– This is very sad. Losing your mother tongue and contact with your own culture and religion is a very high price to pay. This is what the Leader of the Norwegian Immigrant Forum, Athar Ali, says after news told the story of the Norwegian-African “Aida”. “Aida” did not get custody of three of her children back, even though she was assessed as a good mother by the child protection agency. The reason was that the children had been assimilated after three years in foster homes. There, they had lost knowledge of their mother’s language, food, religion and culture, the child protection agency stated. They thought it would be too challenging for both child and mother to move back. – It was absolutely terrible. I saw how my boys lost their African side, but I never thought there would be a reason not to get them back, says the mother today. Known problem Ali in the immigrant forum is himself a trained social worker and has worked for several years to improve immigrants’ rights, especially in child welfare. He says it is a well-known problem that children lose the culture of their biological parents when they live in Norwegian foster homes. – In addition, it happens that the children no longer wish to be associated with their parents’ culture after having lived for several years in “Norwegian” foster families. Some call it “ethnic self-hatred”, says Ali. Athar Ali has worked with the rights of immigrants in Norway for several years. Photo: Privat According to figures from Statistics Norway, over 13,000 children and young people with an immigrant background received help from child protection in 2022. Ali says minorities will be the losing team compared to “ethnically Norwegian” families. – Especially because the child protection service can use Norwegianization as a basis for the children not to be taken back, as we saw in the case with Aida. Now Ali and the organization are demanding changes in child protection. They believe that child protection all too often places children in random foster families. – When children with a minority background are to be placed in foster care, it should mainly reflect their cultural, linguistic and ethnic background, says Ali. Toppe calls the “Norwegianisation” of children in child welfare services very serious. Photo: Jon P Petrusson / news The Minister for Children: – Serious Minister for Children and Families Kjersti Toppe (Sp) is also familiar with the problem that Ali describes. – I myself have met parents of minorities in Norway who have experienced this. They lose their child for the second time when they have lost their language, and cannot communicate with their child as before. – Several claim that children become “pre-Norwegian” in Norwegian child care. The Norwegian state has a dark history when it comes to exactly this, with regard to the Sami. What do you think about that happening in Norway also in 2024? – It is serious. It shouldn’t be like that, and that there could be a risk of it being bad enough, says Toppe. She says the children’s welfare service has an increased focus on placing children with relatives or other acquaintances of the biological parents, in order to ensure cultural familiarity. In addition, the government is focusing on improving the competence of staff in child protection, with, among other things, a focus on the cultural aspects of further education. – No one should have to experience the same thing that Aida did, that is the goal, says Toppe. The Child Welfare Service must do its very best to ensure that children can live together with family or other networks of parents, says Bruusgaard. Photo: Bufdir Lack of foster families The Minister for Families also points to the Directorate for Children, Youth and Families (Bufdir)’s work in recruiting more multicultural foster families. Acting division director in Bufdir Tove Bruusgaard, says there is a great need for foster families in general, but multicultural foster families in particular. – The Child Welfare Act says that one must apply for foster care in relatives and networks, where possible. Nevertheless, there are cases where it is not possible. Then I have to have other, good alternatives, she says. She says they are also working to get post-educated staff in child care so that there is better multicultural competence. Hey Hey! I am a journalist at news Vestland and work with, among other things, matters concerning minorities and child protection. Please let me know by email!
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– All too poor knowledge about multicultural people in child protection – news Vestland
