By April Rodgers Content Coordinator | FreeWire Magazine
May is Foster Care Awareness Month, a time set aside to recognize the resilience of children in care and honor the families who open their homes and hearts to them.
For Jordan Groves Johnson, a foster mother and founder of the Crawford County Butterfly Foundation, the month carries deeply personal meaning. “It’s about recognizing these innocent children facing difficult challenges,” she explained. “They’re being ripped away from their homes and families. It's about recognizing foster parents who step in to help them cope with the reality of their new, temporary homes.”
Johnson’s journey into fostering began with a long-standing love for children and a heartbreaking story from her own childhood. A close friend of hers was raised by grandparents while siblings ended up in the foster care system. Witnessing the struggles of that family left a lasting impression. “It was a sad situation,” she said. “I knew once I was older, I would somehow make a difference.” Years later, Johnson and her husband decided it was time. They became licensed foster parents—and just two days after receiving their license, the phone rang with news of a possible placement. “We were driving to the lakes,” she recalled. “We didn’t know for sure if we’d get them, but by Monday the call came again asking if we were still able to take them. I was at work, my husband was at work—I said yes without hesitation.” Unable to reach her husband by phone, Johnson drove straight to his workplace to share the news: they were about to welcome two more children into their home. Her own children came home from school that day to meet their new temporary siblings, who quickly became family.
Today, the Johnsons are in the process of adopting the boys. Not long after, the family opened their hearts again—this time to a newborn. “Once again, my husband wasn’t home, and I said yes. I called him and let him know he needed to come home because I was going to pick up a baby,” she said. “I’m so lucky to have my family’s support with our bonus babies.” For Johnson, every child in her home is treated as her own—not just by her and her husband, but by their extended family as well.
But while the stories of love and family are inspiring, the foster care system is facing urgent challenges. “There’s a serious shortage of foster homes,” Johnson said. “Not just locally, not just in the state—it’s across the United States.” In Crawford County alone, approximately 70 children are currently in care. Yet only 13 homes are licensed through Crawford County Children’s Services, with just 19 children placed locally.
The result is that many children are sent to foster homes hours away, making weekly visits with family members especially difficult. “Imagine being five years old, placed in a home two hours away, and having to drive four hours round trip for a one-hour visit,” she said.
Johnson’s organization, the Crawford County Butterfly Foundation, was established to help bridge some of the gaps foster children face. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit provides essentials like clothing, hygiene products, diapers, and other basic needs to help children adapt to their new environments. Donations are accepted in many forms, including cash, Venmo, and physical items from a list that’s available upon request.
On Friday, May 2, the Foundation held a fundraising event that drew 300 attendees and raised an impressive $14,000. The evening featured purse bingo, a taco bar, and an array of donated raffle prizes—demonstrating the strong community support behind the cause.
One of those in attendance, Tina Shell, shared how the event and Jordan’s story moved her. “I have been following Jordan’s journey through foster care and setting up the foundation, and it’s really opened my eyes to what these kids go through when they are removed from their homes and placed in a foster home. It’s heartbreaking,” Shell said. “Seeing the positive impact Jordan and the foundation has had is amazing and made me want to go and help support them.”
While many may believe foster care is mainly about adoption, Johnson hopes more people will understand that its true goal is reunification. “These children are placed with you temporarily,” she explained. “The hope is that their parents can fix what’s broken and reunite their families. It’s not that these parents don’t love their children—they’re going through hard times and need support.” She’s seen success stories firsthand—parents who once struggled but turned their lives around. Johnson often works to build a bond with the biological families of her foster children. “I want to be there for them during this difficult time,” she said.
Community members who want to make a difference during Foster Care Awareness Month can start small. “Donations, even just hygiene products, go a long way,” Johnson said. “Every little bit helps.” From welcoming children into her home to leading a foundation that serves dozens more, Jordan Groves Johnson is living proof that one person can make a lasting difference in the lives of children who need it most.
