Fostering Conversations with Utah Foster Care Utah Foster Care

The bonus episode titled "Special Hearts" centers around the theme of special needs foster care, spotlighting the experiences and insights of foster parents who have taken on this demanding yet rewarding role. Hosted by Deborah Linder and Liz Rivera, the episode features heartfelt conversations with Amy, a seasoned foster mother from Utah, and Katie Welling, who works with New Alternatives for Children in New York.

**Amy’s Journey:**
Amy, a foster mom with 25 years of experience, shares her journey into fostering, particularly children with special needs. Initially a special education teacher, Amy's professional background naturally transitioned into her role as a foster parent. She has adopted eight out of her ten children and currently cares for a child in foster care. Amy explains that many children enter foster care without a prior diagnosis of special needs, such as ADHD or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, which often complicates their care. Despite these challenges, Amy emphasizes the profound joy and fulfillment that fostering brings, particularly when children surpass expectations.

**Challenges and Rewards:**
Amy discusses the common challenges faced in special needs foster care, such as accessing appropriate services and ensuring the children are seen beyond their diagnoses. She stresses the importance of recognizing and appreciating the individuality and potential of each child, rather than getting overwhelmed by their medical or developmental needs. Additionally, Amy highlights the rewarding aspects, recounting her personal story of a son who defied grim medical predictions and thrived, bringing immense joy and inspiration to her life.

**Katie’s Perspective:**
Katie Welling adds her perspective from New York, focusing on the crucial role of community support for foster families. She notes that fostering children with special needs requires a robust support network, which can sometimes be a challenge in densely populated yet disconnected urban areas. Katie advocates for building and leveraging community connections to support foster parents, emphasizing the importance of practical help from friends, family, and neighbors.

**Support Systems:**
Both Amy and Katie underline the significance of support systems in successful fostering. Amy describes how her local community and family assist in various ways, from household help to emotional support. Katie echoes this, sharing how in New York, fostering agencies work to help families identify and utilize their support networks. This communal involvement is essential for managing the complexities of special needs care.

**Parental Empowerment:**
Another critical aspect discussed is the empowerment of biological parents. Amy shares her experiences of working alongside the parents of foster children to help them understand and manage their child's needs better. This collaborative approach not only benefits the children but also strengthens family bonds and aids in the reintegration process when children return to their biological families.

**Encouragement and Call to Action:**
The episode concludes with an encouraging message for potential foster parents. Both Amy and Katie highlight that fostering, especially children with special needs, though challenging, is incredibly rewarding. They call on those with the love and commitment to step forward, assuring them that the necessary support and resources are available. Katie, who has personal experience as an adoptee, underscores the transformative impact that compassionate foster care can have on children's lives.

The episode "Special Hearts" thus paints a comprehensive and inspiring picture of special needs foster care, celebrating the dedication of foster parents and the resilience of the children they care for. It serves as both an informative guide and a motivational appeal to those considering embarking on this life-changing journey .

Resources:

New Alternatives for Children [Website]

How

Wouldn’t it be great to see foster homes waiting for children, rather than children waiting for homes? Unfortunately, Utah is nowhere near having enough homes, especially those to support kids with special needs.
This month is National Foster Care Month, and we talk to two leaders in our state’s foster care community about our shortage of foster parents in Utah.
Check out our Upcoming Events!
Episode Summary:
This episode of the podcast discusses the decline in the number of foster parents in Utah and the nationwide trend. The conversation highlights the importance of foster care and how the shortage of foster families impacts the system's ability to care for children in need.
The Problem:
The episode opens with Liz, the show host, mentioning a nationwide trend of a decline in families coming forward to foster children. Tonya, the Director at Utah’s Child and Family Services, confirms this trend and adds that the number of foster parents in Utah has been going down since 2022. They discuss the fact that while they expected a decrease at the beginning of the pandemic, the opposite happened. The number of families coming forward to foster actually increased during the first year or two of the pandemic.
The Importance of Foster Care:
The conversation then shifts to the importance of foster care. Tonya emphasizes that the goal of the Utah Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) is always to keep children safe, ideally at home with their families. When that’s not possible, the focus is on finding a safe and kin-based placement for the child. Kin-based placement refers to placing the child with relatives whenever possible. However, when there are no relatives available, having a sufficient pool of foster families becomes crucial.
How You Can Help:


Considering becoming a foster parent: Fill out the form below for more information on becoming a foster parent.
Volunteering: Check out our volunteer page for upcoming events.
Donating to Utah Foster Care: Financial contributions can help support foster families and child welfare organizations.

Call to Action:
Consider getting involved in foster care, whether that means becoming a foster parent or donating time or money to support the children in care.


Episode Transcript


Want to learn more about becoming a Foster Parent? 

In this enlightening podcast, Deborah Lindner and Liz Rivera from Utah Foster Care engage in a thought-provoking discussion with Nikki Walker, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Domo. They delve into the essence of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the foster care system, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging and respecting the cultural backgrounds of children in care. Nikki eloquently explains DEI concepts, advocating for empathy and understanding as essential components of fostering a sense of belonging. Through anecdotes and insights, they underscore the necessity of embracing diversity to create inclusive environments where all individuals feel valued and empowered to thrive.
Tips for creating a sense of belonging as a foster parent:

Acknowledge and respect cultural diversity: Recognize and honor the cultural backgrounds, traditions, and faiths of children in care.
Maintain connections to the child's community: Encourage participation in cultural activities, playgroups, and events relevant to the child's heritage.
Educate yourself and your child: Have open conversations about race, identity, and societal perceptions to help children navigate their experiences.
Create a sense of belonging: Foster environments where children feel valued, heard, and celebrated for their authentic selves.
Build relationships with birth parents: Bridge cultural divides by forming meaningful connections with the families of children in care.
Be willing to learn and adapt: Continuously educate yourself on DEI principles and be open to adjusting your approach to meet the needs of diverse children effectively.

 

 
Want to learn more about becoming a Foster Parent? 

Shifting the Focus.

Policies on adoption have often focused on adoptive parents, rather than the well being of adoptees and birth parents. The Open Adoption Project podcast, hosted by Shaunn and Lanette Nelson, adoptive parents from Utah, are back with another crossover episode on Fostering Conversations.  They aim to flood the podcast sphere with adoption-related content, sharing perspectives and opinions to foster learning and understanding.

In this featured episode, they highlighted the importance of openness, honesty, and listening to adoptee voices. They urged adoptive parents to get involved in promoting adoptee rights and to hold adoption agencies accountable for their practices.

The hosts shared four key tips:

Removing shame and secrecy
Promoting honesty and open communication
Listening to adoptee voices
Getting involved in advocating for adoptee rights

Utah Foster Care is also excited to have Lanette and Shaun Nelson host a panel of adoptees at our 2024 Annual Symposium April 25th 8:30-4pm, in Park City, Utah.  The public is welcome and can register here.

 
Want to learn more about becoming a Foster Parent? 

Attachment

In this podcast episode, hosts Deborah Lindner and Liz Rivera engage in a profound discussion with Dr. Lee Raby, a distinguished expert in attachment research from the University of Utah. The focal point is the critical role attachment plays in the development of children within the foster care system.

The conversation kicks off by outlining the distinctions between love and attachment, emphasizing attachment's significance, particularly in foster care environments. Dr. Raby describes attachment as a fundamental instinct, rooted in a child's biological need for care and security.

Dr. Raby addresses the complexities of attachment in foster care.  The discussion sheds light on how children, even those exposed to maltreatment, form attachments that may be insecure or disorganized. The signs of insecure attachment, such as resistance to comfort, are explored, providing crucial insights for foster parents.

Dr. Raby also delves into the challenges associated with multiple attachments in foster care, emphasizing the emotional toll on children transitioning between caregivers. Foster parents are encouraged to be mindful of their attachment styles and expectations, fostering a nuanced understanding of the child's needs.

The hosts touch upon available resources for foster parents, including in-service classes and trauma-informed care programs. Dr. Raby concludes with indispensable advice, and urges foster parents to consistently and appropriately meet a child's attachment needs.

This episode serves as a valuable guide for foster parents, highlighting the important role of secure connections in promoting the well-being and resilience of children. Ongoing education is vital.  We invite foster parents to actively engage with available resources for a more informed and compassionate approach.

Additional Resources:

Circle of Security

Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI)

The Whole Brain Child (Book)

The Connected Child (Book)

What Happened to You (Book)

Child Trauma Academy

Trauma: A Compassion-Driven Approach with Liz Rivera

Pre-Service Training

 
Want to learn more about becoming a Foster Parent? 

Curly Me! is a nonprofit that’s a resource for Utah families with children of color – specifically black girls between the ages of 5-14 years of age. In this episode, we hear more about “Change the World with Her” and other upcoming events.

In 2021, Black chil­dren rep­re­sent­ed 14% of the total child pop­u­la­tion but 22% of all kids in fos­ter care. By com­par­i­son: White kids rep­re­sent 49% of the nation’s child pop­u­la­tion and only 43% of its fos­ter care pop­u­la­tion. Although the number of Black children in care has been on the decline for the past two decades, the need for culturally sensitive foster homes remains critical.

To learn more about Utah's children in care, visit Utah Foster Care

To get involved with Curly Me!
Want to learn more about becoming a Foster Parent?