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Transracial Adoption

Explore the topic of transracial adoption.

The Basics

When planning to adopt, many people say that the child’s race or ethnicity does not matter. Parents mean this in the best possible way. They mean that they could love a child unconditionally, regardless of whether they look like them or share their cultural heritage and traditions.

But race and culture do matter—especially to children who have already lost so much. Losing connections to their culture and racial heritage—or being raised in households where their importance is not acknowledged—can affect children throughout their lives.

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Transracial Adoption & Parenting Resources

There are an abundance of resources available to families who have taken on the responsibility of transracial adoptive parenting, or are considering doing so.  Below is a list of resources curated by MARE staff to be of particular relevancy to families at varying stages of the adoption process.

 

For New Families Considering Transracial Adoption

 

Seven Suggestions for a Successful Transracial Adoption

This AdoptUSKids article offers advice and considerations shared by adoptive parents and child welfare professionals for families considering adoption transracially. 

 

Transracial Foster Care and Adoption

This article from the Children's Bureau cites an estimated 44% of US adoptions are now transracial, and this prominent community of families going through the same process has brought about plenty of public discussion, research and communities to guide transracial families.    

 

Racial Awareness and Competence for Adoptive Families

In this informative panel, MARE aims to discuss the importance of having competence surrounding racial awareness and competence in adoption. Three families share their experiences within their own families, their adoption stories, what they have learned and their struggles, and what results they have found useful.

 

 

For Families in Process

 

The Adoptive Parent’s Responsibility When Parenting a Child of a Different Race

This publication from the National Council on Adoption addresses the privilege of growing one’s family through adoption, and the associated issues of loss, grief, identity formation, maintaining birth family connections and accessing health history information. These issues are compounded when adopting a child of a different race.

 

Seven Tasks for Parents: Developing Positive Racial Identity

This article from NACAC recognizes that youth should not be expected to develop positive racial identity without support and reinforcement from their families, role models, and the community. Because children from minority groups who experience prejudice or discrimination are subject to developing negative racial identity, they require monitoring, with attention paid to their perception of racial identity. Parents can provide support and reinforcement through 7 tasks. 

 
 

For Families Placed with a child/children of a different race

 

Adopting a Child of a Different Race? Let's Talk

In this TED Talk, Susan Devan Harness shares her experience of being adopted transracially  by a white couple at age two. 

 

Talking Transracial Adoption, Identity, Family, and Black Lives Matter

This podcast features Phil Bertelsen talking about his transracial adoption as a bi-racial person of color into a white family.

 

Rebecca Carroll's Inteview about her memoir Surviving the White Gaze

In this NPR interview author and essayist Rebecca Carroll explores another facet of racial reckoning in the U.S. — the world of interracial adoption.

 

Family Panel

In this informative panel, MARE aims to discuss the importance of having competence surrounding racial awareness and competence in adoption. Three families share their experiences within their own families, their adoption stories, what they have learned and their struggles, and what results they have found useful.

 

all the resources you need

Adoption and parenting can be complex. That's why we created our Learning Center to help families like you get all the information they need. It's full of helpful articles on starting the process, understanding adoption supports, transracial adoption, and much more. What are you waiting for? Go check it out!

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