“Social networking has given people a means to make and sustain relationships in a way previously unheard of. Little wonder then that it is making an impact on foster family life. Many things that were once largely managed and facilitated by fostering agencies and foster carers – including contact between fostered children and birth relatives – are now possible through the internet.

This guide examines the challenges faced by all parties involved with fostered children and looks at how foster carers can help children make the most out of opportunities the internet can bring, while minimising online risks to themselves and their family. It looks at the pressing questions facing foster carers and fostering workers including:

What do foster carers, birth relatives and social workers need to know about foster care in the age of social networking?
How can they be equipped for new challenges?
What do workers and carers need to know about protecting privacy and security online so that they can give advice to young people?
How can social workers help foster families to manage the complex situations that can arise from the use of social networking sites?
The guide provides a wealth of information, raises important questions and offers valuable advice. Case studies and quotations from foster carers and fostering workers enable experiences to be shared, and reveal the potential and significant risks that some people have experienced and also the strategies used to manage difficult situations.”

Author: Eileen Furland
ISBN: 978-1-907585-14-2
Count: 1