Supports and Services for Expectant and Parenting Youth in Foster Care - Vermont

Date: October 2025

Youth's Parental Rights
Citation: Fam. Serv. Pol. Man. # 74

In policy: A youth in custody who becomes pregnant or fathers a child will have access to comprehensive, nonjudgmental counseling about his or her options (including parenting, coparenting, adoption, or abortion), rights, and responsibilities. Department for Children and Families (DCF) staff will respect the values and beliefs of the youth and encourage responsible decision-making.

In Vermont, a pregnant teenager is not required to inform her parent(s) of her pregnancy or of any choices she makes concerning her pregnancy, including the choice of abortion. District staff may or may not choose to inform the youth's parents, depending upon the youth's best interests\. Such factors as her physical health, history of abuse and neglect, etc., will guide this decision.

If the pregnant teen chooses to make an adoption plan for her child, she will be referred to a licensed child-placing agency which handles adoption for counseling and planning. The father of the child should be involved with decision-making whenever possible.

When working with a male youth in custody who has fathered a child, the social worker should assist him to do the following: 

  • Develop an understanding of his role, rights, and responsibilities as a father
  • Access parent preparation and family planning services
  • Register as the child's father in the putative father's registry to ensure that should the child's mother relinquish her parental rights, he will be notified of his rights

Placement Options
Citation: Code of Rules 13-170-230, § 2301; Fam. Serv. Pol. Man. # 74

An 'approved living arrangement' for a minor parent includes the following settings:

  • With a parent or adult relative, who provides supervision in a setting that includes, at a minimum, the following: 
    • Safe and adequate shelter 
    • The opportunity and encouragement for the minor parent to learn independent living and parenting skills through experience 
    • Strong support to help the minor parent meet the goals of the Reach Up family development plan (FDP)   
    • The parental home if acceptable to the minor parent 
    • Group homes for pregnant and parenting teenagers, licensed foster homes, and approved transitional housing with an adult residing in one of the living units    

In policy: Whenever possible, single parent teens in custody not living with their own family will live with foster families trained to address their special situation and needs or in other settings intended to support teen parenting.

Health Services 
Citation: Fam. Serv. Pol. Man. # 74

All pregnant youth in custody will be promptly referred to an appropriate medical practitioner for health screening and information.

Parent Preparation for Expectant Youth
Citation: Fam. Serv. Pol. Man. # 74

All pregnant youth in custody will be promptly referred to the following:

  • The Department of Health district office for enrollment in the Healthy Babies program, WIC, and other appropriate programs
  • The local Parent Child Center to participate in both the Reach Up program and other parenting preparation classes

Education and Services to Support Parenting Youth
Citation: Code of Rules 13-170-230, § 2307; Fam. Serv. Pol. Man. # 74

Through the Reach Up program, a minor parent is eligible for services through the teen parent education program established in cooperation with the Department of Education.

In policy: All parenting teens in custody will be referred to appropriate supportive family services for themselves and their children, including education, financial assistance, child care, peer support groups, mentoring, etc.

The issue of assisting parenting youth in finishing high school is not addressed in the laws and policies reviewed. For information on assisting youth in foster care complete high school, see Educational Supports for Youth in Foster Care - Vermont | Child Welfare Information Gateway.

Economic and Concrete Supports 
Citation: Code of Rules 13-170-230, § 2307; Fam. Serv. Pol. Man. # 74

Through the Reach Up program, DCF shall provide the following types of services: 

  • Appropriate child care, available at times that will enable employment or participation in activities included in the participant's FDP 
  • Transportation that will enable employment or participation in activities included in the participant's FDP
  • Family planning education and counseling

In policy: Whenever possible, single parent teens in custody not living with their own family will live with foster families trained to address their special situation and needs or in other settings intended to support teen parenting. Under those circumstances, the foster parent will receive reimbursement for the care of the teen parent and an additional payment for the child.

Services and Supports for Parenting Youth That Promote Self-Sufficiency
Citation: Code of Rules 13-170-230, § 2307

Through the Reach Up program, DCF shall provide or refer participants to other providers, when needed, to achieve the goals of their FDP, for the following types of services: 

  • Career counseling, education, training, and job search assistance, consistent with the purposes of the Reach Up program 
  • Vocational rehabilitation 
  • Medical and dental assistance
  • Homelessness prevention and housing assistance    

Foster Care Prevention Strategy for any Child Born to the Youth
Citation: Fam. Serv. Pol. Man. # 74

When a parenting teen in custody is living independently with his or her infant, either with or without the child's other parent, district staff will work with him or her to develop the skills necessary to function as a viable family while providing the supervision necessary to ensure the safety of parents and children.