Fostering Conversations with Utah Foster Care

About Fostering Conversations with Utah Foster Care

Utah Foster Care guides real and raw conversations about parenting for bio, foster, adoptive or blended families to increase understanding of issues we all experience as families. Utah Foster Care's mission is to develop innovative strategies to help recruit, train, and retain foster families.

Publisher

Utah Foster Care

Category

kids & family

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

29 Jun 2020

Latest episode

13 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

78 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   13 Oct 2026

   Ep 76: Buzzy Bears

   On this episode, we talk with Leadelle Parish about her regulation invention for kids, called Buzzy Bears.  Leadelle discovered the calming effects of bilateral stimulation while managing her own chronic illness, she never imagined it would lead to the creation of the Buzzy Bear. Inspired by the dramatic improvements she saw in her grandchildren’s ability to handle stress and transitions, she set out to create a child-friendly version of a therapeutic tool commonly used in EMDR therapy. In this conversation, Leadelle explains how the Buzzy Bear delivers gentle alternating vibrations that may help calm the nervous system and support emotional regulation. She shares the results of a pilot program with foster families in Vernal, Utah, where caregivers reported meaningful improvements in children’s ability to regulate emotions, manage transitions, and cope with overwhelming feelings. The discussion also explores the unique challenges children in foster care face and how a comforting, therapeutic stuffed animal can provide both emotional support and a practical self-regulation tool. Listeners will learn how individuals and organizations can help place Buzzy Bears into the hands of children entering foster care across Utah. To learn more about Buzzy Bears, visit sosplay.com. To learn more about foster care or get involved, visit utahfostercare.org. Leadelle Parish Bio Leadelle has grappled with chronic illness for most of her life. Because of this, she monitors stress on her body several ways, including heart rate variability. In 2021, while visiting family on a road trip, she was introduced to bilateral stimulation. Upon receiving this type of therapy, she noticed that her heart rate variability had improved dramatically. She immediately looked for a device that would allow her to continue this therapy on her own time. Several months later, Leadelle noticed that her grandchildren were exhibiting stress when transitioning between the households of their divorced parents. Working on a hunch that if bilateral stimulation was able to help her so significantly it would also benefit children, Leadelle broke out the device she had been using for herself and set it up for her grandchildren. Their little shoulders relaxed, and they started taking deep breaths. After a few minutes, they were calm, regulated, and happily playing with each other. She noticed that if we had the kids utilize bilateral stimulation when returning home after parental visits, they showed reduced signs of stress. An idea started to take root. This was the second beginning. While the device providing bilateral stimulation was helpful, it was also utilitarian, somewhat clunky, and required the assistance of an adult to get it set up. Leadelle remarked that it would be more beneficial if we could find a way to deliver this therapy in a cuddly stuffed animal that kids could access entirely on their own wherever and whenever they needed it. After years of troubleshooting and testing her theory, the buzzy buddies were born. We at SOS Play  are thrilled that we can now share the benefits that come from bilateral stimulation with all of you. We are especially excited to be able to deliver it in an adorable, intuitive, easy way that even young children can grasp quickly. We offer both a toy and a tool for kids, empowering them to take care of their nervous systems. Our goal is to provide an intuitive approach to supporting children, and we believe these bears are a powerful way to accomplish that. Transcript: [00:00:00] On today’s episode of Fostering Conversations, we’re meeting with Leadelle who’s the founder of SOS Play. She has created the Buzzy Bear, which is meant for all kids entering foster care. Amy: Welcome to Fostering Conve...

2. 

   14 Sept 2026

   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 volunteers provide meaningful, trauma-informed support to foster families across Utah. Listeners will learn: What a Care Community is and how volunteers support foster families. Why people who are not foster parents can still make a significant difference. How trauma-informed training equips volunteers to better support children and caregivers. Real-life examples of providing meals, transportation, childcare, emotional support, and practical help. The importance of reducing isolation and building trusted relationships around foster families. How communities, businesses, faith groups, and individuals can get involved. To learn more visit carecommunities.org The conversation highlights the power of surrounding foster families with consistent support and demonstrates that anyone, regardless of life stage or experience, can play a role in strengthening foster care in their community. Transcript: [00:00:00] On today’s episode of Fostering Conversations, we’ll be talking about the Care Communities program, how to get involved, and how great it is to be a part of. Amy: Welcome to Fostering Conversations. I’m your host, Amy Smith. Today we have Tami Jenny and Lexi joining us, who all work for Utah Foster Care. Thanks for joining us, you guys. Tami: Thanks for having us Jenny: Glad to be here Amy: All of you are involved in the Care Communities program. Lexi’s the director over communications, but she is the leader of a Care Community, so she’s joining us with that perspective today. So maybe let’s have, Tammy or Jenny just explain to us briefly what Care Communities is, and then we’ll dive [00:01:00] into how people can get involved, Lexi’s experience as a care team leader Tami: I would love for Jenny to introduce the Care Communities program. She’s one of our coordinators and our statewide trainer for the program Jenny: Absolutely. So the Care Communities program is a program that gathers eight to 10 individuals in a community, whether it’s faith-based, just community-based, business-based, to be able to surround one foster family with support, practical, emotional, and, physical supports to b- help them be able to better provide, care for the children, that come into their homes that come from hard places Amy: Yeah. So what I love about Care Communities is that it gives the opportunity for our community members to participate in the foster care experience without being a foster parent, because not everybody can be a foster parent. It is quite taxing, and you do need to have the time and ability to be able to do that. But Lexi is a care team leader. Lexi, tell us a little bit about [00:02:00] why you wanted to become a care team leader Lexi: Yeah. So I was actually already working at Utah Foster Care when I decided I wanted to be part of a care community or a care team. and I’ve just always had such a soft spot in my heart for, foster families and kids in care and just wanting to help and be involved and, have lots of really cool, great opportunities to do that, obviously through work. But, my position’s a little more behind the scenes, l...

3. 

   13 Aug 2026

   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 Scheer Episode 74: Comfort and Care What happens when a child enters foster care carrying everything they own in a trash bag? For Rob Scheer, it is more than a heartbreaking image. It is a reality he lived. In this powerful episode of Fostering Conversations, host Amy Smith sits down with foster care advocate, author, and Comfort Cases founder Rob Scheer to discuss his journey from foster youth and homelessness to becoming a nationally recognized champion for children in care. Together, they explore the urgent need for dignity, support, and community in the foster care system. Key Takeaways Children in Foster Care Need More Than a Place to Stay A new placement can be frightening and uncertain. Something as simple as pajamas, a blanket, toiletries, and a stuffed animal can help a child feel seen, valued, and cared for on one of the hardest nights of their life. Dignity Matters Rob Scheer founded Comfort Cases after seeing firsthand how foster youth were still carrying their belongings in trash bags. Today, the organization provides backpacks, duffel bags, essential items, mentorship opportunities, and scholarships to young people in care. A Forever Family Can Come at Any Age One of the most touching moments of the episode is the story of Alex, a foster youth who aged out of care but eventually found permanence through adult adoption into the Scheer family. Healing Often Begins with Forgiveness Rob Scheer candidly shares his struggles with addiction, suicide attempts, and the difficult process of forgiving his parents. His story is a reminder that healing is not linear, but hope is always possible. Support for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care Comfort Cases offers: Scholarships for trade schools, colleges, and continuing education Mentorship opportunities Support resources for foster youth and young adults Comfort Cases and Comfort XL duffel bags for children entering care Connect With Comfort Cases and Utah Foster Care Learn more about foster care, adoption, and ways to support children and families in your community: Visit Comfort Cases to learn more. https://utahfostercare.org

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

44,863

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 49 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

65

Social presence

0

YouTube

85

Engagement

0

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Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.