Mixed Race Studies

Mixed-race children ‘are being failed’ in treatment of mental health problems

The Guardian
2014-02-22

Tracy McVeigh, Chief Reporter
The Observer

The fastest growing ethnic group in Britain is still being treated as if it is only integrated into black culture, says report

Children of mixed race are at greater risk of suffering from mental health problems and are not getting the support they need, says a report.

Despite mixed-race children belonging to the fastest-growing ethnic group, the research, backed by the National Children’s Bureau, found that they faced “unrealistic” expectations from teachers and other adults who did not understand their backgrounds.

While mixed-race young people are over represented in the care, youth justice and child protection systems, the authors said they were “invisible” in public service practice and policy.

The report – Mixed Experiences – growing up mixed race: mental health and wellbeing – drew on several studies and interviews with 21 people about their experiences as children.

Co-author Dinah Morley was concerned at the lack of understanding over what it meant to be mixed race, a group most likely to suffer racism. “I was surprised at how much racism, from black and white people, had come their way,” she said. “A lot of children were seen as black when they might be being raised by a white single parent and had no understanding of the black culture. The default position for a child of mixed race is that they are black.”…

Read the entire article here.

Mummy’s Black, Daddy’s Yellow and I’m Orange: talking with young children about racial identity

National Children’s Bureau
Wednesday, 2010-02-24 from 09:30Z to 16:15Z
Islington, Islington

Overall aim

This newly developed course aims to give practitioners confidence and the tools for talking with young children about racial identity.

Intended learning outcomes

By the end of this course participants will:

• Understand how prejudice and racism impact on young children within and beyond settings
• Improve practitioners’ confidence in discussing racial identity, skin colour and racism with children, parents and carers and each other
• Consider specific issues for multi-ethnic and multi-heritage families

Trainer: Rachel Gillett

The programme will be led by Rachel Gillett, who has been a freelance trainer and consultant since 1994. Rachel works with a large range of charities, including National Children’s Bureau, Adoption UK, National Day Nurseries Association, Citizens Advice, LASA (London Advice Services Alliance) and Advice UK as well as many other smaller community organisations. She is based in Yorkshire, but works throughout the country. As well as delivering training courses, Rachel also writes training sessions and materials and offers supervision to trainers; she is a member for the Institute of Learning.

Rachel is a single parent with two children of mixed heritage.

For more information, click here.