Episode Summary:
In this powerful episode of Fostering Conversations, host Amy and co-host Liz Rivera welcome Daniela, founder of With Siblings. Daniela shares her unique perspective as a former biological child (“bio kid”) in a foster family and now as a foster/adoptive parent, social worker, and therapist. Together, they dive into the complex dynamics of supporting bio kids in foster and adoptive families, exploring their experiences, emotions, and needs.
Topics Covered:
- Daniela’s journey growing up as a bio kid in a fostering family and how it shaped her professional path and personal life.
- The importance of giving bio kids a voice in fostering and adoption decisions.
- The challenges bio kids face, from feelings of being replaced to adapting to shifting family dynamics.
- Insights on fostering strong sibling relationships and managing grief and loss within the family.
- The significance of balancing bio kids’ needs with those of children in care.
- How parents and professionals can better support bio kids using tools, training, and open communication.
- Daniela’s resources, including her trainings, worksheets, and her book, The Day Lily Turned Uninvisible, inspired by real bio kid experiences.
Key Takeaways:
- All Kids Matter: Supporting children in foster care is essential, but bio kids also face unique challenges and deserve attention, empathy, and resources.
- Open Communication: Parents should involve bio kids in decisions and validate their feelings to foster a sense of inclusion and understanding.
- Realistic Expectations: Foster parenting is hard but rewarding. Embrace the challenges with knowledge, tools, and the shared experiences of others.
- Educational Resources: Daniela’s work fills a crucial gap in the foster care space, providing actionable insights and support for both families and professionals.
Connect with Daniela:
- Website: WithSiblings.org
- Instagram: @WithSiblings
- Explore her book: The Day Lily Turned Uninvisible and other free resources on her site.
Special Thanks:
Thank you to Daniela for her candid and invaluable insights and for the incredible training and resources she provides for Utah Foster Care and families everywhere.
Stay Connected:
For more episodes, visit Utah Foster Care. Don’t forget to follow us on social media and subscribe to Fostering Conversations wherever you get your podcasts!
Guest Bio
Daniela is a self-identified birth kid. Her parents fostered when she was a child, and eventually adopted her youngest sibling. Having grown up in a home that fostered and adopted, Daniela was a temporary sibling to many children. Now, Daniela and her husband have children by both birth and adoption.
While Daniela has a variety of experience in social work contexts, she has spent most of her career working in foster care and adoption. Daniela Coats is a Licensed Master Social Worker in the state of Texas. She is currently a therapist under supervision at Be Still Counseling and Consulting in Texas. She has contributed to professional writings on the subject, and is the author of The Day Lily Turned (un)Invisible, a children’s book written specifically for biological kids in foster families.”
