Thursday 8 September 2016

Phone Call

I got a call from a number I didn't recognise, not unusual, the man on the other line said he'd been given my number by someone who knew someone who knew me. It wasn't a work call but it kind of couldn't not be. 
Straight to the point he declared 'I want to adopt a Syrian child, preferably about 4 or 5 years old  and definitely without live parents or family as that would be too complicated'.  

I'm moved by the images of refugee children especially those without families or adults to care for them. The idea of the most vulnerable caught up in terrifying and confusing circumstances  then removed from their families and adults to care for them is heart rending and upsetting beyond measure.

I feel that as a nation and as a society and as humans we have a moral duty to act.


But the question I have is what should we do?

I live with children who have experienced loss, separation and trauma and though their experiences are different to child refugees they are not that far removed.  For MrsC and I it is without doubt the most challenging experience and aspect of our lives, it almost broke us.

Knowing this makes me question what the solution is for the young refugees. I work in the context of a foster care system that is struggling to accommodate the children that need homes. I see the headlines that announce 9000 carers needed to fill the gaps, even those children with the most basic of needs struggle to find a bed. Every day I read referrals literally begging for placements for children*.

Then I look at the children that are refugees and I see the 'normal' complex needs, such as the effects of trauma, loss and separation but I see them multiplied by language, culture, food, education and the immigration system. I can't imagine caring for my children whilst negotiating these additional hurdles.

Bringing refugee children here seems like a notion that appeases our need to respond but I wonder if it's the best solution for those children. We want to do something but perhaps we should think differently.

It's a complicated situation and but I'm pretty sure pouring them into a foster care system that is creaking is not the solution. I read a lot about bringing them but not so much about caring for them. Of course pragmatism would argue any port in a storm but I'm not sure that we would accept children being left with families without appropriate training and financial and professional support. Would the large ongoing costs per child be better used identifying families that reflect the children's culture and language then training, equipping and supporting them to care for these children? Would this be politically acceptable, giving money to communities across Europe and North Africa to care for some of these children?

There's more I could say but nobody reads long blogs.

Anyway- The man on the phone and I had a brief chat, we didn't speak again as I don't think he liked my answers.





*I'm not exaggerating










9 comments:

  1. Like you I find the whole business heartbreaking, overwhelming, confusing. As usual it fundamentally boils down to money. Who will fund these placements and the long-term support of these children and young people, the training and support of their carers, etc? I really think that as one of the richest countries on earth we should be stepping up and helping. Where? Wherever they are, wherever is safe, wherever they have existing family, wherever we can get on with the helping instead of building these awful walls and bulldozing camps and attaching shame and stigma to their suffering. I know there are lots of people coming forward through Home for Good and other organisations to care for unaccompanied minors. I think the will is there if the government would help to facilitate it.

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  2. Lots of questions and some interesting ideas but I worry that those that come forward are ill prepared and to place children other than with checked and assessed families causes me to worry. I've more to say on it but it's all a bit sensitive, I got the dirty water off my chest and will keep doing what I can as do us all.

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  3. The organisation Home For Good is doing some good work about placing unaccompanied refugee children in the UK with foster carers.

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    1. They are trying to influence policy, as are Action for Children and others, they do no placing or direct work with unaccompanied children they're basically a foster carer recruitment service for LAs. Right now there are so few unaccompanied children in the UK there is very limited need for dedicated carer.

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  4. I think it is also important to note that, while these children are refugees, they are still Syrian citizens. It is my understanding that they are not adoptable, by law, to families that do not meet very strict criteria. My heart breaks for those affected by the war in Syria, but trying to circumvent international adoption laws is not the solution to a very complicated problem.

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    1. You've hit key point but I fear some see the children as an opportunity for adoption and worse with the UN saying 10,000 have been lost in the EU I fear the worst.

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  5. I do know of 'Home For Good' families who are currently fostering unaccompanied minors (they were already approved carers and have attended additional training) but I agree that the influx of possibly thousands of unaccompanied minors into our current foster care system cannot end well for anybody. Unfortunately any reasoned discussion is easily drowned out by emotional factors. Who didn't see that young boy drowned on the beach and think, even for a moment, that they would have had him in their home? The UK government claims to be contributing £2.3 billion in humanitarian aid to Syria and surrounding countries. However truly accurate this figure is, I personally think directing money into properly functioning aid efforts in the local region (where the vast, vast majority of refugees are) is probably a more effective way forward than uprooting children from their communities and bringing them over here to an uncertain future. I am not against bringing children here per se, especially if they have got as far as Calais, but better if our comparatively enormous wealth can be put to use in bringing safety within, and stability to the region. Let's not forget that the vast majority of refugees are in Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq etc. I doubt those countries are able to organise effective foster care for so many - what can we be doing to help there?

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    1. I think you've expressed my views much more effectively than me. I find it all washed with emotion and I don't hear the voices of those who would be actually doing the caring and carrying the duty. Lots have said they'd care for children but to do that they'd have to be assessed anyhow many would be willing for that and how many would meet the standard and pass the checks? As always thanks for commenting.

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  6. Not sure there are so few UAM's in the UK there are in fact many: In 2015 3,043 separated children claimed asylum in the UK, seeking safety from countries where the state has caused them harm or has been unable to protect them. Signs are that it is going up though it is still only 9% of asylum applications. However in the first quarter of 2015 498 UAM's made application In the first quarter of 2016 661 UAM's applied. But I totally agree that we can just 'put' them somewhere we need people to look after them who are trained. PCC is doing that check us out www.phoenixcommunity.org

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