Black and Uncared

This current age of the 21st century is a force to be reckoned with: new age feminism, political movements both on a grassroots and mainstream level (for example, the most popular being BLM), and the importance of mental health at home and also in the workplace. However, it is not often we discuss the state of children in care - let alone those that are of African and Caribbean heritage.

On June 24th, the American government chose to overrule a 20th century law that protected women’s decisions to have an abortion. This overruling means that abortion is now a punishable crime across certain states. This ruling brought to the forefront of my mind children that are in care homes. It also made me question why the conversation around the state of care homes and the experiences of those children who are looked-after is a seemingly quiet one.

More often than not, those who advocate against abortion do so with a stance that promotes the livelihood and wellbeing of children. However, this same extremity and heightened urge in supporting children is not shown with those growing up in care homes. Where is the outcry for an improvement in the state of treatment for those that are looked-after children? Where is the support for looked-after children and the efforts to help eradicate the seamless synonymy associated with them and criminal/anti-social behaviour? This caused me to ponder on the experiences that looked-after children of African Caribbean heritage have. More importantly, how institutional racism (which permeates all parts of our life) affects looked-after children.

It is necessary that Black looked after children are placed in the care of carers who are able to help build a strong sense of confidence as well as a positive self-regard. While it is not always possible (or accessible) to place Black children with a carer of the same ethnicity or cultural background, extra efforts must be made to ensure this sense of confidence and identity is built within the Child Looked After.

We cannot ignore nor deny how “skin and hair can be integral to a young Black person’s sense of self”.

However, this importance of hair and skin care is completely disregarded in the world of social work.

This is the focal point of ‘Black Children in Care: Health, Hair & Skin’ by Denise Lewis - a necessary resource for anyone (foster carers or adoptive parents) caring for children of Black and mixed heritage. Denise Lewis has had over 25 years of experience working in Social Care and Education in a number of roles. Someone passionate about youth and the work she does, this genuine deep-rooted care and interest led to the creation/production of this book solely rooted on Black children in care.  It details the basic information regarding hair and skin care to assist carers in the raising of their child. Lewis made this book to guide carers in raising a child of African/Caribbean heritage to the best of their ability albeit not having the same cultural background. 

‘Black Children in Care: Health, Hair & Skin’ is a joint collaboration between Lewis and postitiveimageproject. Lewis is the co-author with a social enterprise (and child centred creative consultancy) that focuses on Black culture, Education, Publishing & Social awareness. Lewis knew in creating this book that it will provide necessary support of Black children's culture and the colour of their skin. Lewis’ intention has always been very simple: a desire to support black looked-after children in having a strong self-esteem, lots of self-love and firm confidence.

This book’s value as a resource is more than the guidance it provides but it is the acknowledgement of a group that is commonly ignored and forgotten about. Omission of Black looked after children is clearly shown with the lack of quantitative data about their existence let alone, their wellbeing and progress. In January 2022, a report titled ‘Outcomes for Black Children in Care’ found that there was not enough data regarding Black children in care. The report looked at reunification, health, education and placement stability.

How can we evaluate and investigate that which isn’t there for us to study? The ignorance is clear and undeniable. There is no existing concern. No one cares enough to carry out the necessary research into the experiences of Black looked after children. I see this being a fault of many societal issues such as procedural problems of adultification, internalisation of racist stereotypes, and over policing of Black communities (which subsequently affect the young children that exist in these groups). The problem of adultification doesn’t afford these Black looked after children to be seen as children in need of support and empathy. Coupled with racist stereotypes of Black people being inferior to their racial counterparts, more violent and less intelligent - these influence social workers (and carers) choices when dealing with Black looked after children.

The long-standing criminalisation of both Black youth and those that are in care makes it more difficult than it really is. 

Research by Dr Katie Hunter states that “institutionalised criminalisation of BME looked after children [who] must contend with both the stigma of their ethnicity and of being in care”. There’s an added pressure and emotional/mental pressure that black children in care experience. There’s not enough discussion beyond the sphere of social workers about this - it is something that needs to be discussed in the wider community. Research from the Howard League for Penal Reform found that looked after children are 13 times more criminalised than other youth. Further research showed that children’s homes in parts of England are calling the police as many as 200 times a year (2019). This plays a part in criminalising these looked after children who are already alienated and vulnerable.

‘The Dumping Ground’ is more than a colloquial description of a care home but the title referred to by a local magistrate. This description from someone of such stature shows how overtly fractured the care system is. Recent government figures show that Black children are more likely to end up in care and less likely to be adopted. While black children make up 5% of the population, they make up 8% of the children in care [Adopted and looked-after children report].

New policies need to be put in place to provide further protection of Black children that are in care because of the racism and discrimination they will face throughout/in their life. This means extra support is required from carers to help prepare them on how to deal with this. This is another requisite on top of the direct confusion and questioning that Denise experienced from carers. While working as a social worker on a Fostering Team, many of the white Foster carers would ask her about the black children they had in placement. Questions such as, “What is Sickle cell?, How do I cornrow her hair? What should I use to moisturise her skin?”. All these questions contributed to the need for this empowering resource, ‘Black Children in Care’.