Culture, Diversity and Identity

“Young people in care have a deep need to know who they are, whom they belong to and to whom they are important: a set of questions whose answers lie in the concept of identity. All young people have to deal with the issue of identity and who they are becoming. However, for the youngster in care, questions of identity can be very raw indeed.” (Gilligan, 2000)

All too often, a child’s cultural identity can be forgotten as they move through the care system. Yet we know that providing settings where cultural identity is respected, understood and celebrated is key to successful placement outcomes.