Anti-Racism in Children's Social Care
Responsible for placing, caring for or parenting Black and brown children? Are you confident you fully understand the racial struggles they encounter and how to best support them with racism?
On top of the trauma that a care experienced child faces, Black children have the added weight of racism which is proven to lead to mental health issues in children and young people, as well as impacting social care outcomes in terms of high levels of education absenteeism and expulsions, disengagement with social workers and other professionals, increased absconding and heightened placement breakdown.
Our work in the social care sector, fostering and adoption in particular but not exclusively, enhances outcomes such as maximising safeguarding, accomplishing true inclusion, heightening self confidence and sense of identity, improving behaviour, minimising absenteeism, boosting attainment and therefore improving the care experience and outcomes for Black children. In addition, the cross-sector nature of this subject ensures maximum tangible return on investment for key stakeholders.
With Black and brown children disproportionately represented in the care system there is a great deal of education required for trans-racial foster carers and adopters and social workers as well as sector managers and key decision makers to understand the importance of promoting factors of the children and young peoples’ ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic identities. Starting with the very basics of self care, skin and hair in particular.
The deficit of non-white foster carers, adopters and social workers leaves blind-spots in protecting and caring for children of other ethnicities whilst also cultivating children who are racialised as white to be anti-racist. It’s understandable to feel concerned about doing or saying the wrong thing but with support from OK To Be CIC these barriers can be greatly reduced.
Our courses provide practical suggestions and interactive exercises aimed at truly appreciating the impact of transracial caring and parenting. Ideal for social workers, agency senior leaders, foster carers and adopters. Addressing issues such as adultification bias, anti-Blackness, colourism, assimilation, and microagressions, amongst many others.