The Incredible Impact of Foster Parents of Faith
Foster parents of faith— why does it matter?
Here at ACS, we actively encourage people from all faiths and religious backgrounds to consider becoming foster parents, and we specialise in matching children with families who have a deep understanding of their religious and cultural needs. Read on to discover some of the key benefits which being raised in a family of the same faith can have for a child in foster care.
Foster parents of faith— why does it matter?
Many people find themselves drawn to fostering because of their strong faith and will to help others. Having faith in foster care can be both beautiful and rewarding. Fostering a child is an incredible way to make a positive change in the world, giving children who have faced difficult childhood experiences a place of safety, love and community.
Settling in
Some children in foster care may struggle to find a sense of belonging when they are first placed with a new family. Being matched with a family who share their culture and beliefs can help to ease these feelings. This is because big changes can be hard to adjust to, especially for children who have just been removed from their family home.
It can be reassuring to find that the familiarities of home are shared by their new foster family. Having shared preferences and experiences, such as being with a family who cook the same the foods they’re used to eating at home, observe the same religious routines and enjoy the same music, can help children to feel more comfortable in their foster home and help children to feel more at ease and feel like they fit in with their foster family more quickly.
Communication
Some children, particularly sanctuary seeking children, may have a different first language from English, or may be used to speaking a different language at home with their family. Having a foster family who understand some, if not all, of their preferred language can have a huge impact on a child’s level of comfort and familiarity, as well as their ability to communicate their needs.
Spirituality
When a child is removed from their home and faces a difficult time, they may struggle to stay in touch with their spirituality. Being the only person in their household who shares their faith can be a challenge.
Being matched with a foster family who share their beliefs and who support them in their faith, such as by taking them to their place of worship where they can observe their usual religious routines, build friendships with other children and find role models among the community, children can maintain and develop a strong faith.
Identity
When children experience a disruption to their regular life and routines, it can be easy for them to lose touch with their sense of self. Helping children to stay deeply in touch with their culture and religious traditions through what is likely a very difficult time for them can imbue them with a source of strength and can help them to maintain a strong sense of who they are, which they will take with them into a healthy, happy adulthood.
Spiritual Role Models
Welcoming a child into your home who shares your faith is a fantastic opportunity to be a strong spiritual role model for them, teaching them the values of your faith by setting an excellent example.
Having a strong spiritual role model to look up to can be especially helpful for children who have begun to lose touch with their faith, or who may have negative feelings towards their family’s religion due to their experiences before coming into foster care. By helping them to reconnect with their roots and helping them to understand that what they may have experienced is not a reflection on their faith, they may find that their faith can be an enormous source of comfort.
Did you know?
In the UK, only 20% of foster parents are from minority ethnic and religious backgrounds. As one of the only independent fostering agencies in the UK who specialise in providing cultural and faith based foster care, we’re always eager to welcome loving individuals from diverse backgrounds who have room in their hearts to foster a child.
If you believe you could welcome a child into your home and support them in building a strong faith, we would love to hear from you and give you more information about how you could become a foster parent with our inclusive agency. Give us a call on 0800 9177937 or fill in our online enquiry form to get started.
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