Helpful Insights on Birth Children in Foster and Adoptive Families with Daniela Coats

In this episode of the Foster Friendly podcast, hosts Brian and Courtney engage in a heartfelt conversation with Danielle Coates, who shares her unique experiences growing up in a foster and adoptive family. Danielle discusses the challenges and joys of being a biological sibling to foster children, the feelings of invisibility and replacement she faced, and the importance of supporting biological kids in foster families. The conversation also delves into practical strategies for parents to engage their biological children in discussions about fostering and adoption, emphasizing the need for open communication and validation of their feelings. Daniela Coats shares valuable insights on the experiences of biological children in foster care, emphasizing the importance of connection and visibility. She discusses the emotional challenges faced by these children, including feelings of invisibility and grief due to the transient nature of foster care. Daniela also introduces her children's book, 'The Day Lily Turned Uninvisible,' which addresses these themes and aims to foster understanding and empathy. The discussion highlights the need for community support and the significance of acknowledging the feelings of all family members involved in foster care. Other Resources: Checkout Daniela's org "With Siblings"- which exists to support the birth children in foster and adoptive families by equipping parents and professionals through training and resources. Courtney's ebook: Navigating Foster Care with Your Children: A Support Guide to Help You and Your Family Through the Journey Thank you for listening to this episode of The Foster Friendly Podcast. Learn more about being a foster or adoptive parent or supporting those who are in your community. Meet kids awaiting adoption. Join us in helping kids in foster care by donating $18 a month and change the lives of foster kids before they age out. Visit AmericasKidsBelong.org and click the donate button to help us change the outcomes of kids in foster care.