The negotiation of culture in foster care placements for separated refugee and asylum seeking young people in Ireland and England

Abstract

Little is known about separated asylum seeking young people in foster care. This article addresses this gap by drawing together findings from qualitative research conducted with separated refugee and asylum seeking young people in two studies -one in England and one in Ireland. Focusing on the role of culture, the authors examine similar findings from the two studies on the significance of culture in young people's experiences of foster care. Culturally 'matched' placements are often assumed to provide continuity in relation to cultural identity. This article draws on young people's accounts of 'matched' and 'non-matched' placements to examine the extent to which this may be the case for separated young people. It was found that young people regarded it as important to maintain continuity in relation to their cultures of origin, but that cultural 'matching' with foster carers according to country of origin and/or religion was not the only means for achieving this. The authors suggest that practitioners need to adopt an individualised approach in determining whether a 'matched' or a cross-cultural placement best meets the various needs of separated young people, including their identity development needs.

Research Handbook on Child Migration

“…In their review of risk and protective factors as they pertain to the mental health of displaced and refugee children, Fazel et al (2012) found that being able to maintain one's sense of cultural identity, however self-defined, was important, though integrating into the new society also served as a protective factor. These findings reflect the findings of my own research in the Irish context (Ní Raghallaigh and Gilligan, 2010;Ní Raghallaigh, 2013;Ní Raghallaigh and Sirriyeh, 2015). For example, in Ní Raghallaigh and Gilligan (2010) we refer to two of the coping strategies used by unaccompanied refugee children.…”

“…For many child refugees, very practical aspects of living might differ significantly between the country of asylum or resettlement and their country of origin. A range of different people, including parents, peers, professionals, and carers, can be helpful in navigating these differences (Ní Raghallaigh and Gilligan, 2010;Ní Raghallaigh, 2013;Ní Raghallaigh and Sirriyeh, 2015). In the following quotation, a friend helped a young person to get used to the public transport system: Raghallaigh, 2007, p. 172) For accompanied refugee children parents will of course usually serve as a source of support in terms of negotiating the new cultural environment.…”

“…In other cases, efforts by carers of a different ethnicity (e.g. white Irish carers) to facilitate continuity by linking young people with members of their own community or by buying familiar foods were very much appreciated (Ní Raghallaigh, 2013;Ní Raghallaigh and Sirriyeh, 2015).…”

“…In my own research in the Irish context, unaccompanied refugee children appreciated the support they received both from peers and from their foster carers in adjusting to their new culture and context (Ní Raghallaigh and Gilligan, 2010;Ní Raghallaigh, 2013;Ní Raghallaigh and Sirriyeh, 2015).. For example, one girl, reflecting on her earliest days in Ireland, when she was living in a hostel for unaccompanied minors, states:…”

The social care needs of unaccompanied minors: the Irish experience

“…UNHCR (1992, p. 92) guidance in this respect states that 'every effort must be made to place children in foster families or groups of similar ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and religious background'. Generally, according to Ní Raghallaigh and Sirriyeh (2015), young people in studies in England and Ireland considered it to be important to maintain continuity in relation to their cultures of origin. However, 'matching' with foster carers was not the only means for achieving this.…”