teen alternative pathway pilot
service overview
a solution to address parent-child conflict, untreated trauma, and status offenses to keep teens out of foster care
how it works
Nearly half of the young people entering foster care in South Carolina do so primarily due to behavioral challenges. Foster care was never intended to be the default response to these struggles, yet without alternative support systems , families have limited options. Thompson fills the gap with the Teen Alternative Pathway Pilot (TAPP), a 90-day intervention program designed to stabilize families, ensure safety, and improve outcomes for youth before they enter foster care. This program is designed to:
our goal: keep teens out of foster care
linked to parent-child conflict, untreated childhood trauma, and status offenses such as truancy, running away, or incorrigibility. These teens are not victims of abuse or neglect in the traditional sense, yet they find themselves at a crossroads, where the only available intervention often leads to separation from their families. Thompson’s goal is to keep teens out of foster care.
keep families together
reduce criminalization
improve youth outcomes
prevention
submit a referral
Foster care is not the only option. With TAPP, Thompson is offering families a chance to heal, grow, and stay together. Through targeted intervention and community support, we can rewrite the stories of vulnerable youth—before they become part of the foster care system.
If you know a teen in need, refer them to TAPP today. Together, we can keep families strong and provide a future filled with hope.
who can submit a referral
TAPP works in collaboration with agencies that interact with at-risk youth. Referrals can be made by:
- County Directors
- Pre-removal CFTM Facilitator
- FFPSA Team </ul
- School resource officers
- Juvenile justice representatives
- Pediatricians
- ER social workers
- Mental health professionals
- School counselors
- Social workers
- Administrators
