Foster Parenting in the Spotlight
Stories, Resources, and the Call to Make a Difference
May is National Foster Care Month. It’s a time to recognize, honor, and uplift the thousands of children, families, and individuals who are part of the foster care system. It’s a moment to celebrate the resilience of children and youth in care, thank the foster parents and caregivers who open their homes and hearts, and shine a light on the ongoing need for more support, awareness, and involvement.
Foster parenting is a powerful calling, one that can change not only a child’s life but your own. At The Bair Foundation, we walk alongside individuals and families who are answering that call every day. The journey is deeply rewarding, often challenging, and always worth it. Media and literature have started to reflect the heart of foster care more than ever before, and there are so many resources available to support those who feel led to open their hearts and homes.
Every foster parent, and child’s journey looks vastly different and depends on many circumstances, and that’s what makes it so beautiful. No matter what your journey looks like, there are great resources to help foster parents navigate a new normal.
Foster Care in the Media: Real-Life Reflections on Screen
Media has a unique way of helping us see life through someone else’s eyes. Foster parenting has been brought into the spotlight in recent years through films and series that reflect the joys and realities of caring for children from hard places.
Take Instant Family, a heartwarming movie based on true events that follows a couple who become foster parents to a sibling group. The film blends humor and honesty, capturing the chaos and connection that comes with fostering. The TV show The Fosters shines a light on the complexities of a foster family, exploring identity, belonging, and healing. Even documentaries like HBO’s Foster bring a raw, unfiltered view of the foster care system, showing just how deeply these children—and the families who care for them—are impacted.
While no movie or show can fully capture every foster parent’s journey, these stories do help raise awareness, break down misconceptions, and inspire real change.
If you’re looking for movies that share an inspiring message about foster care, here are a few great movies. Some of them would even be perfect for a family movie night!
- The Tigger Movie – Tigger decides to search for his family, hoping to finally be within a similar company.
- Secondhand Lions – Kinship placement is common in foster care, but it’s rarely depicted in family movies about foster care and adoption. Secondhand Lions does so while still being a fun, adventure-filled movie.
- Lilo and Stitch – A Disney classic that might not immediately come to mind when you think of movies about adoption. But not only is Lilo in a kinship placement following the death of her parents, Stitch is ultimately adopted into their created family, as well.
- The Blind Side – The story of Michael Oher, a homeless boy who became an All-American football player and first-round NFL draft pick with the help of a caring woman and her family who takes him in. (Inspired by a true story.)
Print Resources For You And Your Kids
here are some great books for foster parents:
- “Reframing Foster Care” by Jason Johnson – This book is a collection of reflections on the foster parenting journey designed to help you find hope and to remind you that your work is worth it and that you are not alone.
- “The Connected Parent” by Karyn Purvis and Lisa Qualls – This book gives you practical advice and powerful tools to nurture your child, combat chronic fear, and teach respect. You’ll also learn to develop other valuable tools to facilitate a healing connection with your child.
- “The Connected Child” by Dr. Karyn Purvis – This book offers strategies to help children from trauma feel safe, understood, and connected.
- “Wounded Children, Healing Homes” by Jayne Schooler – A guide for parents fostering children who’ve experienced trauma, loss, and attachment issues.
- “Another Place at the Table” by Kathy Harrison – A memoir that brings the day-to-day life of a foster parent to life with honesty and grace.
- The Bair Foundation’s Foster Parent Handbook – This essential guide walks families through licensing, expectations, and support services available through Bair. Check with your office to get your state-specific handbook when you start the journey to become a foster parent.
- Fostering Families Today magazine – A resource filled with real stories, expert advice, and policy updates for current and prospective foster parents.
Here are some books that are great for kids in foster care:
- “Braver Than Me” by Rhonda Wagner – A story about love, bravery, and empathy that follows Avery, a girl whose family welcomes their first foster child into their home. Avery shares her mixed-up feelings with her mom and dad and together, they learn what it’s like to be a foster family and that it’s okay to feel different emotions at the same time.
- “No Matter What: A Foster Care Tale” by Josh Shipp – This mostly autobiographical tale from Shipp, a former foster child, is about finding a home and is full of heartwarming messages that will have you laughing and holding each other tight.
- “I Love Us: A Book About Family” by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt – This book is a celebration of all types of families and the bond that holds each one together: love.
- “The Foster Dragon” by Steve Herman – Join Drew and his dragon in this uplifting story to understand what it means to be a foster child. This book highlights the many issues, questions, and feelings children have that are directly or indirectly affected by foster care, including coping with difficult challenges such as changing families or being removed from a home.
*Please note that some of the links are external. We do not receive any funding for linking out to these products, nor do we necessarily endorse these sites. We encourage you to look for these resources at your local library or favorite bookstore.
At The Bair Foundation, we believe education and support are key to successful foster care. That’s why we provide extensive training, ongoing guidance, and access to helpful printed resources. Every foster parent’s journey is different, but with the right tools and support, it becomes a journey filled with hope, healing, and purpose.
You Are the Answer to a Child’s Prayer
Right now, there are children in your community waiting for someone to say “yes.” They need safe, nurturing homes. They need someone who will show up for them, encourage them, and believe in their worth. Maybe that someone is you.
At The Bair Foundation, we’re here to help you every step of the way. From licensing and training to ongoing support, you’ll never walk this road alone. You don’t have to be perfect, you just have to be willing.
Take the first step today. Fill out this contact form or reach out to your local Bair office to learn how you can become a foster parent and change a child’s life forever.
Every year, more than half a million children are the victims of abuse and neglect.
When these children enter foster care, we provide foster families with the support they need to turn tragedy into hope.
Become a Foster parent