Fostering Children from Different Faiths
As we move further into the New Year, let’s explore some ways in which you can help support your foster child’s spiritual needs.
Sharing faith in fostering
Here at ACS we specialise in faith-based fostering, as we understand the importance of matching children with families who share their culture, ethnicity or religion. We also recognise the amazing work of foster parents who care for children from a different background to their own, who work hard each day to ensure that their children’s cultural and religious needs are fully met.
It can be a challenge to understand the spiritual needs of a child who does not share your faith. Even if you share your foster child’s faith, learning how to properly support them may be a challenge if they belong to a different denomination or have differing beliefs. It takes focus, dedication and a desire for continuous learning to meet a child’s unique spiritual needs. Let’s explore some tips on how to care of the spiritual needs of a child who has differing religious needs to those of you and your family.
Supporting children’s religious needs
When you welcome a child into your home, you are committing to nurturing every part of their growth and development— including their spirituality. An individual’s beliefs form a huge part of their identity, so supporting a child’s faith is hugely important for children in foster care, who are already experiencing disruption to their sense of self due to being separated from their family.
Here are 3 tips to help you support a child in your care who has different religious beliefs to your own.
Embrace their spirituality at home.
You can make a huge difference to how well a young person settles into your home by making your house a place where all parts of their identity are embraced, including their religious beliefs. Make the time to learn about their beliefs and ensure that they receive all of the support they need at home.
Ensure that a child has all of the tools they need to practice their faith as they see fit; this may include essentials such as holy books, a prayer mat, rosary beads or religious dress. You should also ensure that they are able to celebrate any religious holidays of their choosing; here at ACS we’ll support you in this, with an allowance per year per child for religious celebrations.
Wherever possible, you should make efforts to ensure that the young person in your care can attend religious services and celebrations at their preferred place of worship. Attending a place of worship can also foster positive connections between the child and others who share their beliefs, such as religious leaders and peers their own age. Speak with your Supervising Social Worker for more support around ensuring that a child has everything they need to practice their faith.
Be mindful of your differing beliefs.
Some children who come into your care may have a complicated relationship with religion. Some may have been raised in a religion but are beginning to reject their faith, due to their own personal beliefs, religious trauma or even spiritual abuse. Others may be questioning their beliefs, rediscovering their faith or exploring new ways of practising their spirituality. We should be mindful of this when interacting with the children we care for and should encourage and support their exploration.
It’s only natural to want to share our beliefs with others, and it’s very healthy to be open about your faith with your foster children and encourage them to ask questions. That being said, it’s important to remain mindful of your role as their foster parent. Every person is entitled to their own their spiritual and religious autonomy. As a foster parent, you should remain as neutral as possible and should not try to push your own beliefs onto a young person, such as by expecting them to dress in ways which conform to your own personal beliefs around modesty. Instead, foster an environment where questions are welcome and where your foster child is actively encouraged to find their own path.
Utilise your training.
As an ACS foster parent, you’ll have access to a range of excellent training opportunities, including our training on raising children from other cultures and faiths. Taking part in these courses, including ‘Cultural Awareness’ and ‘Caring for a Child from a different Ethnicity, Race or Religion’ will equip you with all the skills you need to properly support a child’s needs.
You’ll always have somewhere to turn if you need extra support when you join ACS. With the help of our team, your Supervising Social Worker and a close-knit network of other foster parents who you’ll be able to meet at our regular social events and support groups, you’ll never feel alone. Learn more about the fantastic range of support we offer to our foster families.
Become a foster parent in 2025
There are over 80,000 children currently in the UK care system, and many of those children are waiting for loving foster homes. If you could make a change this year by becoming a foster parent, we’d encourage you to reach out to us to register your interest. Once you reach out, one of our friendly fostering advisors will chat with you over the phone and tell you all there is to know about fostering.
