Description
Book SynopsisFoster children are more likely than other children to be involved in risky activities online due to backgrounds of neglect and abuse, an absence of supportive adults, lower self-esteem, and greater exposure to drugs and alcohol.
Covering all the dangers of online technology that your foster child might encounter, from cyberbullying and "sexting", to child grooming and online hoaxes, this book 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.
Trade ReviewI'm grateful to Dr. John DeGarmo for tackling this overwhelming and frustrating topic. He has made it easy to understand both the pitfalls and the positive learning experiences associated with technology and social media. The information in this book is vital to everyone who works in the foster care system or who develops training programs for the children and youth in care. -- Irene Clements, President, National Foster Parent Association, USA
“Keeping Foster Children Safe Online should not only be on the nightstand of every foster parent - it should be in the hands of every parent whose children are online." -- From the Foreword by Kim Hansel, Editor, Adoption Today and Fostering Families Today
This book provides a wealth of information, good and ghastly, about the dangers and risks that foster carers, adoptive and biological parents, teachers, youth workers, social workers and others who work with, teach or live with preteens and adolescents really ought to know!... This book should be read and re-read and information shared... Having been a foster carer myself, I cannot highly enough recommend this book to anyone who lives or work with young people - not just foster children. -- Nurturing Potential, Potential Unleashed
DeGarmo looks at the positives of internet use but also explores in detail the "nastiness" of the cyber-world we all know about... the addition of case studies brings the realities of this to life... this is an invaluable resource and should be required reading for all parents and everyone in the children's workforce. -- REES Centre Newsletter
Table of ContentsForeword. Preface. Introduction - It's a Digital World. 1. Sex, Violence and Scams. 2. Establishing Ground Rules. 3. Social Networking. 4. Texting and Sexting. 5. Cyberbullying: Beyond the Playground. 6. Contact with Birth Parents. 7. Sexual Predators. 8. Access to Drugs, Alcohol and Cigarettes. 9. Apps and Video Games. Conclusion. About the Author. Resources. References. Glossary of Terms.
