First-Time Fostering: A Practical Guide for Supporting Kids in Foster Care

by Laura the Foster Parent Partner

Real Help for Real Moments in Foster Care

When you don't know what to do, this book is here to help. Parenting a child in foster care comes with unique challenges that most parenting books don't cover. Between trauma responses, court dates, system constraints, and well-meaning advice that just doesn't apply, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and alone. First-Time Fostering offers practical, in-the-moment guidance so foster parents and kinship caregivers can navigate hard moments with compassion and confidence.

Genres: Nonfiction

352 pages, Paperback

Published May 12, 2026

Reviews

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC | Excellent and comprehensive, for more than just first-timers | I volunteer as a CASA--Court Appointed Special Advocate for youth in foster care, and I've therefore interacted closely with foster parents with varying degrees of experience. There's something here for all of us: the newbie foster parents, the old hands, the ones who are getting a different age or circumstance than previously, the CASAs, the workers, the friend and family supporters. The layout is clear, with explanatory table of contents, so the reader looking for specific tips can go straight to their immediate need, but also with an overall structure in which one topic leads easily to the next for those reading cover-to-cover in preparation. The information is exhaustive, covering so much ground in a trauma-informed way but a friendly and supportive tone. Foster parents get a lot of professional training webinars, and they're useful, but can sometimes become lectures. Laura has balanced providing needed and detailed information with the sense that she believes the reader is capable. It's notable how often she grounds an experience within the context of everyday parenting. She mentions that kids in general often experience certain situations, then expands that to explain how it relates to youth in care. This does dual duty of reminding readers that parenting kids in care is just a type of parenting and not something to fear, and that there is often still nuance related to the child welfare system that must be considered. My digital ARC did not correctly display some of the icons, but the bold X highlighting what not to say or do (with explanatory notes) was clear and helpful. Info boxes, lists, and examples throughout were specific and directly useful. The book is inclusive, bringing in cultural and religious differences that may exist between foster parents and the youth they care for. It's also very clear that Laura truly has the best interests of the children in care in mind and in her work, she encourages a deeper understanding of the experiences of the parents, of concerning child behaviors, and of professionals. The book is written with a deep well of empathy and the desire to see children well cared-for and foster parents successful. I cannot recommend it highly enough, and will be purchasing a print copy upon release, to have available to foster families at our CASA office.

ARC received free of charge from the publisher, which did not impact my review.

[Hayley DeRoche · Rating 5 out of 5]

When friends ask me how to get started with foster parenting, I point them straight to Laura's social media, and now, I'm so glad I get to point them to this wonderful, comprehensive book as well. As a former foster parent myself, I found this book to be relatable, wise, and PRACTICAL (just like the title promises).

Laura places such an important emphasis on tending to the hearts of kids who are undergoing trauma, in real, actionable ways. The bullet-point lists of questions to ask yourself are thoughtful, and wide-ranging, and the templates for things like emails are valuable assets. Laura helps prospective foster families truly dive deep into the practical (there's that word again!) logistics of foster parenting and making sure your home is welcoming and safe. Lists of questions and considerations are super helpful here. The use of kind, inclusive language (referring to children's parents as parents, rather than "bio-mom" or "birth mother" etc) is also important and great to see.

There are lots of books out there that delve into trauma-informed parenting, and sometimes they can be overwhelming because of the broad scope and technical language. Laura handles these topics with a gentle, educated touch that breaks down best practices in simple-to-understand ways. Lists provide small, simple actions that can foster connection and support. Even something as "simple" as bedtime can prove to be challenging in foster care because of trauma, dysregulation, and overwhelm, to name just a few reasons. Laura devotes an entire chapter to this, fantastic.

The process of foster parenting and the ways it can vary from case to case can appear challenging and overwhelming. And it IS challenging in many ways. With Laura firmly by their side as a trusted guide, people interested in foster care can get a clear picture of a path forward. This is the foster parenting map I suggest to everyone now!

[Dorkst3r · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received First-Time Fostering: A Practical Guide for Supporting Kids in Foster Care through a Goodreads giveaway sponsored by the author and publisher. Thank you for the opportunity to read this thoughtful and incredibly practical resource.

Even though I am not personally planning to become a foster parent, I found this book fascinating, informative, and deeply compassionate. It gave me a much better understanding of the challenges foster parents and kinship caregivers face, as well as the emotional needs of children in foster care.

What stood out to me most is how approachable the book is. Laura writes in a warm, conversational style that feels supportive rather than overwhelming. The advice is practical and specific, with checklists, examples, and real-world guidance for situations that traditional parenting books often do not address.

The book covers a wide range of topics, from preparing your home and navigating the child welfare system to understanding trauma and building trust with children who may be experiencing fear and uncertainty. I appreciated how the author balances empathy for the children with realistic support for caregivers.

Even as someone reading from a place of curiosity rather than direct experience, I found the information easy to follow and incredibly eye-opening. It is clear that the author brings both personal experience and genuine care to every page.

This book would be an invaluable resource for:
First-time foster parents
Experienced foster families
Kinship caregivers
Child welfare professionals
Anyone interested in learning more about foster care

Overall, this is a compassionate, well-organized, and highly practical guide. Whether you are actively fostering or simply want to better understand the foster care system, this book offers meaningful insight and useful advice.

A truly excellent resource that is both educational and heartfelt.

[Candice Reads A Lot · Rating 5 out of 5]

First-Time Fostering by Laura the Foster Parent Partner is the book I wish had existed when I started foster parent training back in 2016.

I have been in the foster care world for almost 10 years now. I started as a foster parent, then became an adoptive parent, and now work as a child welfare professional who recruits and trains specialized therapeutic foster parents. I still do all three. Adoption does not magically erase trauma, and fostering definitely does not come with a manual. We are all constantly learning.

While reading Laura’s book, I kept thinking, “I just need everyone in my agency to read this.” She explains things in a way that is clear, kind, and intentional. Nothing feels overwhelming or shaming. It feels practical and honest.

Each chapter is broken down in a way that makes it easy to reference later, and she includes quick summaries at the beginning for those short on time. Which, let’s be honest, is every foster parent. I can absolutely see myself pulling this off the shelf when I need a reminder, and using it as a teaching tool when training others.

Lived experience makes the best teachers, and Laura has taken years of hard-earned wisdom and put it into an easily digestible, actionable format. The real-life scripts and specific examples are gold. Not just theory, but actual words and steps you can use when things get hard.

5 stars: This book is for anyone considering becoming a foster parent, current foster parents, and the people who support them.

Thank you to Laura and NetGalley for the eARC of First-Time Fostering. And thank you, Laura, for writing a book that captures the real struggles foster parents face while also giving us practical tools to get through them.

[Stoof · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a parent of two, and an academic with a background in child psychology and child development -- so naturally, I follow Laura on social media and pre-ordered this book. And I am so glad I did!! I really cannot recommend it highly enough.

It's a wonderful how-to guidebook for first time foster parents, veteran foster parents, kinship parents, or parents of any type -- or anyone interested in foster care, foster family issues, or parenting in general.

She is full of hard-won wisdom and honest, considered insight delivered with plain, conversation English that reads like you're having a conversation with your smartest best friend.

It's the resource I've been looking for, and a book I will proudly and eagerly recommend to anyone considering or even just curious about fostering.

A++++

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

We've done foster care for almost 6 years, and I've followed Laura on social media for the last year or so. I was excited to read her book, and was able to listen to her narrate the audiobook. She did a great job giving an overview of foster care in a practical and thorough way. I loved that she included lists, as well as different scenarios and explanations. I found myself nodding along often, having experienced many of these situations in our personal foster care journey. I kept thinking how beneficial this would have been to read as we were starting out foster care, and I'm excited to recommend it to families I know who are getting started in the foster care world.

[Crystal Palmisano-Dillard · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone working in child welfare, I've been following Laura for more than five years on social media as I was so impressed by her examples for navigating tough situations for foster/kinship caregivers.

This book is an amazing resource. I'm absolutely blown away by how thorough it is. She considered all the aspects. You just don't get this kind of information from anyone except someone who's lived it and figured out how to navigate well.

I'm hoping this is a resource I can convince my team to utilize with new foster parents in the future!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fan of her socials, I was thrilled when she announced she was coming out with a book, so I instantly ordered it because I knew it would hold all the answers I was seeking. The fact that she opens each chapter with a TL;DR overview is brilliant. Not to mention the use of the little icons throughout, highlighting important information. Those small, yet powerful elements make this the perfect guidebook, making it easy to pick up over and over again to re-read or reference her advice and guidance in the moment.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book came in approximately three days before my first placement of an adolescent. I was worried I wouldn’t have time to read and process everything, but I was SO wrong. It felt like Laura was holding my hand through the whirlwind those three days were. The book is so easy to navigate, and I find myself going to it time and time again. If you are considering foster care, preparing for foster care, in the middle of foster care, or trying to support a foster family near you, please buy this book. I cannot thank Laura enough for this resource!

[Pauline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredibly helpful and prepared me to get ready to foster, I definitely had a better understanding of what to expect and have referenced it several times already during our first foster placement. I hope this book gets picked up by foster departments and agencies to help those getting ready to foster so it can help many more families.

[Courtney Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks Laura and NetGalley for the ARC of First Time Fostering. The book was well written, full of information, and a new go-to resource for people who ask me about fostering.

As a foster parent for over 17 years and a professional/podcaster in this space, I read a lot of books each year on foster care. This one may be the easiest to read, yet the most comprehensive for a new foster parent.

[Melissa Smallwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual, Laura does an excellent job of explaining common challenges and situations to new foster parents. She uses clear language, solid examples and scenarios and looks at possible solutions from all angles. Her advice is so valuable to those just getting started.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a longtime follower of Laura’s social media content I was thrilled to hear she was releasing a book that encapsulates all of her supportive guidance. This book is a cohesive, easy to follow guide for anyone working within the foster care system.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laura has created a very practical topical guide to prepare you for caring for kids in foster care. I highly recommend parents read this as they are pursuing licensure for foster parenting. This guide will help you prepare your heart, home, and expectations for what’s to come.

[Joanna Studebaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was really excited to read this book as a parent whose kids and classmates come from many different backgrounds and family dynamics. The book is filled with practical advice that is filled with empathy, representation, and understanding, which is so important. I appreciated how Laura approached all topics with warmth and honesty, making it easy to digest and filled with helpful information. I connected most to the chapters about bedtime and meal time.

[Andrea Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very helpful guide without being overwhelming! I wish I had this when I started fostering. It would be a great gift for a new foster parent.

[Joel Ehninger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredibly helpful guide for not just foster parents, but anyone considering becoming a foster parent. Clear, well-written and super informative!

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic resource for new and experienced foster families alike.