LGBTQ+ Guide to Fostering

LGBTQ+ GUIDETO FOSTERING

FOREWORD

TheLGBTQ+FosterGuidebyStDavid'sisaninvaluable resourceforthoseembarkingonthefosteringjourney.

Withheartfeltinsightsfromadvocates,theguidewarmly addressesconcerns,promotinganinclusiveandsupportive atmosphere.Ithighlightspositiveaspectssuchasembracing diversity,navigatingfamilydynamics,andchallengingsocietalnorms

Byopenlydiscussingmentalhealth,medicalconsiderations,andpracticalitieslikeemploymentand housing,StDavid'sensuresaholisticunderstanding.TheguidecelebratesthesuccessofLGBTQ+ placements,showcasingtheagency'scommitmenttodiversematches Withupliftingnarrativesand practicalguidance,thisguidestandsasabeaconforhopefulLGBTQ+fostercarers,buildingconfidence, resilience,andasenseofbelonging.

ANOTEFORM CATE

AsTeamManagerofStDavid’sFosteringService,Iamproudtoreaffirmourcommitmenttoembracinga cultureofdiversityandinclusion.Wecelebratetheuniquenessofeveryfosteringjourney,fromtheinitial enquiryaboutfosteringtoourcomprehensivepost-fosteringsupportservices.

AtSt David’s,ourmissionisclear:tocontributetoourvibrantanddiversecommunity,ensuringwe supportyoueverystepoftheway,celebratingtherewardsandnavigatingthechallenges.

WeinviteyoutoexploreourguidetoLGBTQ+fosteringandwelcomeyourfeedbackandsuggestionsfor improvement

CateGates

LGBTQ+ GUIDET0 FOSTERING

PERCEIVED BARRIERS

Embarkingonthefosteringjourneyoftencomeswith hesitationsandconcernsthatmayhinderindividuals fromtakingthefirststep.AtStDavid's,weencourage opencommunicationandwarmlywelcomethose contemplatingfostering,assuringthemofour commitmenttohonestyandanon-judgmentalapproach

Startingthefosteringprocessnecessitatesbeinginthe rightphaseoflife,consideringtheintensityofthejourney Reflectingonone'spast,includingchildhood,parenting experiences,education,employment,andpast relationships,isanintegralpartofthisprocess Somemay findthisself-reflectionchallengingandmaynotfeel preparedforitatagiventime.

Inthisguide,weaimtoaddressspecificbarriersthat individualsfromtheLGBTQ+communitymight encounterbeforeinitiatingthefosteringprocess While therearespecificeligibilitycriteria,suchasbeingover21, beinganon-smoker(includinge-cigarettesandvapes), andhavingatleastonesparebedroom,manyaspects requireindividualiseddiscussions.Criminalconvictions willbediscussedindetaillaterinthisinformationpack

Wethankallapplicantsfromdiversebackgroundswho approachushonestly Recognisingandaddressing potentialissuesattheoutsetenablesustoprovide timelysupport Thefosteringprocessreliesonapplicants' opennessandcandourwiththeirfosteragency,buildinga reciprocalrelationshipwheretransparencyisvaluedand reciprocated

MENTAL HEALTH

Inthefosteringassessmentprocess,agenciesare experienced,likeushereatStDavid's,inworkingwith individualswhomayhaveencounteredmentalhealth challenges Socialworkersfocusonunderstandingyour supportnetworkduringdifficulttimes,yourawarenessof mentalhealthsigns,medicationusage,anditsimpact.A mandatorymedical,conductedbyyourGP,covers mentalhealthdiscussions

Referencesfromcounsellorsmaybesought,emphasising confirmationofdatesratherthanspecificdetails Ensuringyourcapacity,support,andcopingtoolsduring stressfulparentingsituationsiscrucialforcreatingsafe environmentsforchildrenincare

WhileLGBTQ+individualsmaybemoresusceptibleto suicidalbehaviourandself-harm,pastexperiencesdo notautomaticallyprecludeyoufromtheprocess.Honest communicationwithyoursocialworkerisessential.

Agenciesrecognisethatovercomingpastadversitiescan enhanceresilience,potentiallybenefitingthechild's understandingoftheirownbackground Research supportingthisconceptcanfurthercontributetoa comprehensiveunderstandingofpastadversities.

"Amidst my mental health battles, the fostering path appeared daunting. Thanks to my St. David's social worker, it became a journey of hope and healing’

MENTAL HEALTHSTATS

Statisticshighlightconcerningratesofmentalhealthchallengeswithinthe LGBTQ+community,emphasisingtheimportanceofaddressingthese issuesinthecontextoffostering

AccordingtoStonewall(2018):

-52%ofLGBTindividualsreportedexperiencingdepressioninthepastyear -13%ofLGBTQ+individualsaged18-24attemptedsuicideinthelastyear -46%oftransindividualsand31%ofnon-transLGBindividualsconsidered suicideinthelastyear.

-41%ofnon-binaryindividualsengagedinself-harminthelastyear.

Research,includinginsightsfromMind(2020),indicatesthattheLGBTQ+ communityfaceshigherlevelsofpoormentalhealthduetofactorssuchas:

-Homophobia,biphobia,andtransphobia

-Stigmaanddiscrimination

-Challengingexperiencesrelatedtocomingout

-Socialisolation,exclusion,andrejection

RESOURCES

Stonewall

ThelargestLGBT+rightscharityintheUKwithamissiontoletalllesbian,gay, biandtranspeople,hereandabroad,knowthey’renotalone

Website:wwwstonewallorguk

Telephone:02075931850

Switchboard

SwitchboardisthenationalLGBTQIA+supportline.Foranyone,anywherein thecountry,atanypointintheirjourney.

Website:www.switchboard.lgbt

Telephone:08000119100

MEDICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Every prospective applicant undergoes an medical examination conducted by their GP. We acknowledge that some individuals may find medical settings uncomfortable: 1 in 7 LGBTQ+ people avoiding seeking healthcare due to fear of discrimination.

To complete the medical, you must be registered with a GP who can access your records for a comprehensive evaluation The medical assessment covers aspects of physical and mental health, along with lifestyle metrics such as weight, smoking, and alcohol consumption.

After completing the medical, your GP will forward the report to us, after which our Medical Advisor will provide recommendations. Any identified risks will be openly discussed, including how you have addressed similar issues in the past It's advisable to consult your GP or specialist before applying if you ' ve undergone treatment for a serious illness to gauge their perspective on the timing of the application

Medical fees are covered by us as a service.

Regardingspecifichealthconditions:

HIV:Contrarytocommonmisconceptions,livingwithHIVdoesnotdisqualifyyoufromfostering Foster agencies,likeourselves,treatHIVlikeanyothermanageablecondition AdiagnosisofHIVwillbeaddressedin theassessment,recognizingitasasignificantlifeeventrequiringdiscussionduetoassociatedchallengessuch asmentalhealth,familyrelationships,andpotentialmedicalcomplications

Autism:Withmorethan1in7LGBTQ+peopleintheUKontheautismspectrum,parentingwhileonthe spectrumpresentsuniquechallenges.However,italsobringsuniquestrengthsthatcanbevaluablein parenting.Theassessmentacknowledgesthedistinctaspectsofparentingontheautismspectrum,recognising bothchallengesandstrengths.

DISABILITY

Itisrecognisedthatindividualswithdisabilitiescan provideanurturingandlovinghomeforchildren.

First4Adoption(2013)acknowledgesthatthelife experiencesofindividualswithdisabilitiescanoffera uniqueperspectiveintothelivesofchildrenincare,many ofwhommayperceivethemselvesas'different'orshare similardisabilities.

Livingwithadisabilitywithintheframeworkofpositive relationshipscanimpartvaluablelessonstochildren, emphasisingtheimportanceofinclusivityandfostering anappreciationfordifferences Aspreviouslymentioned, ifyouhaveconcernsorquestions,pleasereachouttous.

YourGPandanyspecialistsyouconsultcanprovide insightsintohowyourdisabilitymightimpactyour applicationandyourabilitytoparentinthefuture

Opencommunicationisvitaltounderstandingand addressinganypotentialconsiderationsrelatedto disabilityinthefosteringprocess.

CRIMINAL& LEGAL

All prospective foster carers are required to undergo an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Even if applicants possess a current and updated DBS, St David's Service mandates a new check.

Consistent with the theme of transparency throughout the early stages of fostering, it is crucial to disclose any past incidents that could appear on a DBS or may pose potential concerns St David's, like many agencies, has a legal advisor on our panel who provides advice legal matters that may arise

For transgender applicants, the DBS Sensitive Applications Team can assist in navigating the challenges of presenting identity documents. A dedicated member of our team can guide you through the process

Certain criminal convictions, particularly those involving crimes against children or violent offences, may prevent prospective applicants from progressing in the assessment. However, individuals with past incidents, especially those that occurred a long time ago, are encouraged to contact us for clarification.

Engaging in open conversations with your social worker helps all parties understand the context of these events, the lessons learned, and how they have shaped the person you are today Seeking clarity and discussing the details with us is vital for understanding how past experiences may impact the process.

SOCIETAL PERCEPTIONS

TheexistenceofLGBTQ+individualsinfostercarehas alwaysbeenapartofsociety,althoughithasgained greatervisibilityinrecenttimes.Societyisprogressively evolvingtowardsgreateracceptance,encouragement, andintegrationofalltypesoffamilies

Inthepastcoupleofdecades,therehasbeena noticeableshiftinthevisibilityoftheLGBTQ+community and,morespecifically,LGBTQ+families Outdated stereotypesandperspectivesregardingtheimpactof LGBTQ+individualsparentingchildrenaregradually fadingaway.High-profileLGBTQ+figuressharingtheir parentingexperiencesonsocialmedia,coupledwith academicresearch,contributetodismantlingoldbeliefs.

Anoteworthy2023study,forexample,comparedthe outcomesofchildrenraisedinLGBTQ+familiestothose innon-LGBTQ+familiesinvariousdomains Theresults revealedstrikingsimilarities,withchildrenfromLGBTQ+ familiesevenoutperformingtheirpeersincertainareas likeacademicperformance(Zhangetal,2023)

St David'shasobservedthatLGBTQ+fostercarersoften demonstrateagreaterwillingnesstoconsider placementsperceivedasmorecomplex.LGBTQ+families tendtoembraceahigherproportionofsiblinggroups, childrenaged4andabove,andthosewithmoreintricate needsanduncertaintiescomparedtotheirheterosexual counterparts.

CONTRIBUTORS

SHAUNHOUCKE

Shaun,adevotedadvocateforLGBTQ+adoptionandfostering, joinedStDavid’sin2023.Heandhishusbandadoptedtheirson throughStDavid'sin2020,providinghimwithuniqueinsights intotheadoptionprocess.Committedtomakingapositive impact,Shaunbringsfirst-handexperiencetotheLGBTQ+ community Hisjourneyinspireshimtocreateaninclusive spacewithinadoption,offeringsupportandguidanceto individualsandcouplesnavigatingthepathtoparenthood Shaun'sadvocacyanddedicationmakehimavaluableresource forthoseseekinginformationandconnectionwithinthe LGBTQ+adoptionandfosteringcommunity.

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St David’s Children Society is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (Registration No: 509163) and a company limited by Guarantee (Registered Cardiff 1546688) St David’s Fostering Service is the brand name of the St David’s Children Society’s foster service.

Mae Cymdeithas Plant Dewi Sant wedi ei chofrestru fel elusen gyda Chomisiwn Elusennau Cymru a Lloegr (Rhif Cofrestru: 509163) a chwmni cyfyngedig drwy Warant (Cofrestredig Caerdydd 1546688) Gwasanaeth Maethu Dewi Sant yw enw brand gwasanaeth maethu Cymdeithas Plant Dewi Sant

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