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Photo Safe
“Photo Safe” is a not-for-profit organization whose objective is to capture and preserve digital images of children in foster care in the United States, with the sole and express purpose of creating a historic record for the personal use of the child and/or guardian. Photo Safe goals are simple: acquire, preserve and distribute digital images of children in foster care or, in other words, be the taker, keeper and provider of family pictures for foster kids.

The Photo Safe mission is to “stop moments from running away,” to create a historic record where one does not exist, and to help fill an emotional and psychological gap that these children experience today.

The Need for Photo Safe
All of us need to know our origins in order to construct a healthy narrative about who we are. Photos help us create, remember and share our life stories. They also provide security, and fill us with memories and meaning that calm us in unpredictable times. In New York City alone, there are 16,000 children in foster care who, because of their circumstances, miss out on the benefits of pictures and photography. They have virtually no photos of their family and friends that would provide them comfort through their personal chaos, nor can they offer current images of themselves to those who matter most to them. As these kids grow and mature, their changing appearance goes undocumented, and major milestones pass without a permanent record. The physical history of their lives and the people significant to them is lost.

History
In 2006, two three-year-old boys met in the playground of PS 199 in Manhattan. Their friendship ultimately inspired the creation of Photo Safe. Photo Safe was established in 2012.

How the Organization Works
Photo Safe forms alliances with Foster Care Agencies and enables them to link to web-based technology to upload and store photographs for use by the children and their families.

Photo Safe’s website has 3 purposes: 1.	Provide general information about the organization and its services

2.	Accept digital images of children enrolled in the program from individual contributors

3.	Offer online access to children and others authorized for viewing/downloading the child’s album

The Photo Safe Team
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