Using social media techniques and innovations in child welfare practice is a relatively new approach for the field. While using social media as a practice tool offers opportunities to enhance, improve, and make work with children and families more effective, it also presents new challenges for the field.
These pages offer information and resources on how to capture opportunities to help improve outcomes and build supports for children and families using social media as a communication tool.
Research Summary: Innovative Technologies in Child Welfare Services (PDF - 1,470 KB)
Hughes (2018)
Southern Area Consortium of Human Services
Highlights the use of new and existing technologies, such as cloud-based services, mobile technologies, and social media, as tools for parent recruitment and retention efforts, predictive analytics, online resource portals for youth and families, and more. The section on social media use begins on page 17.
Social Media: Tips for Foster Care Workers
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Describes the advantages and challenges workers may encounter when using social media with foster parents and youth in foster care. Issues that should be considered and tips for handling issues are also offered, as are ways to use social media to support families and youth.
Social Media: Tips for Foster Parents and Caregivers
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Describes the advantages and challenges foster parents may encounter when using social media in their role as foster parents. Issues that should be considered and tips for handling issues are also offered. Ways to guide youth in the safe use of social media are also discussed.
Social Media: Tips for Youth in Foster Care
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Describes the advantages and challenges youth in foster care may encounter when using social media. Topics include ways that social media can be unsafe, ways to stay safe, and things to ask yourself before you post.
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