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 brings together real-world strategies, scripts, and community-sourced wisdom to support new foster and kinship caregivers.

Laura explains why she created a manual that caregivers can jump into by topic, rather than reading cover to cover. The conversation explores how the book helps families who are licensed, waiting for placement, or already feeling overwhelmed. They dive into what caregivers can control inside their homes, from building trust and connection to handling sleep, food, boundaries, and hard conversations. Amy and Laura also discuss preparing friends and family for fostering, responding to inappropriate questions, advocating with caseworkers, knowing when to say no to a placement, and supporting permanent children already in the home. This episode offers reassurance, validation, and practical tools for foster parents at every stage. In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why First Time Fostering was written as a practical, topic-based field guide
• How new foster parents can use the book when they feel overwhelmed
• What caregivers can control inside their homes, even when the system feels chaotic
• The power of scripts and role-play for hard parenting moments
• How to prepare friends, family, and community before placements arrive
• Ways to respond to inappropriate or insensitive questions
• Why saying no to a placement can sometimes be the most supportive choice
• The importance of putting agreements with caseworkers in writing
• How fostering impacts permanent children in the home
• Why flexibility and reassessment are essential throughout the year

Resources mentioned:

• First Time Fostering by Laura Available through major retailers via https://firsttimefostering.com
• Follow Laura on Instagram at Foster.Parenting
• Learn more about foster care in Utah at Utah Foster Care

Transcript

Amy: Tune in to today’s episode we chat with Laura from Foster Parenting. Talking about her first book a must read for all foster parents. Welcome to Fostering Conversations. I’m your host, Amy Smith. Today we have Laura from Foster Parenting. That is what she’s known for on her Instagram, and she’s joining us again for the second podcast and we’re so excited to have her.

Thanks for being here, Laura.

Laura: Thanks so much for having me back.

Amy: I’m excited because you are putting out a book.

Yes,...