was almost 17 when she entered foster care, after her adoptive family declined to bring her home from an out-of-state treatment program. She had struggled for years with serious mental health challenges, substance use, and running away. By the time she arrived in our program, she felt completely alone and believed she could only rely on herself. 

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Ana wasn’t interested in building relationships with caregivers or providers. She resisted school, dismissed independent living skills, and told us she was just waiting to turn 18 so she could live life on her own terms. 

Instead of forcing change, her Intensive Services Foster Care (ISFC) + resource parent and team focused on meeting her where she was. We explored her goals, helped her try new activities, and looked for ways to let her simply be a teenager. Keeping her engaged and giving her space to build trust at her own pace became essential. 

Slowly, things shifted. 

As she experienced adults who respected her voice and didn’t give up on her, she became more open to support. She eventually chose to engage in therapy and psychiatry, worked toward reducing substance use, improved school attendance, and began building independent living skills. 

Her resource parent played a key role—showing up without judgment, validating her experiences, and advocating for her at school. That steady relationship modeled what safe, healthy connection could look like. 

Ana eventually transitioned to independent living. She continues to work hard to manage her mental health and stays connected to services. And she still calls her former resource parent—for help navigating finances, finding resources, or just talking through life.

Every Path Looks Different 

Every foster care journey is unique. Some youth return home to their families. Others find permanency through adoption or guardianship. And many teens, like Ana, work toward supported independence. 

None of these journeys happen in isolation. Youth and families need a strong network of adults who are willing to show up. 

At Seneca, we offer several ways to get involved. Through Intensive Services Foster Care, Enhanced ISFC, or Respite Care, we work to ensure caregivers are supported and youth get the care they need and deserve. 

As I move into this new year, I keep coming back to the same idea: Every intention counts. Opening your home. Offering support. Starting the conversation. 

I’ve learned that sometimes, simply showing up—consistently, imperfectly, and wholeheartedly—is what changes a life.

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