Supports and Services for Expectant and Parenting Youth in Foster Care - District of Columbia

Date: October 2025

Youth's Parental Rights
Citation: CFSA Pol. Man., Ch. VII

In policy: The social worker shall discuss the following with the pregnant adolescent:

  • The involvement of her birth parents and/or the baby's father and his parents in planning
  • An objective review and discussion of the alternatives and their implications; however, the social worker shall not encourage, promote, or advocate one alternative over another 

The privacy (confidentiality) of an adolescent who objects to her birth parent/guardian being informed that she is or might be pregnant is protected. (This also applies to an expectant adolescent father.) If the pertinent information will be contained in a court report, the report shall be submitted under seal to the court. If necessary, a redacted copy will be provided to the birth parent/guardian. Continuing efforts should be made (and documented) to encourage her to involve her birth parent/guardian, if appropriate, and caregivers as early as possible as these individuals can provide valuable support and resources. These efforts should be carefully made so as not to make the child feel pressured to involve any person against her wishes.

Adolescents in foster care may consent for their health care during pregnancy. It is not necessary to obtain consent from the birth parent or guardian for services related to prenatal care.

Placement Options
Citation: CFSA Pol. Man., Ch. VII

The social worker shall discuss the following with the pregnant adolescent:

  • The possibility of remaining in her current foster care placement
  • Updating case plans to reflect decision making and planning that might include adoption of the baby, living arrangements if she keeps the baby, and school attendance

Health Services 
Citation: CFSA Pol. Man., Ch. VII

The social worker shall refer the pregnant adolescent to the Office of Clinical Practice-Clinical Health Services (OCP-CHSA) nurse to ensure that provider linkage and follow-up to prenatal care occurs.

Pregnant adolescents may be able to continue attending school and participating in activities as recommended by their doctor. The social worker, in consultation with the OCP-CHSA nurse, shall ensure that the pregnant adolescent receives appropriate prenatal care, monitor the ongoing medical care during and following pregnancy, verify that she keeps her appointments, and ensure that the foster parents are informed and involved.

Parent Preparation for Expectant Youth

This issue is not addressed in the laws and policies reviewed.

Education and Services to Support Parenting Youth
Citation: Mun. Regs. § 29-6330

If a resident of an independent living program is a teen parent who resides with her or his child, the program shall expand the life skills training to include the following topics: 

  • Early childhood development
  • Medical issues in early childhood
  • Age-appropriate discipline
  • Parental rights and responsibilities
  • Choosing and monitoring child care providers
  • Sex, relationships, and family planning

For information on assisting youth in foster care to finish high school, see Educational Supports for Youth in Foster Care - District of Columbia | Child Welfare Information Gateway.

Economic and Concrete Supports 
Citation: Mun. Regs. §§ 29-6329; 29-6332

At the time that a resident moves into a residence, an independent living program shall provide the residence with the following household supplies, furniture, and household furnishings: 

  • New household supplies, including light bulbs; bathroom supplies, including, toilet paper, soap, a wastebasket, and a nonskid surface for the bathtub and shower 
  • Two sets of new towels, including two wash clothes, two hand towels, and two bath towels 
  • If the bathroom does not have a shower door, a new shower curtain 
  • Living room furniture, including one sofa or love seat, one lamp, one bookcase, and one side table 
  • Bedroom furniture, including one bed frame, mattress, and box spring for each resident; and one dresser, one mirror, and one lamp for each resident 
  • If the resident is a teen parent who resides in the independent living program with her or his child, a crib that meets Consumer Product Safety Commission standards or bed, as appropriate to the child's age, as well as a clean nontoxic mattress, waterproof cover (as necessary), clean bed linens, and sufficient blankets and pillows 
  • Two sets of new bed linens, including a fitted sheet, top sheet, pillow, pillowcase, blanket, and bed cover
  • Dining furniture, including one dinette table and four chairs 
  • A complete new table service for four, including plates, bowls, cups, saucers, and glasses 
  • A new cookware set, including a frying pan or skillet, saucepan, casserole dish, and roasting pan
  • New kitchen towels, kitchen soap, and scrubbers 
  • Curtains, blinds, or shades for all windows
  • New tools, including a flat-head screwdriver, Philips screwdriver, nails, hammer, pliers, flashlight, and batteries 
  • A new first aid kit 

An independent living program shall pay for the installation of a telephone and internet service in each residence, and pay monthly for a single telephone line, basic telephone service, and internet service.  

An independent living program shall provide the resident with a monthly stipend. If the resident resides in the main facility, the monthly stipend shall be at least $615 of which at least $300 shall be for food and toiletries, $125 shall be for clothing, $105 shall be for transportation, and $85 shall be for incidentals. If the resident does not reside in the main facility, the monthly stipend shall be at least $1,315 dollars, of which $615 is allocated for food, clothing, transportation, toiletries, and incidentals and $700 for rent and utilities.  

If the resident is a teen parent who resides with her or his child, the stipend shall include an additional $125 per month per child.  

Services and Supports for Parenting Youth That Promote Self-Sufficiency

This issue is not addressed in the laws and policies reviewed.

Foster Care Prevention Strategy for any Child Born to the Youth

This issue is not addressed in the laws and policies reviewed.