"It takes a community to raise a child"
With the obligation we have as a community to the child in care at the heart of what we do, our work is motivated and informed by our faith and we believe the duty to support children in care is a fundamental one that will be a testimony to how we as a community supported the most vulnerable in our society.
My Family Group is a collective of initiatives designed to improve the lives of children in care. We work to ensure every child who comes into care secures a loving and nurturing home that meets their needs, strengthens their identity and prepares them for adult life. My Family Group has steadily grown to include a number of services that meet the often complex needs of Muslim-heritage children in the care system. It is a member of Children England and works collaboratively with colleagues from across the sector for the betterment of Muslim-heritage children in care, and better understanding and practice across the care sector.
Our vision is to see every Muslim-heritage child who comes into care, find a home that meets their needs, strengthens their identity and prepares them for adult life. We aim to do this by raising awareness and influencing policy around children in care, by working to ensure that appropriate support is there for them and their carers and by promoting training and best practice to ensure better outcomes for care experienced people.
We are child and family centred and everything we do is for foster carers, children and young people.
We believe that whatever our differences, everyone should be treated with the same respect.
We strive to uphold the right of every young person to make the most of his or her life.
We are committed to building a loving, nurturing home with respect and within a well connected and supported safer community.
We will always go out of our way to do the right thing with the best interest of the child at heart.
My Family Group works with care sector organisation agencies and government authorities across the UK to realise our vision. Over the years, our work has received recognition and accolade, for example we have been highlighted as an example of innovative and good practice including by the DfE in their Fostering Better Outcomes report. Our work includes:
A bespoke, faith sensitive fostering recruitment service and support network for Muslim foster carers. The Muslim Fostering Network provides essential educational resources and training for foster carers in cross cultural placements with Muslim children.
A recruitment, training and outreach service for adoption agencies focusing on engagement with Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic and faith communities, as well as a support network for adopters from diverse backgrounds. A member of the National Adoption Recruitment Steering Group (NARSG).
A recruitment, training and outreach service dedicated to working with fostering services to help inspire individuals from diverse communities to become foster carers.
A mentoring, education and sports programme dedicated to supporting unaccompanied Asylum Seeker Children (UASCs) and refugee young people. The programme aims to provide stability and build aspirations for children and young people who lack strong social networks and access to their community.
