Did you know that over 400,000 kids are in foster care in the United States?* That means there are hundreds of thousands of personal stories. Hundreds of thousands of children are without a place to call home permanently. This need is ginormous, and I subscribe to the idea that we all play a part.
I recently spent a lot of time talking about adoption with Brittany Salmon on The Happy Hour. Her book, It Takes More Than Love, is one of the best books I’ve read for families either entering into the adoption world or currently in a family where adoption is part of their story. I felt so seen and known when reading her book.
I don’t subscribe to the idea that all families should adopt. However, I believe we should all care for vulnerable children. It’s not an option to not care. I’m excited to share a two-week series on The Happy Hour about foster care.
May is National Foster Care Month, and we want to highlight some of the different people who play a role in foster care.
We’re starting the month with Jamie Finn, who runs an organization called Foster The Family and recently released a book by the same name. Jamie has fostered dozens of children over the past couple of years, and our conversation will bring insight into her journey and even some misconceptions that many of us have had around foster care.
Jamie C. Finn is the author of Foster the Family and executive director of Foster the Family. Her social media accounts offer a glimpse into the real life of a foster parent and provide encouragement to thousands of foster parents. Jamie is passionate about encouraging and equipping foster and adoptive parents and advocating for vulnerable children and families.
After Jamie, we have Toni Hope Petersen, a survivor of the foster care system. She is vulnerable with us about her journey and we talk openly about what foster care looks like for youth today. Tori Hope Petersen is a lover of Jesus training to be a lover of people. She spent years growing up in the foster care system and now educates, advocates, and ministers to those in the foster care community.
Then, we speak to Patoya Hall, a foster/adoptive momma, and last I chat with Whitney who placed her son for adoption almost a decade ago.
PaToya Hall is a writer, speaker, new mom and devoted follower of Jesus. PaToya is a single woman who felt a calling to open her home to children through foster care. Just a few days after becoming a certified foster parent, she received a call about a 4-day-old baby named Adelline with nowhere to go. Four hours later, that sweet baby was in her home, and just six months later, PaToya adopted her.
When Whitney Furrh was 21-years-old, she became pregnant and placed her son for adoption. She wanted her son to have all of the things that she had and more, and facing the reality that she did not have the resources to provide that. We talk about how a lot of times people don’t know what to say when it comes to adoption, and how important it is to acknowledge that all adoption stories involve loss.
Our hope was to hear from all of the parties involved in foster care. I’m so proud to know these women who are doing such great work for the Kingdom through telling their stories. They allow us to get a small glimpse into their world, into their work, and into the stories God is writing through their willingness to jump in and share.
Wherever you are in your world, I want you to know and believe that these stories matter to you. The reason they matter to you is because they deeply matter to God. Listen to these four women share their stories and allow God to change you because of them.
CONNECT WITH JAMIE