Joseph Toles (born in 1959) is an American mental health counselor, educator, author, content creator, nonprofit leader, and advocate for youth impacted by the foster care system. He is the founder of The Joseph Toles Foundation and TTolesConsulting, LLC, and currently serves on the boards of Auburn Opelika Habitat for Humanity and Learning Life.

Toles spent the first 21 years of his life in the New York State foster care system, an experience that not only shaped his worldview but also instilled a deep empathy for children facing adversity. His personal journey through placements, transitions, and uncertainty later fueled his passion to advocate for permanent connections, emotional healing, and long-term stability for youth in care—profoundly shaping his commitment to supporting vulnerable youth and families. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Auburn University, where he was a two-time NCAA All-American and All-SEC track and field athlete, and served as team captain. He later earned a Master of Science in Education with a concentration in Sports Psychology from Brooklyn College and completed a College Counseling Certificate from UCLA in 2003.

Counseling and Education

Toles began his professional career as a caseworker with Edwin Gould Services for Children and later served at the Visiting Nurse Service of New York and the Hetrick-Martin Institute, focusing on programs for at-risk and LGBTQ youth. He held various roles in the New York public school system, including Student Assistance Counselor, Athletic Director, and Physical Education Teacher in Yonkers and Harborfields. From 2004 to 2016, he worked as a school counselor and Director of Guidance at Candlewood Middle School and Half Hollow Hills CSD, where he also coached track and cross-country teams. From 2016 onward, he taught graduate counseling courses at Alfred University and Long Island University, and has maintained a remote counseling practice since 2020.

In addition to his professional work in schools, Toles served for three years on the Harborfields Central School District Board of Education, contributing to local educational policy and governance.

In 2005, Toles founded The Joseph Toles Foundation, a nonprofit supporting youth in foster care through enrichment, education, and mentorship. To date, The Joseph Toles Foundation has impacted nearly 500 youth across New York through its camps, mentoring programs, and college readiness support. For four years, the foundation hosted summer camps for youth in care in upstate New York, with its final year reaching 125 youth from across the state. It also awards the Joseph Toles Foundation Resilience Award, given annually to graduating high school seniors who have demonstrated perseverance and are entering college or trade school.

Each year, the foundation hosts a holiday celebration for You Gotta Believe—a New York-based nonprofit focused on finding permanent families for older youth in foster care. The event supports all children in the New York metro area affiliated with You Gotta Believe. Each year, children of all ages receive gifts and a holiday meal. The Joseph Toles Foundation has been sponsoring this event for 15 years. Toles also serves as an official member of You Gotta Believe's Board of Believers, a support advisory group that promotes youth permanency and stability.

In partnership with Unique Sports Management, the foundation provides long-term social, emotional, and financial support to a selected group of students throughout their undergraduate journey.

In 2022, Toles became Board Chair of Learning Life, and in 2024 he was appointed Board Secretary of Auburn Opelika Habitat for Humanity.

Toles has garnered national and regional media attention for his advocacy and adoptive parenting journey. His work has been described as "a testament to what is possible when empathy, resilience, and opportunity come together."

• 2019 – New York Post: Featured for raising seven sons adopted from the foster care system.
• 2019 – The Rachael Ray Show: Shared his story of resilience, love, and family. The show surprised him with a visit from his high school track coach, who had a profound impact on his identity formation.
• 2020 – The Dad & Geico Interview Series: Hosted an online series focused on fatherhood. The series, created by The Dad and sponsored by Geico, celebrated the impact of intentional parenting. A featured episode highlighted a powerful conversation with his first adopted son.
• 2023 – Published Work: The Spirit of Christmas, a self-published book encouraging readers to embrace human connection and reflect on the idea that "we are more alike than we are different.
• 2024 – CBS Evening News: Profiled in a segment titled "Man Brought Up in Foster Care Adopts Older Kids".
• 2025 – WSFA News Alabama: Featured his musical and storytelling campaign Songs of a Journey, launched for Foster Care Awareness Month.

• New York State Senate Resolution J5421 (2011) – Honored for exceptional contributions to his community.
• New York State Senate Resolution J2354 (2013) – Recognized for exemplary leadership and dedication to youth development.
• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. "Salute to Excellence" Award (2012) – Recognized for outstanding service and mentorship.
• Bank of America Local Hero Award (2011) – Part of the Neighborhood Excellence Initiative recognizing grassroots community leaders.

• Licensed Mental Health Counselor (New York State)
• Certified School and College Counselor (NYS/UCLA)
• Certified in SAFE (Structured Analysis Family Evaluation) and MAPP/GPSII (Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting) family evaluation models

Member of:

• American Mental Health Counselors Association
• American School Counselors Association
• New York Mental Health Counselors Association
• Higher Education Consultants Association

At age 49, Toles began adopting youth from the New York State foster care system. He is the adoptive father of seven sons from foster care, two sons through moral adoption—a non-legal but deeply committed parental relationship—and one through adult adoption. Watch a tribute to Toles’ ten sons here.

He currently lives in Auburn, Alabama, and continues to advocate for the well-being of children and families through direct service, speaking, and public engagement. Combined with his lived experience, formal education, and extensive employment history, Toles believes he was "built" for the work of child advocacy and remains deeply passionate and active in this mission. He is currently embarking on a journey to raise awareness about how experiences like his have influenced his identity formation.

Through this work, he aims to help children nurture positive identities despite their challenges. Toles is actively seeking opportunities to speak with individuals and organizations interested in supporting families and children, particularly those considering fostering or adoption. He also shares his story to raise awareness and foster hope through his podcast, Out of the Starting Blocks and Into the Race, launched in September 2024. Along with his co-host Renee Damon, they chronicle Toles' personal journey while examining the foster care system he came from and the experiences of those who have followed.

Selected episodes include Episode 1, titled Introduction, where Toles explains how his foster care journey shaped his identity.

Episode 5, titled Echoes of the Falls, chronicles the events that led to his placement in foster care. Through his foundation, storytelling, and community leadership, Toles continues to use his journey to inspire systemic change and personal transformation for youth in care. His life’s work stands as a testament to what is possible when empathy, resilience, and opportunity come together.