Black History Month - The need for foster carers
To celebrate Black History Month, we caught up with Esi, an amazing foster carer and Chair of the Haringey Foster Carers Association, to share her experience as a foster carer and to talk about the need for more foster carers from Black communities.
“Foster care is the bedrock of the care system. For many children, foster care provides a loving stable home. We need foster carers who are able to create the loving homes we know that children need and deserve.
“Now more than ever, we need foster carers/parents from Black communities/backgrounds to step up to the plate and take on the challenge of being role models to children and young people.
“As someone of African Caribbean heritage, I have fostered for many years. I currently foster a sibling group from an African background. When I was approached about fostering this sibling group, I was very keen to bring my knowledge skills and understanding of wanting to be the best I could be in embracing my new hybrid family. I understood and recognised their need to be supported and to appreciate their cultural heritage.
“As a carer, I found myself well placed to empathise and help the children develop a sense of pride and achievement. It was not long before I gained the title of 'Aunty'.
“There are many Black children in care waiting to join a loving family. Without these families, many Black children will grow up without a full sense of their identity. I see it as my duty and responsibility not only to provide love, but also to make sure that all children within the home develop a settled sense of who they are. I have even signed the children up to African drumming and dance, which they thoroughly enjoyed.”
If you are interested in becoming a foster carer or would like to find out more information, please feel free to contact our friendly team on 020 8489 3754 or email fosteringrecruitment@haringey.gov.uk