Description
The 2011 census for England and Wales reported that 14% of the population identified as Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) as follows: Asian ethnic groups 7.5%, Black ethnic groups at 3.3%, Mixed Multiple ethnic groups 2.2% and other ethnic groups 1%. Many BAME adults and children will live in predominantly white communities unless they live in larger cities or communities where there’s a wider social and cultural integration.
Research has shown that BAME children are overrepresented in the care system and statistics collected from government data on 31.3.20 suggest that Black children were more likely to be looked after (7%) and less likely to be adopted (2%) compared with their share of the under 18 population (5%).
Asian children were less likely to be looked after (4%) and less likely to be adopted (1%) compared with their share of the under 18 population (10%). Children of mixed parentage were more likely to be looked after (10%) and more likely to be adopted (10%) compared to their share of the under 18 population (5%).
In many areas of the UK there is an ongoing shortage of foster carers, and there are often particular shortages of foster carers that reflect the cultural or ethnic background of the child in care. This means they may be placed with carers from a different cultural, religious or ethnic background.
Identity is important for all children but it is particularly crucial for BAME children in foster care who may be separated from their birth family, cultural heritage, community, and sense of self. Foster carers need to actively promote the identity of all children in their care, and be particularly mindful of those from a different culture than themselves.
Research shows that mixed heritage children are generally seen as Black children by the community they live in, and by wider society, so they need to be prepared to deal with the racism and discrimination they might experience. Some mixed heritage children, particularly those who may have lived with their white parent and had little or no contact with their BAME parent, may struggle to recognise or understand they are BAME.
Beginning to identify with other members of BAME communities can help a child feel positive about their cultural identity. It enables them to develop into an emotionally healthy adult.
Providing emotional support
The trauma of separating a child from their birth parents, wider family, and community is one of the worst traumas any child can experience. The effects should never be underestimated or ignored, even if many years have passed.
Therefore, because of this disruption, Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) children may face several complex challenges that are physical and cultural, especially if they are placed with foster carers of a different ethnic group. Appropriate support and understanding are needed to negotiate these.
How you can support the child
It is important to:
- Encourage and enhance positive Black identity, culture, linguistic knowledge and skills
- Encourage positive and open communication with the child and everyone in the household. Work together on encouraging the child to be proud of who they are, and celebrate this as a family by taking part in significant cultural events or special days of significance You can explore different foods within meal planning for instance.
- Work with the child to develop strategies for living in a society where they may experience racism. Be a positive role model in calling out and challenging any racism or stereotyping that you may witness within your home and in wider society.
- Try to ensure that the child is not isolated within the home or at school by including them in family activities. Encourage other children in the home to involve them in their activities
- Find out what special interests the child may have and speak to the school about encouraging the child to pursue this interest
- Speak with the child to identify any problems he or she may be experiencing such as harassment, bullying, and racism
- Seek out appropriate people or voluntary organisations who may have the skills to assist with providing emotional support
- Empower the child to develop their self-esteem by praising the positive things about them
- Encourage the child to seek out and engage in recreational activities.
- Attend any relevant training provided by your fostering service on caring for children from BAME, Equality and Diversity, Black Lives Matter etc.
- Make sure you understand the broader framework of the Equality Act and your responsibilities as a foster carer in relation to the local policies and procedures in place.
- Seek support from your supervising social worker if you are concerned about any incident of racism and are worried about how to challenge this effectively on behalf of the young person.
Providing practical care
A child’s identity is based on a range of factors including their ethnicity, language, sexuality, gender orientation, family relationships and the community they live in. If they live in a culturally diverse area they will be aware of more people like themselves. However, if they are placed in a predominantly white area, they may feel isolated or excluded by their peers for being perceived to be “different”.
Practical things, such as food and diet, hair care, social activities, and education, are also very important in forming a child’s identity. Below, there is some advice on how foster carers can meet these practical needs in regards to BME children.
Food and Diet
It is important to provide a Black child or young person in your care with foods that are familiar, both in the way they look and taste, so they can maintain their links or begin to build links with their cultural background. As carers, you have a responsibility to ensure that whenever possible, this is maintained.
Some cultures are strict about the food they eat as well as how it is handled and prepared. Where is this relevant, these procedures should be adhered to (see for example our specific advice on caring for Muslim children and young people).
Some carers who are not used to preparing food for children and young people from different backgrounds often can perceive this as too difficult, taking up too much time, and cannot see the difference it makes in the way a dish is prepared and cooked.
It is therefore important that carers understand the cultural and religious beliefs behind many Black children and young people’s diets. For some Black children and young people, strict religious and cultural beliefs may not have been followed with their birth families and they therefore do not perceive themselves as having any strict dietary need.
- Ask the child’s social worker for information on the dietary needs of the child
- Check to see if the child or young person has any religious and cultural dietary restrictions, if they have any favourite foods and try involving other members of the household in the meal planning process
- Do not make assumptions
- Introduce any different dishes to other members of the household so the child or young person does not feel isolated at meal times
- If you have been given strict guidance about a child or young person’s diet, do not substitute it with an alternative because you cannot see the difference it makes
- Try to develop your understanding of foods that are familiar with different ethnicities and cultures
- If in doubt, ask! There are plenty of books available in local libraries, there are recipes online, and your foster care service should be able to support you with this issue.
Skin Care
All children and adults need to pay attention to skin care. Everyone’s skin differs in colour, texture, and type. Appropriate care of a BAME child or young person’s skin is an important part of caring for their well-being and should not be neglected.
BAME people’s skin is often naturally dry due to conditions in the climate, so it needs to be cared for by regularly moisturising the affected areas with creams and lotions.
This is even more important during the winter months when the skin is more at risk of excess dryness. If neglected, it can often develop cracks. Not recognising or acknowledging a Black child or young person’s need for appropriate skin care products could have a long-term effect on their self-image and self- esteem.
Carers need to be aware that skin lightening products are popular in the UK market and should be avoided- some of these may be illegal or contain ingredients that can be harmful to health and cause permanent skin damage. Positive skin care routines need to be encouraged as part of self-care and independence skills for the young person.
BAME skin can be quite sensitive. Therefore avoid using alcohol based products as these can further dry the skin. You can care for a BAME child’s skin by obtaining the right products e.g. oil based products, body lotions, and creams specifically developed for Black skin e.g. Cocoa Butter, can help to relieve skin dryness and keep skin supple.
Lotion or cream should be applied on a daily basis (sometimes more than once a day) especially to the face, arms, and legs and after bathing.
Using bath oils in the bath is also helpful to keep the skin soft. Skin that has not been moisturised can often have an ashen appearance. If you are concerned, seek advice from a doctor or pharmacist.
Exposure to the Sun
It is often thought that because of skin colour, Black people cannot get sunburnt. This is a myth.
Black people can, and frequently do, suffer from sunburn if exposed to the sun for long periods. Sun protection creams should be used to protect against sunburn. For babies and young children, use a high factor sun cream.
Hair Care
In all cultures, hair grooming is an important part of someone’s every-day personal care and appearance, so it should not be overlooked. Adolescence is a time of great change that often presents some difficulties. For most young people, appearance matters and can become a real area of focus for them. It is important to feel good and look a certain way, as this often affects the way they are seen by others.
Too often, the hair care of Black children and young people in care is neglected as many social workers and foster carers have little, or no knowledge about hair care. They may even perceive it as being too difficult to manage.
A foster carer looking after a mixed heritage child (age 3) said:
“I did not know where to start with her hair. She was with me for several weeks before I got up the courage to ask a Black mother at the school for advice. I knew it needed combing and that is all I did and bunched it into a ponytail, because it was so dry. She gave me some tips on what I should use and now we try a different style every day.”
An awareness of different religious traditions and beliefs is also important. For some Black children and young people, hair should not be cut (for example, Rastafarian and Sikhs).
You should always check with the placing social worker and the child’s family about how to care for their hair and whether or not they can have it cut. If in doubt, seek specialist advice from a hairdresser specialising in black hair. There is also a great deal of advice regarding hair and skin products for Black people online.
CHOOSING POSITIVE LEARNING – TOYS AND BOOKS
Books and toys are often a child’s first link to learning and exploring the world around them. Therefore, when choosing play and reading materials, you should look to select quality items with good learning potential. In addition to this, it is important to be aware of the messages toys and books can carry. Many such items may present racist, sexist, and discriminatory images.
In order for children to happily live in a multicultural society, and play a positive role in it, we need books which reflect and respect the diversity of culture, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. At the early stage of their development, children are eager to learn and absorb knowledge quickly. Therefore, it’s crucial that the visual and written images presented to them do not show discriminatory views.
It is often said that if you can see it you can be it! Children who are BAME need to have books and toys that reflect themselves, their families, and their communities. This material should avoid stereo typing. Books and resources that share knowledge of BAME achievements in history, science, and other areas of life may help develop interests and inspire young people to think about their own place in the world.
Try to discuss BAME positive role models locally and in the media from a range of backgrounds including those from different genders, sexualities, and religions. This will help the young person embrace their unique diversity whatever that may be.
WHEN BUYING OR SELECTING BOOKS, SOME POINTS YOU WILL NEED TO CONSIDER:
- Who is represented in the pictures? Are the images mainly of white people? Do they reflect the multi-cultural society in which we live?
- Look at the quality of the illustrations. Are the skin tones correct, physical features, hair textures and styles accurate?
- Do they give an accurate balance and up-to-date picture of today’s multicultural society?
- Do they show people from different ethnic groups in positive roles in everyday situations, rather than nominal roles and stereotypes?
- Do they give positive recognition to the cultural roots of different ethnic groups?
MUSIC
Music plays a central role in all cultural expression. Therefore, it would be helpful to introduce children to different forms of music and instruments. Another good way to share and value a child’s own language is to learn a few lines of a song or nursery rhymes. Look around for CDs of relevant music or traditional songs/ lullabies that you may be able to borrow from a Library.
Look around for songs and stories from other cultures, not just those that may originate from White sources. Older children will already have their favourite bands or artists, and it’s important to respect that this is a key part of their cultural identity and to engage in this music with them wherever possible.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE INTERNET
Social media is used by many young people to keep in touch with their friends, to follow groups and trends, and to socialise. As with all internet based activity, it is important to be aware of which sites your foster child is engaging with and to ensure their safety.
However, social media can be an excellent way of helping a young person develop a sense of identity and belonging. It should be encouraged within normal safety limits.
This is a website with news and resources for Black families throughout the year. There is a good section on fostering and adoption, lots of information about Black heroes, celebrities, food, music and education.
This source offers news, lifestyle, faith, food, culture, and business that is aimed at the Black British Community.
The site above is a lifestyle website with lots of hair and beauty tips for Black skin and hair.
BLACK CHILDREN IN CARE: HEALTH, HAIR AND SKIN
This book is an invaluable resource for foster parents, adoptive parents, guardians and anyone caring for black and mixed heritage children. This guide provides practical and essential information about hair and skin care, health, and nutrition. It gives parents and carers advice to help their children look and feel good about themselves.
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