West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Published: 12 September 2008
Debate about ethnicity of social workers
• I WRITE to you to correct a number of serious and misleading inaccuracies in last week’s paper (Now race is an issue with foster care, September 5). First, the article incorrectly stated that at the full council meeting in July a discussion about the ethnicity of foster parents took place.
In fact, the debate was about the ethnicity of social workers.
As such, my reported comment “irrelevant… what matters is placing a child in a loving, dedicated home” was in response to a question about the ethnicity of social workers – not foster parents.
Secondly, figures referring to foster parents’ ethnicity in your story were completely incorrect as the figures provided to your paper were – once again – related to social workers.
Thirdly, your story questioned the council’s understanding of race, culture and parenting, but disappointingly, we were not given an opportunity to comment.
Indeed, it is untrue and irresponsible of Councillor Aziz Toki to say that we are “robbing children of their heritage”. Whenever possible, the council seeks to put children in placements that match their ethnic origin.
When this is not possible, we only place a child in a household where their cultural and ethnic background are respected and nurtured.
Cllr Sarah Richardson
Cabinet Member for Children’s Services
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