2022 – Child Welfare Information Gateway
This factsheet briefly describes the advantages and challenges youth in foster care may encounter when using social media. Issues that should be considered and tips for handling issues are also offered.
URL: https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/smtips-youth/
PDF: https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/smtips_youth.pdf
While social media has changed the way the world communicates, it has also created privacy and safety concerns. This factsheet briefly discusses the benefits of social media for children and youth in foster care and provides tips for parents and caregivers who want to help them use social media safely. It also provides advice for foster parents on how to responsibly use your own social media accounts.
URL: https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/smtips-parent/
PDF: https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/smtips_parent.pdf
Social media apps have become ubiquitous communication tools, and the child welfare field is responding by expanding the role of social media in casework practice. However, social media can also present privacy and safety concerns, and agencies must determine how to utilize these technologies while minimizing risks to families and staff. This factsheet contains tips to help child welfare workers address the complex balance required for successfully using social media in a field that demands strict confidentiality and adherence to a range of rules and guidelines.
URL: https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/smtips-worker/
PDF: https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/smtips_worker.pdf