Fostering Conversations with Utah Foster Care7 Heinä

Ep 73: Fostering in Small Towns

In this heartfelt episode of Fostering Conversations, host Amy Smith sits down with Ellie Barlow, a dedicated foster parent from a rural Utah community. Ellie shares her family’s remarkable journey fostering 22 children, adopting five, and navigating the unique challenges of raising high-needs youth far from urban resources.

From building a thriving support system in a small town to parenting children with trauma, autism, and medical fragility, Ellie offers honest insight and practical wisdom for foster and adoptive families alike. The conversation highlights the importance of partnership in marriage, trauma-informed care, community involvement, and the powerful beauty of reunification. What You’ll Learn

What fostering looks like in rural communities
How to prepare for high-needs placements
Why being on the same page with your partner is critical
The impact of trauma-informed parenting tools like TBRI
How to build a support system when resources are limited
The emotional realities of foster care and reunification

Key Topics Covered

Rural foster care challenges and creative solutions
Supporting children with trauma, RAD, and autism
The importance of training and ongoing education
Community support and how others can help foster families
Emotional resilience and self-care strategies
A powerful reunification story that redefines success

Memorable Takeaway
Foster care is both deeply challenging and profoundly meaningful. As Ellie shares, “You don’t have to be perfect to step in. Showing up with consistency, compassion, and commitment can change lives.”

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Ep 75: Care Communities Impact

In this episode of Fostering Conversations, host Amy Smith welcomes Tami Jenny, Jenny, and Lexi to discuss the growing impact of the Care Communities program. Together, they explore how groups of volu...

14 Syys 32min

Ep 74: Comfort and Care

“Every single child deserves a foundation. Every child deserves to know there’s someone there rooting them on, and every child deserves to know what it feels like to be loved unconditionally.” — Rob S...

13 Elo 27min

Ep 72: Pride in Every Home

In this special Pride Month episode of Fostering Conversations, host Amy Smith speaks with Jessica and Giselle, a Utah foster care couple, about their journey into fostering and building a loving, inc...

9 Kesä 24min

Ep 71: First-Time Fostering

In this episode of Fostering Conversations, host Amy Smith welcomes back Laura from Foster Parenting to discuss her first book, First Time Fostering. Designed as a practical field guide, the book brin...

12 Touko 26min

Ep 70: Still Standing

In this powerful episode of Fostering Conversations, host Amy Smith sits down with former foster youth Carlos Rios Redd to talk about lived experience in foster care, sibling separation, adoption disr...

7 Huhti 25min

Ep 69: Reunification

In Episode 69, Amy Smith sits down with longtime foster and adoptive mom Crystal Dukes for a heartfelt conversation about the real purpose of foster care: reunification. Crystal shares her family’s jo...

10 Maalis 25min

Ep 68: Mentorship Program

In this episode of Fostering Conversations, host Amy Smith sits down with Michelle Ostmark, the Statewide Mentoring Coordinator for Utah Foster Care, to discuss the Utah Foster Care Mentoring Program ...

10 Helmi 25min