The significance of religion when matching children with migrant background and foster carers − child welfare workers’ perspectives

Abstract

Drawing on three focus group discussions with Norwegian child welfare workers, this paper explores the significance of religion in foster care matching. Using vignettes, the child welfare workers reflected on issues emerging in matching three hypothetical cases of children with three potential foster families. The analysis focuses on how and why religion is important in foster care matching.

The child welfare workers understood religion as a significant element of children’s identity and cultural background, promoting continuity and homing processes in the foster home. The findings present considerations regarding the child, the foster carers, and the birth parents that child welfare workers balanced in addressing children’s religious needs and continuity in matching. They weighed children’s religious needs against other needs like autonomy, protection, and belonging. Age and trauma influenced decisions, often prioritizing other needs over religious continuity. Maintaining religious continuity was regarded as important, but religious matching was not considered the only means for achieving this. Child welfare workers discussed what can help and hinder the promotion of religious continuity in both religious and cross-religious matched placements, like foster carers’ religious engagement and cooperation between foster and birth families. This discussion was marked by nuanced reflections on the complex issues that arise in practice when attempting to facilitate religious continuity. These findings can bring a better understanding of the dilemmas at play in matching processes for children with migration backgrounds, fostering reflection on religious needs and continuity to support their identity development and homing processes.