Fostering Conversations with Utah Foster Care

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.

   

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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:

1. Removing shame and secrecy
2. Promoting honesty and open communication
3. Listening to adoptee voices
4. 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.  

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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  

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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. In2021, Black chil­dren rep­re­sent­ed14% of the total child pop­u­la­tion but22% of all kids in fos­ter care. By com­par­i­son: White kids rep­re­sent49% of the nation’s child pop­u­la­tionand only43% 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!

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In this insightful podcast episode, hosts Deborah Lindner and Liz Rivera explore the profound theme of "the gift of presence" with guest Ilse DeKoeyer. Delving into the challenges of staying fully present, especially during the hectic holiday season, the conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding and practicing presence in parenting. Ilse defines presence as the art of balancing complete engagement with a reflective stance, encouraging individuals to immerse themselves in the moment while maintaining self-awareness. Practical tips include setting context, creating connections without relying on eye contact, and embracing mindfulness practices. Ilse Dekoeyer is the Early Relational Health Specialist at United Way of Utah County including Help Me Grow, Adjunct Professor at the University of Utah, and Past President of the Utah Association for Infant Mental Health. Additional Resources: Help Me Grow Utah Hand in Hand Parenting Welcome Baby Utah Association for Infant Mental Health Special Time

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Cadon Riley likes to express his voice through the lens of music. We were honored to have him join us to talk about his new song that he hopes will inspire other young people going through the foster care experience. Riley is a student at Utah Tech. He is also a mental health and foster care advocate. He loves to share his experience, in and out of foster care, especially through singing and performing. Riley has a passion for helping people and creating a space for people to explore their own identities. To listen and support Cadon's song, check out the following platforms: Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/album/0uIQ8jlwHnLyXd0dTH4U9W?si=52s2I7qlToma3lPukw_JiA.

Apple Music

https://music.apple.com/us/album/searching-for-you/1714850917?i=1714850918

YouTube Music

https://youtu.be/NTQ_iKV6LgA?si=2XFN2nN4HT48Ia9r

Deezer

https://deezer.page.link/9Au2XiiJJMYLYyme9

Tidal

https://tidal.com/album/326218170

Amazon Music

https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0CMCX97LM?ref=dm_sh_LKVhCB17vkNbGGH2aPGMHY8uS

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This month we are airing an episode from the podcast The Open Adoption Project by Lanette and Shaun Nelson. This episode shares the story of two mothers connected initially through their shared love for their children.

This episode discusses the challenges of foster care, drug addiction, and maintaining connections...particularly in regard to parenting children in foster and adoption situations.

You can listen the Shaun and Lanette's podcast The Open Adoption Project here Learn more about Adoption on our website

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This episode is a re-broadcast of Episode 29. It may surprise you to find out teens in foster care want and need lifelong connections – yet, when it comes to adopting, many families rarely consider older kids and teenagers. As Foster Youth Voice Month continues, our Fostering Conversations podcast examines the obstacles youth who age out of foster care face. Listen to the inspiring stories of youth who beat the odds – and learn the reality about teens in the foster care system. To learn more about Utah's Transition to Adult Living program,click here. To join Utah's Foster Clubclick here. Learn more about the 1999 Collective here.

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In this episode, we explore kinship's role in foster care. September is Kinship Care Awareness month, and The Kinship Coalition says some 20,000 families in Utah are caring for at least one relative child. DCFS Kinship Supervisor Ashley Barton explores what it means to prioritize kin, and how foster parents can support these efforts.   Resources for Kinship Caregivers: Utah Foster Care: Kinship Children's Services Society of Utah Grandfamilies Grandparents Academy Generations United Child Welfare League of America Casey Family Programs Annie E Casey Foundation Child Welfare  

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During a typical school day, our children can spend as much time in class as they do at home, which makes success at school all the more important. Tyler Bastian is director at Utah’s first farm-based charter high school and McKay Esplin is an LCSW and Utah Foster Care trainer.

In our latest episode, they offer insight on how parents and students can build and foster positive school relationships.

For more information: Roots High Charter School Volunteer Opportunities at Utah Foster Care  

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