The children come from various backgrounds—most share a history of abuse or neglect. They can be newborns, toddlers, or teenagers. They come from every part of the state and every race, religion, and socio-economic group. In too many instances, their parents have unresolved substance abuse issues.
In Utah, we urgently need foster families to care for unique children, siblings, and teens.
When a child comes into foster care, they likely will have a brother or sister—sometimes more than one. Foster parents are invited to consider caring for sibling groups to avoid further traumatizing vulnerable children through separation.
Imagine being removed from your parents—only to “lose” your siblings, too. In rural settings, breaking up sibling groups often has huge consequences—with children spread too far to maintain meaningful relationships.
Almost half of the children in foster care in Utah are ages 12–18.
Teenagers in foster care are similar to the teens you already know: they worry about fitting in, they stress about homework, and obsess about what clothes to wear. But unlike most teens, they also worry about where they will be living a month from now. They wonder whether their parents made it to counseling. And they are unsure about making friends in a new place when they don’t know how long it will last—if at all.
“It can be hard because everyone treats you like you’re a bad kid. We’re just normal kids who want a family to love them.”
— Child in Foster Care
It’s never too late to adopt a teen when there is still a lifetime of holiday meals and major milestones to celebrate.
The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) is a federal law that governs how the state may interact with Native American children. Because Native American tribes are sovereign nations, there are some differences in how these foster care cases are treated.
An important part of a Tribe’s decision making, on behalf of a child in care, comes from a desire to pass on important traditions, history, values, and teachings to future generations. Tribes are hesitant to allow Native children to be adopted by non-Native families, where they are unsure that their traditions and culture will be honored.
Because of this, Utah Foster Care (UFC) actively recruits Native American families to serve as foster parents and urges all foster parents interested in caring for Native children to familiarize themselves with ICWA.
For More information, please contact — Stephanie Benally (801) 783-4430 or visit utahfostercare.org/tribes/.
Hispanic and Latino children are overrepresented in the Utah foster care population, with many facing unique challenges related to cultural identity, language, and family connections.
Having foster families who are familiar with Hispanic or Latino cultures is essential in helping these children maintain a connection to their roots and ensure that their emotional, social, and developmental needs are met.
Language is also a critical factor, as children who speak Spanish are more likely to thrive in homes where they can communicate freely. For children who have already experienced trauma, having a foster home that respects and understands their cultural background can provide a sense of security and stability as they heal and adapt to their new circumstances.
As the Hispanic and Latino population continues to grow in Utah, the demand for culturally competent foster families increases, making it essential to recruit more foster parents from these communities.
For more information, please reach out to —Melanie Montelongo (801) 743-7320
Being in foster care is tough enough; being LGBTQ in foster care can be bleak. Over 30% of youth in care identify as LGBTQ. They are 3 times more likely to attempt suicide and 4 times more likely to be kicked out or run away for being queer. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
While LGBTQ youth in care face unique circumstances, their sexual orientation and/or gender identity shouldn’t be seen as an additional challenge. Queer youth are no different than their non-lgbtq peers. They experience the same milestones and turbulence as any teenager. This means that you don’t need to have special skills to care for LGBTQ youth, you just need to be a safe, affirming adult.
Trauma from their past influences the behavior of children in foster care. They’ve learned habits that helped keep them safe—habits which can negatively impact how they relate to the world around them. As a foster family, you can offer a safe home and a chance to replace old habits with new ones. We offer training to help you understand the trauma they’ve experienced and to effectively care for them.
© 2025 Utah Foster Care.
