MyFosterChild.
www.myfosterchild.org
MyFosterChild: www.myfosterchild.org
MyFosterchild is a unique initiative designed in partnership with the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF), to help enable Muslim children who have come into the care system to preserve their Islamic identity.
Unfortunately the number of Muslims who enter the system is not matched with the number that leave the system, and this is the product of a proportion of Muslim children losing their Islamic identity from losing access to their own faith community. Living amongst alternative cultures/ lifestyles often leads to a deterioration in faith and ultimately for many of the children in fostercare leads them to lose their religious identity and conviction.
Through the project, we have produced comprehensive information guides for non Muslim foster carers and professionals, so that they are better informed about important issues in Islam and are better equipped to meet the needs of Muslim children in care.
Another key aspect of the project is educating and raising awareness amongst the Muslim community about the issue of Muslim children in the care system and the support they need in order to remain true to their religious identity. One way in which we hope to do this is by educating members of the Muslim community about the importance of fostering (and adoption) through a series of road shows and informational events held in conjunction with our partners. We essentially organize an awareness event and have a fostering agency attend the event, so that if people are moved by the discourse and decide they want to consider fostering, there is a practical access point before them to become a foster carer.
We hope that through MyFosterchild, eventually all Muslim children will be placed with suitable Muslim families who are able to care for them and meet their needs regarding upholding and reinforcing their Islamic identity.
