Thank you!
We’ll be contacting you shortly — in the mean time, this helpful packet is an introduction for folks in Utah interested in becoming a foster parent or adopting thru foster care—download it today:
First Steps for Foster/Adoptive Parents
Asking us about foster care is always no-obligation and free of charge — just the way it should be.
Who are the kids in foster care?
Children in foster care come from all backgrounds—most share a background 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:
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.
Siblings
Teens
Diversity
Siblings
Our First Friends
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.
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.
Teens
Children on the Inside
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.
Diversity
Embracing Differences
Children in care come from all sorts of backgrounds—socio-economic, religious, linguistic, cultural… not to mention kids with different passions, dreams, and talents. There are kids in wheelchairs, children who can slam-dunk, and LGBT kids. There are those who live life out loud, and the ones who would rather be in a quiet corner, reading.
Now, imagine how difficult it would be to be placed in foster care yourself… Now imagine the family doesn’t speak your language, doesn’t celebrate your holidays, and eats unfamiliar foods. That’s why Utah Foster Care is always looking for families as diverse as the children they care for.
Among some communities, the need is so great that Utah Foster Care has foster-adoptive consultants dedicated to serving these populations. Contact our foster-adoptive consultants who specialize in finding such families:
- Latino Families — Tatiana Torres (801) 783-4343
- Native Families — Stephanie Benally (801) 783-4430
