Foster parents are often caring, compassionate people who want to improve the lives of children. But too often, they don’t extend that same compassion to themselves. Professionals Dr. Jennifer Ayres and Dr. Kristie Engel share guidance on nurturing self-compassion and preventing burnout. Guests: Jennifer Ayres, Ph.D., clinical psychologist Kristie Engel, Ph.D., clinical psychologist Online foster... Source ..read more

Utah Foster Care (UFC) is launching a Utah ICWA Alert – an urgent call for more Native American foster parents to come forward to care for Native children. Currently, there are 145 Native children in foster care in Utah – and not enough foster families available with a similar cultural background. “The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) is a federal law that protects our Native children and families,”... Source ..read more

What is resiliency and how can you foster it in your children? Studies have shown you need more than a positive mental attitude to truly become resilient. Listen as two local foster moms and local researcher Cinda Morgan discuss the core concepts behind developing resiliency in a child, especially one who has experienced trauma. Want to learn more about becoming a foster parent in Utah? Source ..read more

Trauma, grief, loss, and uncertainty can make what is meant to be a joy-filled season, a sometimes triggering and painful one. Our friends Dan and Hope from Hope & Healing Child and Family Counseling share insight into why this happens, what it can look like, and how to help ease and prepare for these moments. Want to learn more about becoming a foster parent in Utah? We have a team of people that... Source ..read more

Utah Foster Care set out 20 years ago to find, train, and support Utah families who are able and willing to care for children in foster care. Since 1999, Utah Foster Care has licensed and supported over 13,833 foster families. It is always the right time to come together and support the greater good. We appreciate our amazing community doing just that; working to help build and grow our mission... Source ..read more

We know many of you may be looking for a way to bring blankets, bikes, or other gifts so that children in foster care can have a joyous Christmas. And we appreciate your generosity! There are many ways you can give, and this year, we are asking you to consider a monetary donation. We will explain why. Back in October, foster parents submitted gift requests for the children and teens in foster care... Source ..read more

People can choose to adopt to build their families. Others become foster parents and provide permanent homes for children who can’t reunify with their families. Whatever the reasons foster-adoptive parents Ryan and Suzie-Marie McCorriston learned being a foster parent changes your perspective forever. Join them, along with foster-adoptive mom Amy Bates, as they share their adoption stories. Source ..read more

One of the things that I have learned while interacting with the child welfare system is that words have weight. Our words matter. One of the ways that I have taken to heart is the way in which we speak about the parents whose children are in foster care. When children hear us speaking about their parents, they may not separate themselves from those words. After all, when we were younger... Source ..read more

Foster parents are encouraged in our classes to interact with relatives of the children in their care. But how do you handle that relationship and why is it important? Hear from a kinship provider, who’s also been a foster parent and from a representative of Utah’s Kinship Coalition, which is holding a free Kinship Town Meeting on September 24 th. Source ..read more

Working at Utah Foster Care, I am always learning from the foster parents I meet. I’ve adopted a son, but I’ve never fostered a child and helped them reunite with their biological family. That brings a different dynamic to the experience. We tell foster parents that they need to love these kids, but then also be willing to see them leave and go back to their family of origin. So... Source ..read more