The Best Foster Parent Books and Real-Life Resources You’ll Actually Use
Foster parenting is a meaningful and rewarding journey. But it can also come with a lot of questions. Whether you’re just beginning to explore foster care or you’ve been fostering for years, it’s natural to wonder: What’s foster parenting really like? Am I doing this right? How can I best support the children in my care? Am I alone? Where can I get advice when I need help?
The good news is that you don’t have to figure it all out on your own. There are lots of resources available from people who have been in your shoes. Alex D., KVC Licensing and Placement Specialist, knows first-hand how valuable the right resources can be.
“Seeing stories about foster care helps families feel seen,” Alex said.
“Social work is hard work. Foster parenting is hard work. Making connections with others through books, movies, tv shows, etc. reinforces validation and belonging while helping combat misconceptions and stigmas centered around the hard work all of our foster parents do every day.”
Check out our expert recommendations for foster parenting books, movies, TV shows, social media accounts and more.
Foster Parenting Books
Three Little Words by Ashley Rhodes-Courter
When people ask for book recommendations, many foster parents and professionals mention Three Little Words. This memoir shares Ashley Rhodes-Courter’s experience of spending more than nine years in 14 different foster homes.
Her story helps readers better understand what it can feel like to move often and adjust to new homes, caseworkers, schools and routines. It builds compassion and gives a clearer picture of life for a child in foster care.
Another Place at the Table by Kathy Harrison
Kathy Harrison shares her experience as a foster parent after more than 10 years of caring for children and teens, while also raising her three biological sons. In Another Place at the Table, she gives an honest and real look at what life can be like in a foster home.
Another Place at the Table can help current and future foster parents better understand the challenges and meaningful moments that come with fostering.
The Connected Child by Dr. Karyn Purvis
This book helps you understand how to support children who have experienced trauma and build trust with them. Many children in foster care have been through difficult situations and may have unique mental health or behavioral needs. The Connected Child shares practical ideas to help you connect with and care for the children in your home.
Note: This book is written from a Christian perspective, but it includes helpful tools and insights for foster parents of any background.
Peas and Carrots by Tanita S. Davis
This story follows two teenage girls living under the same roof. One has always called it home, and the other is trying to find her place in it. As their lives come together, both girls face challenges, strong emotions and moments that push them to grow.
Told from both of their perspectives, Peas and Carrots gives a powerful look at what it feels like to adjust, to belong and to be seen. It challenges racial stereotypes and shows how trust and connection can slowly take shape, even when things feel uncertain.
Movies and Shows for Foster Parents
Losing Isaiah
This emotional story follows a young boy named Isaiah whose mother is struggling with addiction and is unable to care for him. He’s taken in and later adopted by a caring social worker who provides him with safety, stability and love.
Years later, his biological mother returns, hoping for another chance to be part of his life. What follows is a difficult custody battle filled with complex emotions. “Losing Isaiah” explores love, loss and the question of what truly serves Isaiah’s wellbeing.
Available on Paramount+ and Amazon.
System Crasher
This German film follows a nine-year-old girl who struggles with strong behaviors and big emotions. She moves between foster homes and treatment settings that don’t know how to support her.
Throughout “System Crasher”, you see how hard it is for her to find a place where she feels understood and safe. But you also see the powerful impact one caring adult can have by staying patient and not giving up on her.
Available on Netflix.
Short Term 12
At a residential mental health treatment center, a young counselor works closely with teens in foster care. Through her experience, you see the challenges these teens face every day, including emotional and behavioral struggles.
“Short Term 12” also shows how mental health professionals support these youth. It offers a powerful look at the relationships, challenges and moments of connection that can happen along the way.
Available on Amazon.
Task
“Task” is an American crime drama mini-series, but the powerful way it explores foster care, adoption and the emotions surrounding these experiences makes this a recommended watch for foster parents.
One viewer on Reddit shared, “I think “Task” did such a powerful job portraying the complexities of foster care and adoption, and I hope it sparks more conversation and awareness.”
Available on HBO Max.
Sesame Street
Sesame Street offers lots of resources for foster parents and children in foster care because of the intentional focus on representation.
In 2019, Sesame Street introduced a new character, Karli, and her “for-now parents,” explaining foster care in a relatable way. Foster parents can watch on their own or with their family members.
Available on Netflix or free on PBS Kids.
Podcasts for Foster Parents
Foster Parent Well
Hosted by foster/adoptive mom and wellness coach Nicole T. Barlow, this podcast focuses on trauma-informed parenting while helping caregivers avoid burnout and manage their own emotional health.
“Here, we have real conversations about the hard stuff,” Nicole shares in the show description. “Attachment struggles, secondary trauma, parenting beyond behaviors and the deep emotional weight of loving kids from hard places.”
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Buzzsprout and iHeart.
Creating a Family
This highly recommended podcast features weekly, expert-based content for foster, adoptive, and kinship parents, covering topics from legal issues to attachment.
Fostering Change
Hosted by the founder of Comfort Cases, Rob Scheer, “Fostering Change” offers inspiring stories of resilience and community, featuring insights from advocates and youth formerly in foster care.
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Acast.
The Baffling Behavior Show
Hosted by Robyn Gobbel, “The Baffling Behavior Show” helps parents decode complex trauma-based behaviors with practical, compassionate strategies. It covers both parenting with a personal history of trauma and nurturing children with traumatic backgrounds.
Online Resources for Foster Parents
KVC Health Systems
Follow KVC on social media to learn more about foster care, foster parenting and mental health in a way that’s clear and easy to understand. We share real stories, practical tips and everyday insights that help you better support children and teens in your life.
Follow KVC on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
@Foster.Parenting
Foster parent partner Laura provides practical support for becoming a foster parent, trauma-informed parenting and navigating foster care. Her approachable, real-life perspective is empowering, but doesn’t shy away from the difficulties of providing foster care. Follow her on Instagram.
She also has a book releasing in May 2026 titled First-Time Fostering. Order it here.
Foster Friendly App
Created by America’s Kids Belong, this app helps foster parents find local discounts, community support and trauma-informed, faith-based communities in their area.
Download the Foster Friendly app here.
KVC’s Expert Foster Care, Mental Health and Parenting Resources
At KVC, we work alongside families and caregivers from all walks of life. We know that caring for children and teens comes with questions, challenges and a lot of heart. That’s why we offer helpful, expert resources to guide and support you along the way.
Here are some free resources you can explore:
Thriving Magazine
Twice a year, KVC Health Systems sends our print magazine, Thriving, to our foster parents, friends and partners. Every issue is also published on our website, where you can access the full news archive full of inspiring stories, helpful tips and news and events in foster care.
Free Foster Parenting eBooks
How to Know if Foster Parenting Is Right for You
This helpful checklist walks prospective foster parents through key questions and considerations to help them reflect on whether fostering may be the right fit for their family and lifestyle.
The 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Foster Parenting
This guide answers common questions new foster parents ask, from why children enter foster care to what the licensing process looks like and how foster parents support reunification.
The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Foster Care Agency
This resource helps potential foster parents understand what to look for in a foster care agency and how to find the support, training and partnership they’ll need for success in foster care.
Treatment Foster Care: 5 Powerful Stories of Love, Hope and Healing
Through real-life stories from foster families, you’ll get an honest look at the challenges, rewards and life-changing moments that come with opening your home to a child in need.
Becoming a Treatment-Level Foster Parent: What You Need to Know
This guide offers an inside look at treatment-level foster care, including the unique needs of children and teens who require more specialized support.
Parenting and Mental Health eBooks & Videos
How to Care For Textured Hair
This guide helps caregivers learn the basics of caring for textured and curly hair, including recommended products, styling tips and protective practices that keep hair healthy. It’s designed to help foster parents confidently support children’s cultural identity while meeting their everyday hair care needs.
13-Part Parenting Tips Series
This practical series provides bite-sized strategies caregivers can use to build stronger relationships with children, improve communication and support healthy development.
The 3 Levels of Mental Health Treatment for Children and Teens
Learn about the common therapy and treatment options for youth, including how to know which type of support may be helpful, and how families can get care.
5 Things Every Child Needs for Good Mental Health
This guide explores the essential building blocks that support healthy brain development and emotional wellbeing for children and teens.
Children’s Mental Health Assessment
This simple tool is designed to help caregivers better understand a child’s emotional or behavioral needs and determine if additional mental health support may be beneficial.
You’re Not Meant to Foster Alone
Foster care has both challenges and rewards. But no foster parent should ever feel like they’re on an island, which is why we’ve put together these resources to send you a lifeline!
If you’re considering becoming a foster parent and looking for an agency that will provide you with ample support and education to prepare you for the journey, learn more about becoming a foster parent with KVC Health Systems in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and West Virginia.
