Frequently
Asked Questions
FAQ
– Frequently Asked Questions about Life
Books
Why
does a child in care need a Life Book?
A Life
Book is a valuable way to help a child understand his/her past. It
helps children feel good about themselves and helps them prepare for
the future
When
does a Life Book get started?
A Life
Book should be started as soon as a child joins a foster family. If a
child
has been in care for a while and a book hasn’t been started yet -
start NOW!
Who
contributes?
Birth
Parents or extended family members
Foster
Parents past and present
The
Child
Social
Worker
Anyone
who knows the child well
What
goes in the Life Book?
Birth
Information
Information
about child’s birth family
Information
about every family they’ve lived with
Schools
attended
Medical
Information
Social
Workers – names and their role
Information
about why the child thinks he/she is in foster care
Letters,
Mementos, Awards, Achievements, Report Cards
Pictures
of Child at every Age
Anything
they have received from birth parents – cards, notes, gift tags,
photos of gifts
Photos
or drawings of everyone involved with the child, including pets
Comments
by the child regarding the pictures – include how child feels about
the person or event, dates, etc.
How
do I start?
Life
Books can be very simple or a scrap booking masterpiece. The content
is far more important than the style.
Always
include the child’s birth and birth family. Include all you can
find out about the topics. If you don’t know something about a
topic, say so.
Many
Life Book models are available. Ask your Foster Parent Coordinator
for some examples or there are Life Books available online. These
models will give you lots of ideas – adapt them to the child’s
circumstances and age.
You
can find a printable Life Book on the Washington State Department of
Social and Health Services site
You
can purchase a Life Book from www.adoptionlifebooks.com
If a
child is preparing for adoption the Adoption Social Worker may
provide a Life Book for the child – ask her
How
can I make it special?
Have
the child choose the album, scrapbook, or binder
Visit
a store that sells scrap-booking supplies. Let the child choose
stickers etc.
Use
lots of photos. If you don’t have a photo of a person or item, have
the child draw a picture
Label
all pictures and date each page
Take
the time to listen to what the child wants to put into their book
What
about teenagers?
Give
creative teens the tools to design their own books - perhaps a “For
When I am Famous” book
There
are several “about me” type books available in book stores,
especially for teen girls.
Give a
teen a camera or video camera and have them record their life
Interview
your teen: use a voice recorder; a video camera; or take notes and
write a “magazine” article
What
about the bulky stuff?
Use a
photo box, decorate a shoe box, or build a “treasure chest”.
Shop
around for storage items that the child may like.
Large
folios are available for those big art projects
Photograph
large items or scan them and put the image in the life book
Make a
felt banner for pins, ribbons and badges
Cut a
small sample from old shirts, gift wrap etc and include
More
options:
You
can make scrapbook pages on-line at My Album Maker and Canon Scrapbook
There
are some instant journals available at Wonder Time
Make
copies of the Life Book. Color photocopies work very well, or scan
each page and save on disk.
Laminate
copies for young children
Give
the Social Worker a copy for the child’s file.
BCFFPA
web site has answers to your questions about:
