I need your help to sign this petition to keep Utah Foster Care, and convince the Utah government to allow Utah Foster Care to continue to serve! Spread it to everyone you can, and keep Utah Foster Care in place!

What is Utah Foster Care?

Utah Foster Care (UFC) is a nationally recognized non-profit which finds, trains, and supports Utah families, who are willing and able to provide a nurturing home for children in foster care. In Utah, more than 2,900 children are in foster care at any given time because their own families are in crisis. The kids need (as science has proven), to be given love and care, in a home. Utah Foster Care has supported families in giving that. They provided training and conferences, provided a support group, aided with purchasing therapeutic items for foster children, and periodically held large-scale activities for the foster families, making memories and fun ways to spend their time together as a community, and as families. 

The Utah Foster Care Foundation provides support for the families who are lending their home, to take in a child in need. Since it was established in 1999, they have supported families and built lifelong relationships with their co-workers and the foster parents. They provided training and funding for the parents to aid the care they are giving.

What?!

Utah, we have a problem. The Utah Government just decided to change the Utah foster care program. What does this mean? This means that the government is choosing to switch to an alternative recruitment and training company, without the opinions of foster families being even remotely considered. This is a hard time for everyone, and people all over are struggling with depression, anxiety, and fear because of this pandemic. This only worsens the situation. Not only that, but those working for Utah Foster Care currently will lose their jobs as well. The foster parents will help kids go through foster care, but without the support from Utah Foster Care. Foster families are helping out, everywhere! Silent heroes, who serve unconditionally, to help innocent, blameless kids, with the help of Utah Foster Care, who reinforces and bears the families up. These foster parents deserve a say in what happens. Not only that, but Utah has been the nation's leading foster parent support provider, because of Utah Foster Care. For 21 years, Utah's program provided help to the foster families that are opening their hearts to protect the innocent children. 

More Details:

The government of Utah, has abruptly made the decision to assign Utah's foster parent support program to an alternative company, without any sort of opinion based conclusions. This poses a huge problem, because they are literally tearing out a 21 year support system, full of heartfelt relationships and mentors, and during the worst time possible. In the words of my father, who has had 21 foster children, (3 of which were adopted), and done foster care for 12+ years "I could not have done it without Utah Foster Care. Will the new system be better? I don't know. But either way, we are losing a large support network, and it will be devastating for 5-10 years while that network is re-built."

Children are innocent. Those in foster care have experienced trauma most of us have never had. They will have lasting effects mentally and emotionally. They will need care, love, and support until they get to the place where they will stay permanently. The DCFS (Department of Child and Family Services), takes the children in and finds them a place, while aiding the parents in getting their lives back together and getting their kids back. The DCFS's top priority is to get the children back to their biological parents. If that isn't an option, then the DCFS looks to get the kids into the custody of their biological family, like grandparents, or cousins. If those aren't an option, then they bring them to the loving, and compassionate families, who are willing to take them in, care for them while the parents get things better, or possibly adopt them. Throughout it all, Utah Foster Care is working tirelessly to help the foster parents out, and provide the best environment possible for the kids.

Utah Foster Care was the gold standard for the entire United States. It takes time to get good solid knowledge base, and a network of connections. When you are involved in children, and human interaction, you need emotional, human interaction reactions. You need passion. The Utah Foster Care system, is continuous. It goes on. It is a relationship that stays, wakes up on late nights, and provides help whenever it is needed. You cannot fill the jobs and services that have been provided with any alternative. The foster parents are the most vulnerable people in the nation, because they lovingly serve the most vulnerable in our nation. This switch to an alternative puts the kids at risk.

Who am I?

My name is Cole W. My family has been doing Utah Foster Care for over 12 years. I have had more than 21 foster siblings, some who stayed, some who didn't. My parents are my heroes. They are amazing, and compassionate, and they love taking care of kids until we figure out their situation, and adopt, or get them back to their bio-parents, if the situation permits. These foster families and the children deserve the support and care of Utah Foster Care.