There are many ways that you as a foster carer can support children from BAME backgrounds to explore, experience, and celebrate their culture and heritage:
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Encourage and enhance positive Black identity, culture, linguistic knowledge and skills.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Find out what special interests the child may have and speak to the school about encouraging the child to pursue this interest.
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Speak with the child to identify any problems he or she may be experiencing such as harassment, bullying, and racism.
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Seek out appropriate people or voluntary organisations who may have the skills to assist with providing emotional support.
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Empower the child to develop their self-esteem by praising the positive things about them.
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Encourage the child to seek out and engage in recreational activities.
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Attend any relevant training provided by your fostering service on caring for children from BAME backgrounds, as well as any training on Equality and Diversity, Black Lives Matter, etc.
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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.
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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.
