The public know little about private fostering and often misunderstandwhat the term means, according to new research.
Raising Awareness of Private Fostering, which was published last week,provides an insight into people's views and understanding of privatefostering. Conducted by Yinka Sunmonu for Black community newspaper TheVoice, the study questioned 250 people about their experience, knowledgeand views of private fostering.
Most of the replies were from Black and ethnic minority communitiesalthough respondents differed when defining their race.
The interviewees were mainly drawn from people who replied to aquestionnaire in The Voice. Although 35 per cent said they knew whatprivate fostering meant, just 15 per cent correctly defined the term aswhen a child under 16 is looked after for 28 days or more by someone whois not a guardian or close relative. As a result, the research calls forthe introduction of clearer language. The survey also found some peoplewere wary of having compulsory registration of private fosteringarrangements, which the British Association for Adoption & Fostering iscalling for.
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