Keeping Foster Children Safe Online

The internet has brought information to our fingertips and made connecting with others easier than ever, but it also brings with it risks - especially for foster families. Backgrounds of neglect and abuse, an absence of supportive adults, lower self-esteem, and greater exposure to drugs and alcohol mean that foster children are more likely than other children to be involved in risky activities online. This book covers all the dangers of online technology you might encounter, from cyberbullying and ''sexting'', to child grooming and online hoaxes. It pays particular attention to dangers unique to foster families, such as the difficulties internet access poses for maintaining formal arrangements for contact with birth families. DeGarmo equips foster parents and professionals with strategies to keep foster children safe online, giving tips on establishing expectations for internet usage, advice on how to prevent inappropriate contact and protect personal information, and explaining the importance of ''netiquette''. An indispensable guide to negotiating online dangers, this is required reading for all foster families as well as residential child care workers, social workers and other professionals working with children in care.