BAME foster care shortage

by admin | Jan 4, 2022 | Fostering

Two-thirds of councils in England have a shortage of black, Asian or minority ethnic (BAME) foster carers, according to BBC analysis of official figures.

A fostering expert said this meant many children were growing up without a full sense of their identity.

Shaz, 18, who was cared for by non-Muslims, told the BBC: “I felt like I didn’t belong and I had to be white.”

Children’s minister Michelle Donelan said: “I’m extremely concerned… I think we’re letting down children.”

The BBC has analysed figures from Ofsted, which has data from 146 of the 153 local authorities that provide fostering services in England.

As of 31 March 2019 there were 54,870 children in foster care in England – 76% were white, 23% were BAME.

The analysis found 99 authorities – 68% of the 146 – had a shortage or undersupply of foster carers from a BAME background.

Authorities were deemed to have an undersupply when the gap between the percentage of carers and percentage of foster children who were BAME was bigger than five, and they had at least 15 children in foster care.ADVERTISEMENT

Until he turned 18 last year, Shaz, a British Muslim of Pakistani heritage from Bradford, had been in care for four years, spending his time in three different care homes.

He was never placed with a Muslim foster family and many of his care staff were white.

“It was weird because, being Muslim, I eat halal meat and I go to the mosque and stuff like that, but then when I transitioned into being in care they didn’t know what that meant.

“In quite a lot of circumstances they would give me pork and stuff but then I wouldn’t eat it and I would explain to them I wasn’t going to eat it but then I would get into arguments and it was like ‘you can’t force feed me’.

“It felt like there was something wrong with me, something wrong with the colour I was. I felt like I didn’t belong and I had to be white.

“In an ideal situation I would have liked to have been fostered by an Asian family because they would be more understanding and open-minded and they would know what to do.”

‘Extremely concerned’

Ms Donelan, who was appointed as temporary children’s minister in September, said: “I think that’s extremely upsetting and I’d love to meet him to hear personally about his own experience and how we can ensure that doesn’t happen again in the future.

“I’m extremely concerned about it because I think we’re letting down children and that’s why we’re making sure that we give a focus to adoption and fostering in general as well, because I don’t want any child going without a loving home and without that permanence and security that all the research shows gives them the best opportunity in life.

“It’s really important to a child that they have some understanding of their roots and their culture and their own identity for their personal development.”

Sagheer Hussain and Fatima Gora, from Bradford, have been fostering children for 16 years and have cared for children from many different backgrounds.

Mr Hussain said: “We live in a multi-cultural society and there’s a lot more kids from ethnic backgrounds coming into care.

“We get a lot of phone calls from a lot of carers, white carers, and they’ll say ‘we’ve got this child in care, how we meet their needs, what do we need to do for Eid or what do we need to do for their diet?’.

“If there were more carers from BAME backgrounds they’d be able to meet these needs.”

Fostering charity Coram BAAF told the BBC that often when a child came into care the priority was to provide them with a safe place and sometimes their other needs were ignored.

Dr John Simmons, director of policy and research at Coram BAAF, said: “Sometimes something which is so fundamental seems so easily to slip off the agenda, as other more fundamental issues, is there a placement, is there a bed for this child overnight rather than our duty and responsibility to make sure that child actually develops a settled sense of who they are.

“The child’s ethnicity and faith are fundamental to who the child will become and to ignore all of that really does put the child at significant risk about developing a secure sense of who they are.”

Source: BAME foster care shortage in two-thirds of English councils – BBC News

Why you should foster a child

by admin | Jan 3, 2022 | Fostering

Many people tell us that foster care is something that they may have thought about for awhile.  Maybe you know someone who was a foster parent or foster child?  Maybe you saw something on TV or an ad in the newspaper?  Maybe you saw a post on the internet?  Maybe you just thought it sounded like something interesting to do?

When we meet with prospective foster parents, we share with them information on what foster care is, who the children are, what the requirements to become a foster parent, and how to start the process. Equally important is answering the question, “Why should I become a foster parent?”

The answer to that question is different for each person, of course, but over our years of experience we have found that the most successful foster parents often mention some common reasons:

1. I care about children and want to help them.  Children and youth in the foster care system have been abused, neglected, abandoned, and face tremendous obstacles.  Foster parenting is a powerful way to lift up the heads of children and youth, and show them that there is hope for the future.
2. I am kind and loving but can be firm when it’s required.  While a lot of love is a nice thing to provide, foster parents also must have good parenting and communication skills.  Being patient, consistent and following through on rules and expectations are all important.
3. I think I did a good job as a parent and know how to work with children.  I’d like to use my skills to help other children.  Having parenting experience is helpful.  This may provide a foundation in parenting a foster child who may have experienced abuse, trauma, and separation.  Every child is different, and a good parent is able to learn from their experiences and address the individual needs of each child.
4. I didn’t have children.  By being a foster parent I can share my home and give my time and attention to a worthwhile cause.  Everyone has to start sometime.  Children do not come with an instruction manual.  Being open to learn parenting skills with the guidance and support of experienced caseworkers will give a person the tools to be an effective parent.
5. As a foster parent, I realize my job is to make this child feel comfortable and accepted in my home.  I know that someday the child may leave and that’s okay.  The first goal for a foster child is to feel safe in a warm, nurturing environment that is able to provide for their physical needs.  As these basic needs are met, a child is able to advance to forming attachments and expressing affection.  They learn to communicate their needs using appropriate words and actions.  Finally, the child displays a healthy sense of self-esteem, form connections with others, and develop future goals.  When a child leaves a home, whether after a few months or a few years, saying goodbye is never easy.  Some foster parents feel comfort knowing a family has been successfully reunited and you played a part in it.  Other families hope that their involvement with the child will plant a seed that takes root and will grow within the child, producing amazing results in years to come.  
6. I feel the need to give back and want to share my experiences, time, and good fortune with a child.  A person may have had their own challenges in life- losing a parent, dealing with a family member’s addiction, or experiencing abuse.  The resilient person has had the strength and support to overcome these situations and wants to use that knowledge to help others.  Other people may never have faced these difficulties and feel a sense of gratitude.  A person may also feel altruistic (whether through culture or faith) and want to help those in need.
7. I don’t feel done parenting.  The energy, joy, and excitement of children can be contagious.  As an adult, it can be fun to spend the day outdoors at the park or reading a child her favorite book for the fiftieth time.  Grandparents appreciate the time they have with the grandchildren, partly because they feel experienced.  Children can have a special, and more open relationship, with a grandparent where they feel comfortable sharing deeper feelings and thoughts.
8. I want to have a positive impact on a child and our community.  Foster parenting goes beyond helping an individual child.  Foster parents help fight the problems of homelessness, substance abuse, mental health, domestic abuse, poverty.  While caring for foster children, foster parents give a child’s birth parents the chance to receive the necessary help to overcome problems that may have led to the removal of the children from their home.  Foster parents can also be role models to birth parents on better ways of parenting the children.
9. I enjoy a challenge.  Each child has their own unique needs and challenges.  You’ll also get to work with many different people, from caseworkers, therapists, doctors, and school personnel.  No two days will be exactly alike.  
10. There are not enough homes for older children and sibling groups.  The bond between a brother and sister is one of the longest relationships a person has in life.  It can be a heart-breaking struggle in finding homes for sibling groups of three or more.  When siblings cannot be placed together, a child has to deal with the additional separation of being away from parents and brother or sister.  Another challenge is finding homes for older children.  Adolescence can be a trying time when youth are seeking independence.  However, these teens are also hurting, having experienced abuse and betrayal.  They are looking for someone to be committed to them and help them succeed.

We’re sure there are other good reasons to become a foster parent.  We’d love to meet with you to talk about how you can join us in our mission to give hope, help and healing to children, families and communities. 

Foster parenting may be the most challenging job you’ll ever have, but it can be the most rewarding one as well.