Foster carers come from a variety of backgrounds and all sorts of people foster, whatever their relationship status, sexual orientation, skin colour, cultural background or religious belief.
Who can become a Foster Carer?
LGBT Carers
If you are lesbian, gay, bi or transgender, you may be wondering if fostering is something you can do. Well, the answer to this question is yes, you can!
Lesbian and Gay people have been fostering and adopting children for many years and while it is true that you may occasionally face prejudice from some quarters, there are many examples of children growing up safely and happily with LGBT foster carers.
What research says
In 2010, The Centre for Family Research at the University of Cambridge conducted interviews for Stonewall with 82 children and young people who have lesbian, gay or bisexual parents to learn more about their experiences both at home and at school. The study found that:
- Very young children with gay parents tend not to see their families as being any different to those of their peers.
- Many of the older children said they saw their families as special and different, but only because all families are special and different – though some felt that their families were a lot closer than other people’s families.
- Children with gay parents like having gay parents and would not want things to change, but that sometimes they wish that other people were more accepting.
In 2013, research carried out for the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) by Cambridge University into adoptive families headed by same-sex couples painted a positive picture of relationships and wellbeing in these new families. The study suggests that families with gay fathers might be faring particularly well.
In-depth research into the experiences of adoptive families headed by same-sex couples suggests that children adopted by gay or lesbian couples are just as likely to thrive as those adopted by heterosexual couples. It also reveals that new families cope just as well as traditional families with the big challenges that come with taking on children who have had a poor start in life.
Support for LGBT foster carers
There are a number of organisations offering support to foster carers from the LGBT community including Fosterline, Stonewall, CoramBAAF Adoption & Fostering Academy and New Family Social.
New Family Social is a self-help membership organisation formed in 2007, out of a need for LGBT adopters and foster carers to support each other, and to give children the confidence of knowing other families like theirs.
NFS provides a safe social network for LGBT families along with lots of advice and support. If you are interested in pursuing a career as a foster carer, visit their website for in depth information about what is involved and what support is available to you.
Flying Colours is a member of NFS and welcomes applications from the LGBT community.
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