As a foster carer you may care for children from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, and religions. Whilst the responsible local authority will try to match a child with carers from the same culture, religion, and background, it is not always possible. Understanding the religious needs of a child will enable you to support them in their faith and will assist in helping a child to feel welcomed into your home.
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Understanding a child's religious needs
Fosterline has information on caring for a Muslim child and on celebrating religious festivals, including Diwali, Hanukkah, and Eid, but not all religions and events can be detailed. However, this general guide may help foster carers think about the information they need to support the children in their care explore and practice their faith.
Foster carers should:
- Obtain detailed information from the social worker and the family regarding any religious needs, and ensure they are documented within the Care Plan.
- Not make assumptions about the religion of any child in their care. If the child is old enough, open a line of communication with them about their faith and how they would like to practice it.
- Consider worship needs and how this can be supported by the foster carer. Is there a particular church, mosque, temple or other attended and at what times?
- Understand any dietary needs associated with the specific faith and followed by the family, for example a vegetarian diet, or avoiding specific meats such as may be the case for Seventh-day Adventists, Sikhs, and other religions.
- Check if there are any food preparation/storage issues associated with the faith. For example, Muslim children may only eat meat that is halal, whilst Jewish children may follow kosher dietary laws that forbid mixing meat and dairy, which may include separate cooking areas and implements for each food.
- Check how the child’s medical needs will be met and how the child’s religion may support this, such as by prohibiting smoking. Where medical treatment may be at odds with any religious belief, it would be the responsible local authority or the courts that would make the decisions regarding treatment.
- Check that you understand any religious festivals or events associated with the child’s religion and that you try to involve the child appropriately, such as Christmas, Easter, Diwali, Eid, etc. Any practices such as fasting for lent or Ramadan should be discussed with the child, their family, and the social worker.
- Check that you understand any religious needs in respect to dress, personal hygiene and care. Some religions have codes for clothing, wearing of head scarves/turbans, religious jewelry, washing/bathing, management of body hair, beards, etc.
- Be alert and challenge appropriately any bullying or discrimination. Under the Equality Act 2010 religion and belief is a “protected characteristic." A person can therefore not be treated less favorably than another based on their religion.
- Try to establish positive religious community links for the child and the foster family. Talk to your fostering service who may be able to arrange a buddy or other assistance.
- Consider the child’s gender and sexual orientation, their culture and ethnicity, and any disability, alongside their religious needs, as all are key in developing positive self-identity.
- Consider any implications for family life. For example, will a family pet have any impact on the matching, and is the foster carer able to make any changes needed in regard to this? For example, a dog should not be allowed in the place of worship, which may include a child’s bedroom. Identify local restaurants that will meet any known religious needs in relation to diet and the serving of alcohol.
- Look at ways to include the whole family in supporting the child’s religion for example sharing special foods or undertaking activities as a family at a time of religious celebration. This can help children feel accepted and positive about their identity and help others in the household learn about different religions.
- If a child has had negative religious experiences before coming into your care, talk to the child’s social worker and your supervising social worker about any specialist support available for the child and for the foster carer.
