The need is great

Right now, there are more than 391,000 children in foster care in the United States, according to the most recent federal data. These children range in age from infants to teenagers, many of them carrying the weight of trauma, uncertainty, and loss. Each one of them needs the same things: stability, compassion, and someone who won’t give up on them.

While the number of foster families has declined in recent years, the number of children entering the system has not. That imbalance means thousands of children are placed in group homes, shuffled between temporary placements, or left waiting far too long for a stable, loving environment. Every kind of family is needed, that includes single dads.

Justin Batt, Leader of a Fatherhood Mission, had this to say, 

“Being a dad is never easy, but being a single dad comes with its own unique set of challenges and opportunities. Whether you’re navigating fatherhood solo by choice, circumstance, or calling, like fostering children who desperately need a strong male role model, you’re not in this alone. I’ve seen firsthand that single dads have what it takes to be effective, present, and powerful in the lives of their kids. It’s not about having all the answers. It’s about showing up with intentionality, consistency, and a willingness to grow alongside your children.

Single dads can lead with purpose, create structure without losing heart, and build legacies even in the midst of life’s hardest seasons.” 

For additional resources on being an intentional father to raise good kids by Batt, check out his TedxHiltonHead Talk on Solving the Fatherhood Crisis, and his book How to be an Intentional Dad to Raise Good Kids Who Become Great Adults: Daddy Saturday. 

breaking the stereotypes

There’s often a misconception that men, especially single men, are less equipped to be foster parents. But many single dads are proving that’s simply not true. With a strong support network, a willingness to learn, and a heart for kids, single fathers are showing up and stepping up.

One such father is our Bair parent, Rodney Watson, a single foster dad who’s made it his mission to be a steady presence in the lives of the children who come into his care.

When asked what advice he’d give to someone thinking about becoming a foster parent, Rodney shared this,

“Be understanding. Be patient. Be there for them. Let them have a voice. It’s not going to happen overnight. Giving the kids that come into your care space to work through their traumas and staying beside them while they do gives them a safe space to be heard and feel seen.”

His words highlight something deeply important: foster parenting is not about fixing a child, it’s about walking alongside them. It’s about showing up, day after day, even when it’s hard. Advocating and nurturing growth through fostering is something Bair prides itself on. Giving our parents the tools to be more equipped to deal with big emotions that come with the trauma of being in foster care by continued training and support from your Bair caseworker 24/7.

Why single dads matter

Children in foster care need role models. Many have never had a consistent, positive male figure in their lives. For boys, a single dad can be an example of stability, integrity, and responsibility. For girls, a single dad can model respect, safety, and healthy boundaries.

Single fathers bring something uniquely valuable to the foster care system:

• Consistency – Many foster children have been let down by adults in their lives. A single dad who follows through, shows up, and keeps promises can begin to rebuild a child’s trust in others.
  
• Emotional Strength – It takes courage and resilience to parent alone. Single dads who open their homes to foster children often demonstrate a deep well of emotional intelligence and care.
  
• Perspective – Men parent differently than women, and those different approaches can complement what a child has experienced in the past. A single dad might introduce new ways of handling conflict, encouraging independence, or building confidence.
  

Real-life impact

Rodney isn’t alone in this journey. Across the country, other single dads are stepping into the foster care space with open hearts and determined spirits.

Some are fostering toddlers, adjusting to nap schedules and building blanket forts. Others are fostering teens, helping with driver’s ed and navigating late-night talks about identity, belonging, and the future. Every home looks different, but one thing is the same: the commitment to be a safe place.

Rodney’s approach, offering patience, presence, and a listening ear, has helped create space for healing. He doesn’t expect overnight change. He knows the importance of letting kids use their voice, even if it takes time for them to find it.

“It’s not going to happen overnight,” Rodney says. “But being there, truly being there, makes all the difference.”

Support for single dads

Becoming a foster parent isn’t something you do alone, even if you’re single. The Bair Foundation offers resources, training, and ongoing support to ensure foster parents feel equipped and encouraged.

Here’s what can help single dads succeed in fostering:

• Strong Community – A circle of friends, mentors, church family, or extended relatives can provide everything from babysitting to encouragement.
  
• Ongoing Education – Trauma-informed care, behavioral support, and parenting strategies are available through regular training sessions and workshops.
  
• Therapeutic Support – Bair offers access to counseling services for both children and foster parents, helping everyone navigate the emotional ups and downs.

Foster parenting is not about being perfect, it’s about being present. It’s about saying, “I will love you today, tomorrow, and every day after.”

Everyone’s help is needed

Not everyone is called to foster, but everyone can do something. You can support single foster dads by:

• Offering childcare or respite support.
  
• Inviting their family over for dinner or including them in community activities.
  
• Donating to organizations that support foster families, like the Bair Foundation
  
• Advocating for policies that make fostering more accessible to single parents.
  

And if you’re a single man considering foster care, know this: you are needed. Your home, your stability, your heart, it could change the course of a child’s life.

Final Thoughts from rodney

As we consider the vital role of single dads in the foster care system, Rodney’s wisdom rings especially true:

“Let them have a voice.”

Kids in foster care have often been silenced by trauma, by fear, by systems that don’t always listen. Foster dads like Rodney are changing that. By creating homes where children are seen, heard, and loved, they’re rewriting stories that once seemed destined for heartbreak.

One person can make a difference. One dad. One home. One open heart.

If you’ve ever thought, “Could I do this?” the answer might be yes. And if you’re already doing it, thank you. You are living proof that it doesn’t take a perfect family to make a perfect difference. It just takes one person willing to care.

become a foster parent With the bair foundation

If you’ve ever thought about fostering, now is the perfect time to take that first step. The Bair Foundation offers thorough training, helpful resources, and continued support to guide you every step of the way. When you open your heart and home to a child in need, you become part of a compassionate community working to make a lasting difference.

Whether fostering leads to reunification with their biological family or adoption, the love and stability you provide will leave a lifelong impact on a child’s future.

Reach out to The Bair Foundation today to learn more about becoming a foster parent through one of our upcoming information sessions. You can be the safe, nurturing presence a child needs to heal, grow, and thrive.

We can’t promise the journey will always be easy, but with Bair, you’ll never walk it alone.

Together, we can bring hope and healing to children who need it most. Join us today!