In this powerful episode of Fostering Conversations, host Amy Smith sits down with Sheri, a resilient young woman who aged out of Utah’s foster care system and is now thriving as a leader at Angels Landing Foundation. Sheri shares her deeply personal story from entering foster care at age 12 after bravely reporting abuse, to cycling through 13 foster homes, and ultimately finding healing, empowerment, and purpose.

Listeners will gain insight into:

• The emotional reality of sibling separation in care

• The challenges of instability and aging out alone

• The importance of supportive adults and safe spaces

• How Angels Landing Foundation is transforming outcomes for aged-out foster youth

Sheri’s journey highlights the real-world impact of organizations like Angels Landing, which provide community, mental health support, life skills training, and financial empowerment to young adults aged 18–26 transitioning out of care.

• Angels Landing Foundation: angelslandingfoundation.org

• Follow Angels Landing on Instagram: @angelslandingfoundation

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: bbbs.org

• Learn About Foster Care in Utah: utahfostercare.org

Transcript:

Episode 62: Aging Out Strong

Amy: Thank you for joining us for Fostering Conversations. I’m your host, Amy Smith. Today we have Sheri who grew up in foster care and aged out of the foster care system. She currently works at Angels Landing, and we’re so excited to have her with us today. Thanks, Sheri.

Sheri: Thank you.

Amy: You have a really incredible story and I’m sure filled with also a lot of heartache and pain as well. So we wanna be sensitive to that. But would you just start by introducing yourself?

Sheri: Absolutely. [00:01:00] Like you said, my name’s Sheri. I’m 23 years old. Gonna be turning 24 this year and I , work at Angels Landing. I, that’s like the best introduction I think I’ve got.

Amy: I love it. So tell us a little bit what Angel’s Landing is for those who don’t know.

Sheri: So Angels Landing is a nonprofit organization that serves young adults from eighteen to to 26. And our mission statement is Angels Landing builds community centered on empowering young adults transitioning from foster care to achieve self-sufficiency and create a life that they love. And so that is absolutely something that I needed when I aged out of foster care. And it’s been an absolute great opportunity and another resource as someone who doesn’t have tons of resources, and especially that family unit. Having another spot is always something that creates [00:02:00] So much support in my life. And so Angel’s Landing been great and I’m excited to, to dive into what that looks like.

Amy: I love that. So maybe start by telling us a little bit about your story and how you found.

Sheri: I aged into foster care when I was 12 years old. My mom passed away when I was three and a half, and so she passed away in a car accident on Valentine’s Day,

Amy: Oh man.

Sheri: so it’s the love day. So I try to always look at it like all the positives, right? But yep. Lost my mom at thre...

In this episode of Fostering Conversations, host Amy Smith and co-host Tami Carson welcome Melina Moore, Utah Foster Care’s Volunteer Services Manager. Melina shares how individuals and organizations can support foster families across the state—not by fostering, but by volunteering.

Learn how opportunities like Kids’ Night Out, Service Saturdays, and event support offer much-needed connection and respite to foster families. Hear inspiring stories of volunteers making balloon animals, leading pottery nights, or helping families with yard work. Plus, discover how simple acts of service—like assembling connection kits or hosting mindfulness events—can make a lasting impact.

Whether you’re a student, parent, professional, or business owner, there’s a role for you. Find out how volunteers create meaningful connection and contribute to the wellbeing of children and families in foster care.

Volunteer with Utah Foster Care: https://utahfostercare.org/get-involved/volunteer/ Learn about Care Communities: https://mycarecommunity.com

Key Topics:

• Why connection and childcare are essential for foster families

• Types of volunteer roles across Utah

• Training, background checks, and trauma-informed practices

• Ways organizations can get involved

• Heartwarming stories of impact and community

Show Notes:

In this special Pride Month episode of Fostering Conversations, host Amy Smith and co-host Tami Carson (Director of Community Volunteers at Utah Foster Care) sit down with Adrienne, a longtime foster and adoptive parent and leader of the FLY Cluster—Fostering LGBTQ Youth.

Adrienne shares her personal experience raising five adopted children, two of whom identify as queer, and the powerful impact of simply providing a safe and affirming space. She speaks candidly about the fears some parents may face when a child comes out, and how acceptance, validation, and education can make all the difference in a child’s well-being and future.

Listeners will learn why LGBTQ-specific spaces—like the FLY Cluster—are vital. These monthly virtual meetups offer foster families across Utah the opportunity to connect, share lived experiences, and find support navigating the unique challenges LGBTQ youth may face. From casual get-togethers like root beer floats in the park to more structured peer support, these events are centered on building confidence, community, and connection.

Looking for LGBTQ Resources? Adrienne highlights the comprehensive list available at utahfostercare.org, including statewide organizations like Encircle and the Utah Pride Center. Whether you’re a foster parent, ally, or just someone with a heart for helping kids, there are many ways to get involved—even if fostering isn’t an option for you. Donating event space, sponsoring youth activities, or simply taking the Safe Home Pledge are all meaningful ways to support LGBTQ youth in care.

Tune in to hear heartwarming stories, practical tips, and how you can make a lasting impact in the lives of young people by showing up with love, empathy, and open arms.

Guest Bio: Adrienne Shearer

Adrienne Shearer is a longtime Salt Lake City resident and foster parent who’s been opening her home to kids for the past 14 years. She’s adopted five of those kids and brings a wealth of lived experience to every conversation about parenting, community, and care. Adrienne also works as a Fly Cluster Facilitator and a sign language interpreter. When she’s not juggling schedules or advocating for families, she loves digging in her garden and soaking up quiet moments outdoors.

Transcript:

transcript_ep60_jun25

This week on Fostering Conversations, Amy and Heidi sit down with Rachel Garrett, Utah foster parent and founder of Common Thread, a nonprofit serving teens ages 12–18 who’ve experienced foster care or similar life circumstances. Rachel shares how a small community event grew into a thriving organization that now supports hundreds of teens through joy-filled activities, life skills workshops, mental health resources, and trauma-informed mentorship.

We talk about the real-life experiences of teens impacted by foster care, the importance of giving them choice and dignity, and how Common Thread is creating safe spaces where teens can thrive. You’ll hear about the stigmas foster families still face, why trauma-informed language matters, and how you can help create lasting change—especially for LGBTQ+ youth in care.

Whether you’re a foster parent, youth advocate, or just curious about how to better support teens, this episode is full of heart, hope, and honest conversation.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Why Rachel founded Common Thread and how it grew
• What trauma-informed support actually looks like for teens
• The power of giving teens agency and respecting their identity
• Common myths and stigmas about teens in foster care
• How Common Thread fosters inclusive spaces, especially for LGBTQ+ youth
• Real stories of resilience, growth, and love

Resources & Links:

• Learn more: commonthreadut.com
• Follow Common Thread on Instagram
• Get involved with Utah Foster Care: Get Involved

Transcript:

transcript_ep59_may25

In this heartfelt episode of Fostering Conversations, host Amy Smith is joined by guest co-host Jennie Shepherd, Director of Recruitment, as they welcome Celeste Edmonds—Executive Director of The Christmas Box International and author of Garbage Bag Girl.

Celeste shares her inspiring journey from growing up in foster care to leading an organization that supports children in need. She opens up about the impact of The Christmas Box House, the importance of keeping siblings together, and how small acts of kindness—like a stuffed animal or a brand-new duffle bag—can change a child’s life.

We also dive into the realities of foster care, the emotional challenges children face, and how anyone can make a difference. Whether you’re a foster parent, an advocate, or someone looking to give back, this episode will leave you inspired and ready to take action!

Topics Covered:

• Celeste’s personal foster care story & the origins of The Christmas Box House
• How The Christmas Box House supports children entering care
• The importance of keeping siblings together in foster care
• Small but powerful ways to make foster children feel seen & valued
• How YOU can get involved and make a difference

Resources & Links: Garbage Bag Girl by Celeste Edmonds – Available on Amazon Learn more about The Christmas Box International – thechristmasbox.org Get involved with Utah Foster Care – utahfostercare.org

Guest Bio:

Christmas Box House Executive Director Celeste Edmunds understands what the children she serves at The Christmas Box Houses are going through. She went through it herself. Her biological parents were addicts, and her childhood was an ongoing cycle of police calls, fighting, and physical, sexual, and mental abuse. At age 7, Celeste was taken from her home and placed into a child welfare system, where moving every few months to a new environment became normal. By age sixteen, she had lived in more than 30 cities.

Celeste views her childhood as a difficult but essential growing experience. There were terrible things, but there were also caring people along the way who did what they could to protect and nurture her. She was author Richard Paul Evans’ assistant when he founded The Christmas Box International. She quickly became an integral part of its creation, helping to build and refine the original shelters for a decade before taking a new position in Corporate America. Working in the corporate world gave her valuable knowledge of a different kind, with experience in marketing (receiving Marketer of the Year by Utah Business Magazine), public relations, community giving, and team management. Combining her nonprofit and corporate experience, Celeste is uniquely fit to guide The Christmas Box International. Celeste is passionate about making a difference in the lives of youth and the child welfare system so that others may not have to go through the same experiences she had.

The Christmas Box International celebrates 29 years of defending more than 170,000 children. That is enough to fill Madison Square Garden more than eight and a half times.

Celeste believes that The Christmas Box International is more than a place–it is a concept where community, government, and nonprofits come together to bring the resources to children that they need. As a child who grew up in the system, Celeste understands the importance of providing these youth the opportunity for a better life by providing them with safety, dignity, and hope. Her goal is to give these beautiful children everything she wished for as a child, including hope for a better future.

Celeste released her book last fall titled Garbage Bag Girl. She hopes...

In this episode of Fostering Conversations, we welcome Laura, the force behind the popular Instagram account @FosterParenting! Laura shares her journey into foster care, from a spark of interest as a teenager to becoming a foster parent and content creator. We discuss the realities of foster parenting, the importance of trauma-informed care, and the many ways people can support the foster care system—even if they’re not ready to foster themselves.

This episode is also a bittersweet one, as we say farewell (but not goodbye!) to our longtime co-host Liz Rivera. She reflects on her time with the podcast and the exciting direction Fostering Conversations is heading with Amy at the helm.

• How Laura got started in foster care and why she began creating content
• Common misconceptions about fostering and why awareness matter
• The decline in foster parents nationwide—and what we can do about it
• Different ways to get involved beyond fostering (respite care, mentoring, CASA, etc.)
• Trauma-informed parenting tips and the best resources for foster families
• The power of community and why support groups are essential

A-Z of Therapeutic Parenting by Sarah Naish Foster Parent College ([check with your agency for coverage]) Utah Foster Care

If you loved this episode, be sure to follow Laura on Instagram at @FosterParenting for more insights and real-life experiences from the foster care world.

Don’t forget to subscribe!

Guest Bio:

Laura is a social media creator and advocate who draws from her experiences as a therapeutic foster parent. She supports and empowers new foster parents as they navigate getting licensed and being new foster parents. Through her videos, she provides practical advice, consideration about trauma-informed care, and relatable stories to help others navigate the complexities of foster care. Laura’s mission is to raise awareness, advocate for children in care, and inspire foster parents to feel confident and prepared in their journey. Links: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@foster.parenting Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foster.parenting/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fosterparenting Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Foster.Parent.Partner Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/Fosterparenting Download Transcript

Episode Summary: In this episode of Fostering Conversations, hosts Amy Smith and Liz Rivera sit down with Angela Tucker, adoptee advocate, mentor, and founder of the Adoptee Mentorship Program. Angela shares her journey from being adopted out of foster care to building a global community for adoptees to connect, heal, and grow.

They discuss:

• Angela’s experience growing up in a multiracial family.
• The challenges of identity and belonging in adoption.
• How the Adoptee Mentorship Program is creating spaces for adoptees to connect and find support.
• The power of storytelling and mentorship in navigating adoption experiences.
• Practical tips for adoptive parents to support their children better.

Angela also offers valuable insights into racial identity in transracial adoption and the importance of building inclusive family networks. Whether you’re an adoptee, an adoptive parent, or just curious about the adoptee experience, this conversation is a must-listen.

Resources Mentioned:

• Angela Tucker’s website: AngelaTucker.com
• Follow Angela on Instagram: @AngieAdoptee
• Watch the documentary Closure on Angela’s website.
• Read Angela’s book “You should be Grateful: Stories of Race, Identity, and Transracial Adoption”
• Learn about the Adoptee Mentorship Program and Adoptee Remembrance Day.
• Explore Angela’s workshop: “Cultivating an Anti-Racist Family Network for Transracial Caregivers.”

Memorable Quotes:

• “There’s something healing about talking to someone who just gets it.” – Angela Tucker
• “We don’t just mentor kids. Adoptees at any age need spaces of belonging.” – Angela Tucker
• “Love is already there, but behaviors show you understand who we are.” – Angela Tucker

Angela Tucker Bio~

Angela Tucker is a Black transracial adoptee. She is the author of “You Should Be Grateful:” Stories of Race, Identity and Transracial Adoption. Her book was published in April 2023 by Beacon Press. Angela’s search for her biological family is featured in the documentary CLOSURE which premiered on Netflix in 2015. In 2022, Angela founded the non-profit, the Adoptee Mentoring Society to provide virtual mentorship for adoptees world-wide. With 15 years in child welfare, she has appeared on CNN, The Red Table Talk, The New Yorker, and more, advocating for adoptees.

Angela lives in Seattle with her Emmy-award-winning spouse, Bryan Tucker.

Ep 56 transcript

Episode Summary: In this powerful episode of Fostering Conversations, host Amy and co-host Liz Rivera welcome Daniela, founder of With Siblings. Daniela shares her unique perspective as a former biological child (“bio kid”) in a foster family and now as a foster/adoptive parent, social worker, and therapist. Together, they dive into the complex dynamics of supporting bio kids in foster and adoptive families, exploring their experiences, emotions, and needs.

Topics Covered:

• Daniela’s journey growing up as a bio kid in a fostering family and how it shaped her professional path and personal life.
• The importance of giving bio kids a voice in fostering and adoption decisions.
• The challenges bio kids face, from feelings of being replaced to adapting to shifting family dynamics.
• Insights on fostering strong sibling relationships and managing grief and loss within the family.
• The significance of balancing bio kids’ needs with those of children in care.
• How parents and professionals can better support bio kids using tools, training, and open communication.
• Daniela’s resources, including her trainings, worksheets, and her book, The Day Lily Turned Uninvisible, inspired by real bio kid experiences.

Key Takeaways:

• All Kids Matter: Supporting children in foster care is essential, but bio kids also face unique challenges and deserve attention, empathy, and resources.
• Open Communication: Parents should involve bio kids in decisions and validate their feelings to foster a sense of inclusion and understanding.
• Realistic Expectations: Foster parenting is hard but rewarding. Embrace the challenges with knowledge, tools, and the shared experiences of others.
• Educational Resources: Daniela’s work fills a crucial gap in the foster care space, providing actionable insights and support for both families and professionals.

Connect with Daniela:

• Website: WithSiblings.org
• Instagram: @WithSiblings
• Explore her book: The Day Lily Turned Uninvisible and other free resources on her site.

Special Thanks: Thank you to Daniela for her candid and invaluable insights and for the incredible training and resources she provides for Utah Foster Care and families everywhere.

Stay Connected: For more episodes, visit Utah Foster Care. Don’t forget to follow us on social media and subscribe to Fostering Conversations wherever you get your podcasts!

Daniela is a self-identified birth kid. Her parents fostered when she was a child, and eventually adopted her youngest sibling. Having grown up in a home that fostered and adopted, Daniela was a temporary sibling to many children. Now, Daniela and her husband have children by both birth and adoption.

While Daniela has a variety of experience in social work contexts, she has spent most of her career working in foster care and adoption. Daniela Coats is a Licensed Master Social Worker in the state of Texas. She is currently a therapist under supervision at Be Still Counseling and Consulting in Texas. She has contributed to professional writings on the subject, and is the author of The Day Lily Turned (un)Invisible, a children’s book written specifically for biological kids in foster families.”