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Teen Alternative Pathway Pilot (TAPP)

A Solution to Keep Teens Out of Foster Care

Each year, thousands of teens across South Carolina face challenges that put them at risk of entering the foster care system. Nearly half of the young people entering foster care in the state did so primarily due to behavioral challenges—often 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. Foster care was never intended to be the default response to these struggles, yet without alternative support systems in place, families have limited options to get the help they need.

Thompson is taking action 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.

A teen boy smiling and hugging his mom.
A blonde woman in a white sweater talking to a teen girl.

TAPP provides teens (ages 13-17) and their families in Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson counties with immediate support and access to local services. This program is designed to:

  • Address the root causes of family conflict and behavioral challenges.
  • Equip parents and caregivers with tools to strengthen family relationships.
  • Connect teens to mental health resources, educational support, and community services.
  • Offer a structured, trauma-informed approach to ensure the long-term well-being of youth.
  • By focusing on early intervention, TAPP reduces the need for foster care placement and provides families with real solutions that keep them together.
  • Reduce the number of teens entering foster care – Keeping families together whenever safe and possible.
  • Increase family stability – Providing families with resources to strengthen relationships.
  • Improve youth outcomes – Supporting academic success, mental well-being, and long-term stability.
  • Enhance placement stability – Ensuring teens who cannot stay at home have consistent, supportive environments.
  • Boost school attendance – Helping students stay engaged and succeed in school.
  • Reduce involvement with law enforcement – Preventing unnecessary criminalization of at-risk youth.

Who Can Make a Referral?

TAPP works in collaboration with agencies that interact with at-risk youth. Referrals can be made by:

A middle-aged man in a grey seater talking to a teen-age boy.
A teen boy talking with a female counselor.
An African-American female police officer talking with a young teen boy and girl.
A blonde female doctor showing an ipad to a young teen girl in a lavender shirt.

A New Path for Teens, A Brighter Future for Families

Foster care is not the only option. With TAPP, Thompson Child & Family Focus 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.

A curly red-haired teen with his mom and dad.
Thompson Programs

Submit a Referral

Thompson is here to help, no matter who you’re reaching out for — yourself, a loved one, someone under your supervision, or a person in your professional care. We provide a full range of services to support children and families in need.

A member of our team will respond within 48 hours.

Program specific forms may also be required, and will be sent to you for completion as required.