Researchers from Brigham Young University and the University of Utah are looking for participants for a study on transracial adoption. They are looking primarily for white couples who adopted black children or black children who were adopted by white parents.

"This study hopes to take a deeper look at the identity formation of black children who grew up in white families, the methods that parents use to socialize the children about their own race and the racism they may experience in their lives, the successes, but also the difficulties that the children may have experienced as they developed an identity as a black person and the experiences that may have been important in the development of their identity as a person of color."

The number of transracial adoptions has increased dramatically in the last two decades, but little is known about how the adoptions affect the children or the parents. The researchers have set up a web site that contains a survey which takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. Transracial family members are encouraged to participate.

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Labels: trans-racial, studies, identity

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

Stacie Cahill's daughter Chelsea knew from a young age that she had been adopted. But when she started attending first grade, her classmates didn't understand adoption and most of them thought it was a negative thing.

"As a psychotherapist, Cahill was aware of the need for resources for families dealing with such issues, so she began to work on a book called 'Who Am I?' about an adopted child's concern about her identity."

Chelsea took the book to school and shared it with her classmates. Now they understand adoption better. Cahill also wrote a book called "I Know Who I Am", dedicated to her second adopted child  Brooklynn, and one called "My Parents Love Me Too" for biological children. Read more at CommunityPress.com.

Labels: support, identity, in_school

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About two percent of American children have been adopted. Some are adopted domestically, others are involved in international adoptions. Many of them are with families of a different race or ethnicity. A new film series from PBS explores the ups and downs of cross-cultural adoption.

“PBS’ P.O.V. this season offers a series of films that explore the phenomenon, ‘At the Intersection of Identity, Race and Adoption.’ The very personal documentaries include one by Deann Borshay Liem, the acclaimed filmmaker of First Person Plural, her 2000 look at her efforts to reconcile her Korean-American Identity.” [Source: Wintson-Salem Journal]

The first installment of the series, Wo Ai Ni, Mommy, tells the story of Fang Sui Young, who was adopted into a Long Island home when she was eight-years-old. Check local listings for times and dates.

Labels: awareness, media, identity

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton 1 Comment