[thelowlanders]

So, I'm figuring this is a huge "no no" right? I can't send pics of our fam (for this year anyway ) out to friends and fam correct? What's your experience on this? I'm of course going to ask SW this week too.

[athikers]

I'm certain this varies widely by state. Ask your worker. We absolutely cannot here.

[millie58]

In NY, the pics can't be used commercially but we can do pics as Christmas cards to send to family members and friends.

Originally Posted by athikers

I'm certain this varies widely by state. Ask your worker. We absolutely cannot here.

[MommyAlysia]

I do not foster yet, so i am curious as to why you couldn't send pics to family and friends? I understand why you couldn't put them on a public website or newspaper but if your family and friends have already seen your FC why does it matter if they have a pic? Theoretically, couldn't your relative/friend take their own pic of FC if they were around?

[bethy724]

Family & friends can't take pictures of your foster children & although you can't control it in a public setting you have to do your best (ie: I was at a parade & saw the newspaper taking pictures of the crowd & asked the photographer not to publish a picture of myself & my foster child at the time- I would DIE if I saw her in the paper the next day & sure I'd get a call from my agency)
I sent Christmas pictures to family & friends that already met my son & knew not to show him around (at work, friends I didn't know ect.)

[mommytoelmolover]

You can absolutely send out cards. Just don't specify that the child is a foster child.

There is no rule about taking pictures of foster children thats just silly.



Foster parent and former foster care case worker in IL

[RavenSong]

You definitely need to ask your social worker about this. The rules vary state by state, county by county. It's always best to be safe...whenever in doubt, call the SW. That's what they're there for...

[jjjjmom]

I always include my foster kids on my Christmas cards, and they pose for all out family pictures, birthday parties, mother's day etc. What we can't do is let them be in pictures that will be public or T.V. For example when we go to the local Easter egg hunt at the park or any activities where our local t.v station or media will be taking pictures. I just make sure we stay away from them. Other than that they have to be treated normal.

[thelowlanders]

Great! I'll check today just to be sure. Can't wait to put faces to the joys we've shared by phone w/ friends and family.

[Singlemom619]

I take pictures every year and it is signed "The XXX Family".... and it includes whoever is in our family that year. Last year that was both boys. This year it's the one.

[my2guats]

i just asked my case worker this and she said it was no problem since he is a part of our family. i only have his first name on it and no last name.

[chevyjewel]

We don't send out family pictures with our foster children in them because they aren't our children. We are helping out another family and although we treat our foster children as members of our family we know they're not and don't want to represent them as such. Our families would get the wrong idea if we included another child in our pictures.

That's just us though. To each their own.

[SarahBethsMommy]

I asked my SW about this the other day. She said I could send them to family and friends who would otherwise know him. I cannot send them to say, internet friends, who wouldn't. I also cannot put his last name on the card... but I wouldn't have anyway.

[buttascotchbaby]

I always include current foster kids in my family pics, holiday cards, etc. While they are with us they are part of our family. This does not neccessarily make them NOT part of their bio family, just part of ours as well. Of course I would not publish them but I have always felt free to send cards out to family and friends with whomever is part of our family that year included.

A couple of years ago we started getting one of those personalized ornaments every Christmas from "Santa's Pen" and on it it says "The GXXXXX Ohana (Family)" and then each person's first name is listed and somewhere on it is the year. It is nice to look back and see what our family was like that year, sometimes a little sad too (we are having a little bit of a hard time this year with our "baby" reunified). Sorry for the little hijack there!

[Joy2566]

we have to get permission to send pictures. The kids have to tell the county that they want to be in the picture, and then we can't list their names (not even first names)