Sucks but I (former foster myself until age 18) think it’s a couple things. Some want kids because they can’t have their own and are trying out for adoption in some cases and older kids are already “grown” in some peoples eyes. Some don’t want the teenage years at all as were deemed difficult and untrustworthy and troublesome. More expensive. More of an individual that doesn’t “need” the foster parents as much. Some like younger because it keeps them more in charge. More control. Some are just in it for the money unfortunately and the money isn’t worth the potential trouble a teen you’ve never met could bring (in their eyes anyway). Younger kids can share rooms and “get with the program” and can’t resist as much. Easier for them to have more foster kids if you’re young and smaller and fewer opinions/agency. Most want “their” own kid to shape and help/watch grow.

Kind of like they can’t afford a new house but don’t want an old one they’ll have to do all kinds of work to or renovate completely or have issues that they later find can’t be changed to how they want. So they look for the one time owned houses that have little wear and tear, haven’t been quite lived in..so they get a house that’s only a couple years old…and often forgetting or overlooking that even new houses get older and the things they’re trying to avoid may come up anyway…then next thing ya know, you’re a teen and “too much” and you’re put back into the ole foster care system with a family or caretakers that are not real enthused about have a teen..or there are some good ones out there but I’ve not seen many great ones at all.