If adolescent parents are admitted with their child, who is responsible for the care of the adolescent's child?

• A. An adolescent parent must provide most of the care for her child
• B. The agency
• C. The foster parent
• D. The school district

Answer: (A)

When a teen parent is admitted with her child, the teen parent is expected to provide most of the care for her child. The goal is to preserve the parent–child relationship and support the teen in developing parenting skills so reunification can happen when safe and appropriate. The agency’s role is to supervise and support, ensuring the child’s safety and connecting the family with needed services (such as parenting education, housing, and health care). A temporary or permanent placement with a foster parent only comes into play if there are safety concerns or the teen cannot reliably care for the child. The school district’s role is not to assume caregiving; they focus on the child’s schooling and related supports, not daily child care.