Appearance
Foster Child Genogram Symbol
The foster child symbol in a genogram is a dotted line; in EasyGenogram, green and dotted; connecting the child to their foster carers. The child keeps their standard symbol; square for males and circles for females.
How It Differs from Other Child Connection Lines
- Biological child — solid black line
- Adopted child — dashed blue line
- Foster child — green dotted line
The distinction matters in any diagram that includes a child with more than one type of family connection.
For instance, a child who was fostered before being adopted would appear with a dotted line to prior foster carers and a dashed line to the adoptive parents.
How to Use It
Place the foster child on the sibship line in chronological order; birth order where known, or order of placement. Connect them to the foster family's couple line with a green dotted line.
Add the placement start date alongside the dotted line. If the placement has ended, add the end date. This turns the line into a dated record of the placement rather than just a connection type.
The foster child's biological parents are shown separately in the diagram, outside the foster household, with their own biological connection lines to the child. The dotted line shows where the child is living; the biological lines show where they came from.
In Context
The Murray family genogram in the foster care genogram article shows two foster children (Liam and Ella) connected to their foster carers by green dotted lines, with placement dates noted and biological parents shown separately.
The article also shows how the symbol works alongside biological child connections on the same sibship line.
FAQ
What is the genogram symbol for a foster child?
A foster child is shown with a dotted line connecting them to their foster parents, running down from the couple's horizontal line to the child's symbol. In EasyGenogram, this is a green dotted line. The child's symbol itself is a standard square for male or circle for female; there is no separate person symbol for foster children.
How is the foster child symbol different from the adopted child symbol?
The foster child connection is a dotted line; the adopted child connection is a dashed line. The dotted line indicates a temporary placement where the biological parents remain legally connected. The dashed line indicates a permanent legal relationship where the child has been legally transferred to the adoptive family. Both use the same standard person symbols.
Where does the foster child go on a genogram?
On the sibship line below the foster carers, in chronological order alongside any biological or adopted children in the household. The placement date is noted alongside the dotted line. If the child has biological parents, they appear separately outside the foster household with their own connection lines to the child.
How do you show a child who was fostered and then adopted?
The child appears once on the diagram. Their connection to any prior foster carers is shown with a dated dotted line. Their connection to the adoptive parents is shown with a dashed line. Both lines connect to the same child symbol, and the dates make the sequence clear.
Do you need to show the foster child's biological parents in the diagram?
In clinical and social work contexts, yes. Biological parents remain legally connected during a foster placement and their presence in the diagram reflects that. They are placed outside the foster household with a biological child line connecting them to the child. If their whereabouts or identity are unknown, a symbol labeled unknown is placed in the correct position.