The child welfare system was created to care for abused and neglected children. But too often, teenagers are landing in the system because they simply aren't getting along with their parents, not because they have been abused or neglected.
Some parents surrender custody because a teen's behavior is out of control or because of escalating family conflict. In fact, “child behavior” was the reason given for 46% of all foster care removals of youth older than 12 — and the only reason for out-of-home placements for 28% of teens.