Episode 258: Learning How to Care for a Child’s Hair (w/ Authrine T.K. Singleton)

The Forgotten Podcast

The Forgotten Initiative

Christian, Family, Adoption, Kids & Family, Fostercare

4.9 • 532 Ratings

🗓️ 9 December 2024

⏱️ 33 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

When a child enters our home, there are many factors we consider to ensure their comfort and safety. However, one important aspect of a child’s well-being can often be overlooked—their hair care. This is especially true if the child comes from a different racial background, where hair care needs may differ significantly.

Hair is an important part of African American culture and identity, but white foster parents sometimes struggle to understand how to care for types and textures of hair that are unlike their own. And for some children, caring for their hair can be emotionally or physically painful if it has been neglected for a long time.

Nurturing a child’s hair is an essential part of transracial fostering or adoption, and that's why I'm so grateful our latest guest was able to join us.

After earning a master’s degree in social work, Authrine T.K. Singleton began a career in child welfare. Through her work, she saw the gap in support for African American children placed in foster and adoptive homes. In 2009, she opened Master’s Touch Salon to be a resource and support to these families.

In this episode, you’ll hear common mistakes to avoid when caring for the hair of an African American child, practical tips for creating an effective hair and skin care routine tailored to the child’s needs, why proper care and styling of hair is a crucial bonding experience, and much more.

Find resources mentioned and more in the show notes for this episode: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/authrine-singleton-258/

Transcript

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0:00.0	Sharing the stories of the foster care community. This is The Forgotten podcast.
0:08.0	Doing hair, it is a time to build and bond. So I know sometimes it can be struggling. It can be a struggle.
0:15.0	It can be challenging. It can be painful. It can be tears and scream. I get that. But it really also can be a beautiful time of bonding
0:23.1	where that child is now in your presence. You're in that child's presence and you have an opportunity
0:28.3	to complete something with that child from start to finish. Hey, it's Jamie Cabe. Welcome back to
0:35.5	the Forgotten podcast where we are highlighting the stories of the people
0:39.6	of foster care.
0:40.8	With every episode, our goal is to help you better understand the foster care community.
0:45.7	We want to bring you hope and encouragement in your journey and help you support the agency
0:50.4	workers, foster parents, vulnerable adults, and children in foster care right where you live.
0:56.1	If you want to learn more about TFI, catch up on past episodes, read engaging articles or
1:01.6	partner with us on mission with a gift of any amount, head over to the forgotten initiative.org.
1:08.6	We are in this together. Thank you for listening and engaging with us.
1:12.6	We love having you as part of our family.
1:15.6	Okay, it is time.
1:17.6	Let's do this.
1:23.6	After completing her master's degree in social work, authoring T.K. Singleton began her career in child welfare.
1:35.3	It was from her work with foster and adoptive families that she saw the gap in support for African American children placed in foster and adoptive homes.
1:50.7	In 2009, Masters Touch Salon was open to be a resource and support to these families.
1:57.9	Authoring enjoys missionary trips to various countries and empowering and inspiring young ladies to live with excellence.
2:02.7	She enjoys spending time with her husband, Miles, who she proudly married on May 4, 2019, and they have been foster parents for about four years and look forward to
2:09.1	expanding their family. Authoring seeks to teach, equip, and inspire those she comes into contact with.
	...

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