“Your culture is in you”: cultural identity and connection for children from culturally diverse backgrounds in care: a scoping review of child perspectives

Background: A positive cultural identity and a sense of belonging are crucial for children’s wellbeing and overall life outcomes. However, children from culturally diverse backgrounds in the out-of-home care system can be at risk of complex wellbeing needs and further vulnerabilities, particularly when they live in care environments that are not aligned with their birth cultures.
Objective: Drawing on findings from previous studies, this scoping review synthesises the perspectives of children from culturally diverse backgrounds in care to augment our understanding of their experiences and cultural care needs amidst shifting family, cultural and social contexts.
Participants and Setting: This paper synthesises the findings of previous studies involving participants aged 5–19 years from non-Indigenous culturally diverse backgrounds in statutory out-of-home care environments.
Method: Four electronic databases, including Scopus, ProQuest, PsychINFO and CINAHL, were searched for relevant international peer-reviewed articles published between January 2013 and December 2023. The Joanna Briggs Institute’s five-step framework was used for this scoping review. A total of 17 relevant articles were selected and reviewed based on specific inclusion criteria.
Results: Two overarching themes were identified, each with four sub-themes: (i) fostering a sense of belonging in care, and (ii) navigating intersecting cultural identities. In summary, this review found that children from culturally diverse backgrounds in care face challenges with maintaining their cultural identities and adapting to new and evolving cultures, which can influence their sense of belonging in care.
Conclusion: This paper adds to the body of literature highlighting the importance of considering children’s perspectives in addressing their unique experiences in care. It recognises the multifaceted experiences of children from culturally diverse backgrounds and advocates for policy and practice focus that supports their cultural identities and holistic wellbeing needs.