About 25 years ago, there were teenagers who had been at Remann Hall for charges against them.  Sometimes parents did not want these youth returning to their own home until there was a change of heart and lifestyle.  Several Tacoma YFC leaders sensed a call from God to search for homes for these teenagers to live in when released from Remann Hall Juvenile Justice Center in Tacoma.  The leaders contracted with DSHS Children’s Administration.  YFC Child Placing Agency was ‘born’.    Some teens were placed in our foster homes and had the support of Christian adults who helped them seek for a changed value system and life style.  Since its formation, our program has broadened and has ministered to hundreds of children and teens from various walks of life.  YFC foster homes serve the Puget Sound area foster care system in parenting foster children ages newborn to age 18 years, who have been taken from their homes due to abuse and neglect.

Christian foster families are committed to doing a good job in their parenting role and they are often catalysts for life changing focuses for children and youth.  Christian foster care seeks to allow children and teens to attach and bond to the caregivers knowing that these attachments are preventative to various negative experiences and issues for children and teens.  

Often, the teenagers who have been in Christian foster homes report:  “I wanted a new beginning.  I found it in developing a trust in my Christian foster family and in trusting my newly introduced Heavenly Father.  My faith in God has made a difference in my attitude and in my choices.” 

One teenager reported:  “Coming to this Christian foster home was like Heaven to me.  I was able to forget about my past and focus on the present and enjoy life and experience laughter. I felt loved and accepted by my foster parents and did not dwell on my mistakes.  I felt free.” 

Teenage boys and girls are not always easy to parent.  Youth for Christ and the state foster care system as a serving unit, would like to have more foster parents who have parented teens and could meet the challenge of some of the teens in the foster care system.  

Micah 6:8 challenges us:  “And what does the Lord require of thee?  But to seek justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your God”.  Foster care ministry with teenagers fits in this vision.  Youth for Christ has a vision statement reflecting our goal :  “To have a noticeable spiritual impact on Pierce County by engaging young people in a life long journey of following Jesus Christ.” 

Consider impacting a teenager’s life through foster care in your home.