The Internet IS a Resource for Foster Parents


Kreigh@Tomaszewski.net
http://Tomaszewski.net

key learning objectives

An understanding of what the Internet is.

How to provide resources to others on the Internet.

How to effectively find resources relevant to Foster Parenting on the Internet.

An understanding of some of the issues Foster Parents face when using the Internet

A quick overview of the Internet (World Wide Web)

The Internet was invented by J. C. R. Licklider on April 25, 1963.

ARPAnet was the precursor to the Internet.

The internet is millions of computers connected together using agreed upon standards for providing connections and services; the internet is an anarchy -- the wierd, wild, web.

TCP/IP is the primary protocol set used to connect all the computers on the Internet.

Every computer on the Internet has an Internet Protocol (IP) address composed of four numbers (for example, 64.1.93.36). This address is used to connect to that computer from another computer. Each address can use 65,536 different ports to make or accept individual connections. The web is tangled.

There are some common port numbers that are used to accept connections for various services.
FTP 21
Telnet 22
SMTP 25
DNS 53
HTTP 80
POP 110
NNTP (Usenet News) 119

Domain Name Servers (DNS) convert 'English' addresses into IP addresses. This 'lookup' causes much of the delay in accessing a website.

Most dial-up users of the Internet share a 'dynamic pool' of addresses. Servers usually have their own 'static' address. Only 'static' servers (should) have addresses in DNS servers (domain pools are an exception).

The internet is a tool, like a library. Use it as such.

an outline of how a website is constructed

Have a stated goal (and browser targets)

a brief introduction to HTML

Java (Javascript) and PERL (ASP, etc)

how a website is set up.

The DNS is the key to making it work

Servers and services


creating, growing, and maintaining a website.

ISP or Netblock

Plumbing and Firewalls

DNS

FTP

HTTP

Email

Getting Listed (being found)

  1. Meta Tags
  2. Be in the majority and do nothing
  3. Professional submission service
  4. Submit yourself
  5. The power of links
  6. Traditional Advertising

An overview of the Web's resources for Foster Parents

effective use of tools needed to find resources

Chat and Discussion Groups

News and Newsletters

Search Engines

  1. Classic
  2. Edited
  3. Meta
  4. Nodal

Keywords
cast iron steam or hot water radiator for heating
Plain English Query
Where can I find a recipe for easter egg dye?
Boolean Query
(rabbit OR bunny) AND chocolate AND NOT (sugar AND free)
Where can I find a +recipe for +easter +egg +dye?

Some Resource Links

The Annie E. Casey Foundation
Arvin Publications
Association for Community Organization and Social Administration
American Humane Association
American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children
American Public Human Services Association
The Attachment Disorder Site
Barbara Sinatra Children's Center
Be a Foster Parent
Benton Foundation with connectforkids
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Broward County Foster Care
California Youth Connection
Canadian Foster Parent Association
Careers for Poverty Aid
The Casey Family Program
Casey Family Services
The Casey National Center for Resource Family Support (CNC)
Catholic Social Services of Grand Rapids
Center for Children and Families
Child Welfare League of Canada
Children in the Courts
Children Now
Children's Bureau, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Children's Defense Fund
Children's Institute International
ChildServ
Clinical Social Work Federation
Computer Emergency Response Team
Connect for Kids
Child Welfare League of America
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
Educational Resources Search Engine
Family Resource Center
The Florida State Foster Adoptive Parent Association, Inc.
Foster Love
Foster Parent Net
Fostered Abandoned Children Together
HandsNet
Human Services Policy Center
The on-line home of the Ideal Lives Project! Ideas & resources for those who care about someone with a disability
International Foster Care Organisation
Internet Special Education Resources Directory
Kids Count
KinNET's overall goal is creating a national network of support groups for relatives caring for kin in foster care.
Lutheran Social Services of the South, Inc.
Marion-Polk FPA
Montgomery County Office of Children & Youth
National Association of Child Advocates (NACA)
National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators (NAPCWA)
National Coalition for the Homeless
National Foster Parents Assocation
National Independent Living Association
National Network for Youth
National Resource Center for Youth Services, University of Oklahoma (NRCYS)
NFPA at KidSource OnLine
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
National Child Care Association
National Coalition for Child Protection Reform
National Parent Information Network
North American Council on Adoptable Children
North American Council on Adoptable Children Parent Support Groups
Orphan Foundation of America
Parent Soup
Parenting Special Needs Children - References at About.com
Pathways Youth and Family Services Inc.
Presidio has a good collection of links on Foster Parenting
Product recalls and safety alerts
Professional Association of Treatment Homes
Searching For Families, Fighting for Children
Security Focus
Social Work History Station
Social Workers
Suitcases for Kids
Support Groups for Parents - References at Netscape.com
Stuart Foundation
Texas State Foster Parents, Inc.
Tennessee Foster Care Association
United Parcel Service (UPS)
Voices in Action
Welfare Information Network
Youth and Children's Resources Net

First Amendment Caveat

Anyone can post anything on the web. Take what you find with a few grains of salt. Use common sense. Look for second opinions.

Internet security and filtering

Virus Protection


If you run on a Wintel platform this is essential (and becoming more so on other platforms too). If you run Microsoft applications this is a very good idea. If you don't keep your virus pattern files updated this is effectively useless, and you better have good backups because your system will be trashed sooner or later. NEVER open unexpected attachments! Check for security patches regularly.

Objectionable Sites and filtering


Your choice. Many filter options are available. None are completely reliable; some will block legitimate sites too. Teaching appropriate use is at least as effective as most filters (for browsing, not email/spam).

Monitoring and Logging


Monitoring (children's) use of the internet is very strongly recommended; this gives you an opportunity to teach effective use. Logging gives objective evidence of inappropriate use. If you log you also need to review the logs regularly. Logging can be effective if there is unsupervised use. You may need to protect the machine doing the logging.

Firewalls


If you are connected with a cable modem or DSL service, this is essential, or your machine will eventually get cracked. Reasonable personal firewall products are available from many sources. Firewalls will slow down intruders; locks are for honest people. Don't be afraid to pull the plug; report cracks to the FBI.

Spam


An unfortunate fact of life on the internet. Depending on the expert, 5 to 35% of all email is spam. Some ISPs offer filtering using services like BrightLight or Trend Micro. Reporting spam with services like SpamCop can be personally rewarding. When in doubt, delete. Watch out for email worms (honor virus) and urban legends.

Backups


If you have data that needs to be preserved, you need to back it up regularly. I recommend using three backup sets and rotating them; this gives you more than one version to try to recover from. Rebuilding is an option so you don't have to backup more than your data files. Copying data to a second hard disk is a great plus (but does not eliminate the need for offline backup).

Introduction | Learning Objectives | Web Overview | Making a Website | Resources for Foster Parents | Security
Submit a comment

Current date and time is Monday, 28-Apr-2025 22:55:33 EDT and the Greenwich date and time is Tuesday, 29-Apr-2025 02:55:33 GMT. You are viewing this page from 3.145.50.71 and are visitor number 1005. This page was first published on 27 April 2001 and was last updated on Friday, 02-Sep-2022 16:51:06 EDT.

Submit a Comment to Kreigh

What is your name?

What is your Email address?

Do you have a website address I can visit?

This should be a full http://somewhere.com address

What will I find there (please be brief)?

What category best fits this link?

Your question or comment

You can also visit The Tomaszewski Family Public Home Page, or my personal homepage.