Abstract

This study explores how child protection policy addresses adolescent motherhood in residential settings, focusing on the guidelines of the Residences for Adolescent Mothers program within the Chilean Child Protection System. Using Critical Discourse Analysis, we examined the policy’s portrayal of adolescent mothers. The guidelines present an ambivalent discourse, viewing them as both fragile and reflective. These classifications suggest adolescent mothers lack agency yet also acknowledge their potential. The study highlights the need for policies that recognize adolescent mothers as agents capable of making decisions about their lives and their children’s wellbeing. © 2025 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.