Can Foster Parents Post Pictures of Foster Kids on Social Media?
Updated: 6 hours ago
Usually, no. Foster parents shouldn't post photos of a foster child, or anything that could identify them, on social media unless the child's caseworker says it's OK. A single photo can show where a child lives or goes to school, and being in foster care is part of the child's story, not ours to share. Your Intercept case manager can tell you what's allowed for each child in your home.
Here's why the rule exists, what you can share, and how to protect a foster child's privacy online, including from well-meaning family and friends.
Why Foster Children's Photos Stay Off Social Media
Safety. Some children in care have people in their lives who shouldn't know where they are. A tagged location, a school logo or a house number in the background can be enough to find them.
Privacy. Being in foster care is personal information about the child and their family. A caption like "our foster daughter" shares it for them.
Permanence. Once a photo is online, anyone can save it or share it. It can follow a child long after they've gone home.
Local rules. In Virginia, the child's local department of social services sets the rules, and they're strict. Fairfax County's foster parent guide, for example, tells foster parents not to post any images or information about children in their care.
Being careful can still make sense after an adoption is finalized, especially if there's a known safety risk.
What You Can Share
You can talk about your own experience as a foster parent: what you're learning, what's hard, and why you do it. Just leave out names, photos and details that point to a particular child.
Some families post photos taken from behind or with faces hidden. Even those can identify a child, so check with your case manager first.
Keep taking pictures. Many children in foster care have very few photos of their childhood. Keep them in a private album or a life book and send copies with the child when they move.
How to Keep Family, Friends and Schools From Posting Your Foster Child's Photo
Most photos of foster children end up online because someone else posted them. A few habits prevent most of it:
Tell people early. Before family and friends meet the child, let them know: "We can't share photos of kids in our care, so please don't post any pictures with them in it." You don't need to explain why.
Plan for events. At weddings, birthdays and holidays, ask the host to mention it, or put a note on the table. Ask photographers to leave the child out of anything they post.
Turn on tag review. On Facebook and similar apps, set your account so you approve tags before they show up on your profile.
Read photo waivers. Schools, sports teams, camps and churches often ask permission to post photos. Check with your case manager before signing and ask the school not to post the child's name or photo online.
Ask people not to forward. When you share a photo privately with family, remind them not to repost it.
None of this means leaving a child out of class pictures, the yearbook or the team photo. Children in foster care should get to do what other kids do. Fairfax County's guide, for instance, says a child in care should be allowed to have their picture taken for a yearbook or newspaper. When a photo will be posted online, ask first.
Helping Foster Youth Stay Safe on Their Own Accounts
Many teens in foster care use social media, and it can help them stay connected with friends and family after a move. Cutting them off usually isn't the answer. Helping them use it safely is.
Learn their apps. Ask them to show you what they use and how it works.
Lock down settings together. Make accounts private, turn off location sharing, and keep their school, address and phone number off their profiles.
Talk about who's reaching out. Strangers are one risk. Another is contact from people in their past whom the case plan doesn't allow. Make sure they know they can come to you without getting in trouble.
Follow the case plan. Ask the caseworker what online contact with birth family is OK.
Mind the age. Most platforms require users to be at least 13.
The Child Welfare Information Gateway has short tip sheets on social media for foster parents and for youth in foster care. They're worth reading together.
Privacy Settings for Foster Parents
-Make your accounts private and review who's on your friends list.
-Keep your home address, phone number and the child's school off public profiles.
-Turn off location tagging and check photos for background details like a house number, school name or license plate.
-Remember that settings lower the risk but don't remove it. People can still find you, so post as if anyone might see it.
When in Doubt, Ask Your Case Manager
Every child's situation is different. When you're not sure about a photo, a post or a school form, ask your Intercept case manager before you share. It's part of the support every Intercept foster family gets, along with training and 24/7 help.
Thinking about becoming a foster parent? See every step to become a foster parent in Virginia or take our short qualification form.
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