The Salience of Islam to Muslim Heritage Children’s Experiences of Identity, Family, and Well-Being in Foster Care

Abstract

All children need permanent and secure homes in which they can explore their identities and evolve as human beings, citizens, and family members, and within which can they have a sense of security, continuity, stability, and belonging. There are approximately 4500 children of Muslim heritage in the care system in England and Wales, and this number is increasing. Using case studies that emerged from qualitative fieldwork, this article examines the role and impact of religion on children’s journeys through the care system, particularly in foster care. This article concludes that irrespective of the level of engagement Muslim heritage children in the care system have with their religious heritage, Islam has an enduring impact on how they perceive their identities. As a result, there is a pressing need for social workers and foster carers who care for these children to gain greater insights into Islam and Muslim culture. Such insights and understandings will help children settle faster and form stronger bonds of attachment with their foster carers, and in the long term, this will enhance life outcomes for these children.

Weaving webs of well-being: The ethics of navigating religious differences in Christian foster families with foster children of various backgrounds

“…This gap in religious socialization by the birth family can be challenging for the foster child given the impact of Islam on their identification by themselves and their social environment (e.g. Cheruvallil-Contractor et al, 2021). Some foster parents were critical about birth parents' inconsistent religious practice and socialization, such as demands for halal or non-pork food for their child, while serving their children pork snacks during visits.…”

“…Furthermore, even when foster children lose the religion of their birth families, they may reconnect to it in a later phase. Changes in the religious and non-religious journeys need to be anticipated from the start of socialization by their foster families (see, for instance, Cheruvallil-Contractor et al, 2021 on Muslim foster children). The (non-) religious socialization and identity formation of foster children is, therefore, likely to be complex and throws up ethical dilemmas in relation to religious decision-making on behalf of the foster child.…”

Child of two worlds: How foster care workers perceive their skills in dealing with worldview differences in foster care

“…Kools explicitly mentions the risk of little exploration but having strong commitments, that is, the identity status of ‘foreclosure’, in Marcia's terms (Klimstra et al, 2010, p. 150; Verschueren et al, 2017). Research among Muslim young adults demonstrated they could experience renewed interest in Islam after denying it in adolescence (Cheruvallil‐Contractor et al, 2021; Verkuyten & Fleischmann, 2017). Kools also concludes that fostered youths often lack the opportunity for moratorium, ‘high on exploration but not stable commitments yet’ (Klimstra et al, 2010, p. 150), in being able to explore identity without experiencing social, economic or emotional consequences (Kools, 1997).…”

“…Identity formation is seen as a crucial developmental part of adolescence (Crocetti, 2018; Verschueren et al, 2017). Previous research indicates that growing up in foster care negatively impacts identity formation, including religious identity (Cheruvallil‐Contractor et al, 2021; Kools, 1997). For vulnerable youth, a positive identity is crucial for the quality of an out‐of‐home placement, the child's self‐esteem and agency in adult life (Neagu & Sebba, 2019; Noble‐Carr et al, 2014).…”

“…Previous research shows that religion can motivate and support foster parents (Buehler et al, 2006; Henderson & Scannapieco, 2006; Howell‐Moroney, 2014; Rhodes et al, 2006; Shklarski, 2019). Likewise, religion and spirituality are important for children's wellbeing and identity formation (Bangert, 2014; Holden & Williamson, 2014; Scales et al, 2014; Schreiber & Culbertson, 2014), but this can be overlooked in foster care (Cheruvallil‐Contractor et al, 2021; Hodge, 2022; Schreiber & Culbertson, 2014). Degener et al reported an intersection between belonging to an ethnic minority and being a foster child (Degener et al, 2021).…”