Foster care is not a solo experience. Anyone who has fostered knows that every week (and sometimes every day) can bring up many questions and doubts. With that in mind, we’ve gathered together some of the best foster care blogs of 2020. Check out the list below to hear about the joys, challenges, and lessons shared by seasoned foster parents.
Best Foster Care Blogs of 2020
The list below includes some of the top foster parenting blogs to help guide you on your journey. Each blog includes a list of some of the most popular posts and a description of what makes each unique. You can also find links to their instagram and facebook profiles. Of note, these blogs are all written by incredible, dedicated foster parents and advocates and are in no particular order:
- Foster the Family
- Confessions of an Adoptive Parent
- The Forgotten Initiative
- Jason Johnson Blog
- Together We Rise
- My Lovely Crazy Life
Foster the Family
Blog: www.fosterthefamilyblog.com
Instagram: @fosterthefamilyblog
Facebook: Foster the Family Blog
Focus: foster care, gospel-centered parenting, mission-focused family
Top Posts:
- A Letter To My Daughters on the Day of Your Adoption
- When I Don’t Love My Foster/Adopted Child
- “What to Expect” When You’re Picking Up a Foster Baby From the Hospital
- Respite Care: Why a Foster Parent Would “Leave” a Foster Child & Why You Should Take a Child Who’s Been “Left”
- “What to Expect” The First Week of a New Foster Placement
Description: Foster the family is an incredible organization based in New Jersey that exists to support foster families. The blog is primarily authored by Jamie Finn, a biological, adoptive, and foster parent in NJ. She shares her wealth of experiences through foster care and adoption in a lighthearted and down-to-earth tone, but doesn’t shy away from the deeper, more challenging situations faced by many foster parents.
Aside from the blog, Foster the Family operates a nonprofit called Community Foster Response which provides necessities and support to South Jersey foster families. Jamie also hosts a wonderful podcast called the Real Mom Podcast. In the podcast, Jamie discusses many of the same topics and includes interviews with other foster and adoptive moms.
Confessions of an Adoptive Parent
Blog: confessionsofanadoptiveparent.com
Instagram: @confessionsofaparent
Facebook: Confessions of an Adoptive Parent
Focus: foster care, adoption, parenting strategies, special needs
Top Posts:
- Why You Should Never Bad Mouth Your Child’s First Family
- There’s A Reason Your Child Always Fights You For Control
- 11 Things Children Who Have Experienced Trauma Need The Most
- What Can I Do When My Child Needs Discipline?
- Should I Talk To My Child About Their Past Trauma?
Description: Confessions of an Adoptive Parent is written by Mike and Kristin Berry. Together, they are authors of 7 books and parents of 8 children, all of whom are adopted. On the blog, they write about their experiences with the many children they have fostered and cared for including complex topics like trauma and special needs.
Aside from their blog, they host the Honestly Adoption Podcast and speak at conferences all over the country.
The Forgotten Initiative
Blog: theforgotteninitiative.org/blog/
Instagram: @theforgotteninitiative
Facebook: The Forgotten Initiative
Focus: foster care, adoption, advocacy, empowerment
Top Posts:
- 11 Ways to Prepare for Your First Placement
- Become the “Dream Foster Parent” Your Worker Has Been Looking For
- Have You Said This to a Foster Parent?
- The Struggle of Single Foster Parenting
- 5 Ways to Create a Healthy Foster Family Culture
Description: TFI is a organization led by foster and adoptive parent Jami Kaeb, dedicated to empowering individuals to support the foster care community through awareness, encouragement, and advocacy. TFI works through training advocates to support foster parents, children, and case workers on a local level. The blog features a variety of TFI writers and guest authors who share their own experiences and challenges in foster care.
Jami also leads TFI’s The Forgotten Podcast, where she hosts all sorts of parents and leaders in the foster care community. To learn more about becoming a TFI advocate, check out the TFI site.
Jason Johnson Blog
Blog: jasonjohnsonblog.com/posts
Instagram: @jasmjohnson
Facebook: Jason Johnson Blog
Focus: foster care, adoption, church-based ministry, gospel-themed encouragement
Top Posts:
- The Beauty and Brokenness of Foster Care
- Ten Questions Couples Should Ask Before Becoming Foster Parents
- Five Powerful Truths in Scripture Every Foster Parent Must Know
- James 1:27 is Not a Command
- 3 Reasons Why the Church Must Care For Orphans
Description: Jason Johnson is an author and speaker who encourages families and equips churches in their foster care and adoption journeys. He and his wife are biological, adoptive, and foster parents to a large and loving family in Texas. His blog tackles many of the emotional challenges of foster care, frequently through a gospel lens.
Jason currently serves as the Director of Church Ministry Initiatives with Christian Alliance for Orphans. In his work he speaks and teaches at churches, conferences, forums and workshops on church-based ministry strategies and best practices as well as encouraging families that are in the trenches and those that are considering getting involved.
Together We Rise
Blog: www.togetherwerise.org/blog
Instagram: @togetherwerise
Facebook: Together We Rise
Focus: foster care, foster youth, advocacy, spotlight stories, news updates
Top Posts:
- Cost to Foster a Child – Is it Expensive?
- Rebecca’s Foster Care to Adoption Story
- 15 Things You Should Know Before Fostering
- Myths About Adoption & Foster Care
- 5 Things to Never Say to a Foster Youth
Description: Together We Rise is a national organization dedicated to empowering volunteers to support foster youth. In contrast to some of the other blogs, the TWR blog focuses on spotlight stories of foster and foster-to-adopt families. However, there are also many highlights of foster care news, legislation, and outreaches around the country.
TWR offers many programs, including Sweet Cases, Building Bikes, Build A Board, Birthday Boxes, Superhero Boxes and their Family Fellowship, which is the largest college scholarship available for youth aging out of the foster care program.
My Lovely Crazy Life
Blog: mylovelycrazylife.com
Instagram: @mylovelycrazylifeap
Facebook: My Lovely Crazy Life
Focus: foster care, adoption, special needs, life at home
Top Posts:
- Good Bye My Daughter
- Why You Should Reward Your Child for Bad Behavior
- Navigating Back to School: Through the Adoption and Foster Care Lens
- A Day in the Life of FASD (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder)
- Dear Friends & Family: What I Want You to Know About Adoption and Foster Care
Description: My Lovely Crazy Life is the personal blog of Amanda Preston. Amanda is an adoptive mom to 8, foster parent, and social worker. She has specific experience with special needs children and shares candidly on the subject.
Amanda also recently started a podcast, also called My Lovely Crazy Life, where she speaks to a variety of people touched by foster care. In addition to her personal blog, you can find her writing for Scary Mommy.
Get Reading!
There you have it, some of the best foster care blogs on the web! These foster parents, advocates, writers, moms, and dads are doing incredible work in their communities and in their homes. What other foster care blogs have you found helpful?
