[LittleEmily]

If you had a 17-year-old foster daughter who started romantically seeing a man in his mid-twenties, would you be opposed?
Thanks,
Emily

[L-A-J-C-R-C]

YES. Not only that but I don't think her case worker would like it too much either and you'd probably be told about it if you allowed the relationship.

Michelle

[leastofthese]

Yes, as her foster parent, I would personally be opposed, but more importantly, I would be in many ways LIABLE. Children in foster care, especially girls, often come from a history of unhealthy male-female relationships. This kind of age difference would send up lots of red flags for me. It is a matter of protecting the foster daughter. A 17 yo girl is not usually mature enough to determine the "healthiness" of a relationship and would probably not recognize if the 20-something suitor was in it for more than just a nice relationship.

The term statutory rape also comes to mind.

[Lorraine123]

YES. Why do you ask?

[mj77]

I have to agree with the others. I too much of a liability here. I personally don't agree with dates alone anyway until kids are over 18. Perhaps it sounds extreme. Group dating is different when it's people that I'd know as well as the parents, and I know where they are. I think it's safe and they can still get to know each other personally in a public setting--without the presure or expectation of sex. However in this hypothetical situation, I think I would refuse dating this guy all together because it's possible I wouldn't know the parties involved very well. I don't know if I could trust my fd let alone the guy she is wanting to see.

[clynn]

I was told by cw that my 15 yr old fd could not date at all according to the regulations.She was five months pregnant when she came(wonder how that happened) Also a foster child at our church had a baby by a 28 yr old man and she was only 16 yrs old.Nothing was done about that since she was sixteen and she placed the baby for adoption.I don't take teenagers anymore because I don't feel I am firm enough with them and would probably let them by with too much.God bless those who can handle it .