Trans-racial adoptions, especially Caucasian families adopting African-American children, are becoming increasingly common in the United States. In an article on Examiner.com, writer Maritza Brown advised adoptive parents on ways to incorporate aspects of the child's birth culture into their family:

Since all ethnic groups maintain their own unique culture and mannerisms, it is imperative that the adopting parents not only learn their adopted child’s way of living, but they have to be willing to incorporate the child’s culture into their lives as well as appreciate and respect it. ...

The adopting parents have to venture out of their own comfort zone to meet and befriend others who look like and can identify with the adopted child. ... The child should always have access to an environment where there are people he/she can relate to and form a strong sense of self.

Needless to say that there is an added responsibility when adopting outside of one’s own race. That is why, it is imperative for the adopting parents to be prepared to embrace fully, the cultural lifestyle of the child they intend to add to their family in order to ensure the positive, well-adjusted growth of the child.

Labels: international, trans-racial, parenting

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A report released this week by the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute recommends a significant overhaul in the way transracial adoptions are handled in the United States. The Institute's primary concern - a concern shared the North American Council on Adoptable Children, the Child Welfare League of America, and others - is that, while transracial adoption of foster care children is encouraged, adoptive parents are rarely equipped to handle the challenges associated with it.

"Of the black children adopted out of foster care, about 20 percent are adopted by white families. The Donaldson report said current law, by stressing color blindness, deters agencies from assessing families' readiness to adopt transracially or preparing them for the distinctive challenges they might face."

Critics of the report believe that allowing race to be any kind of factor in adoption will cause it to become the primary, if not the only, factor. Source: The Buffalo News

Labels: foster_care, trans-racial, recommendations

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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

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There are a lot of books and articles that offer advice about trans-racial adoption. But the best advice comes from other adoptive parents.

"Parents know the good stuff. They know the tricks of the trade. They know how to get a homestudy and dossier done in record time and they know tricks to help survive the wait. They know what to do, how to react, what to say, where to go, how you feel, what is normal, how to prepare and how to handle the ins and outs of adoption."

With that in mind, Erin H, the moderator of a trans-racial adoption blog is asking adoptive parents to email her with advice for parents who are considering or in the process of adopting. She'll be compiling the information to post to her blog over the next several weeks. Read more at TransRacial.AdoptionBlogs.com.

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Labels: support, trans-racial, advice

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One thing that many couples don't think about with a trans-racial adoption is hair care. A Caucasian couple that's adopting an African-American child is going to have a steep learning curve when figuring out to care for their child's hair.

"Taking care of your child's hair will take some extra work and effort, but it is important that you do so. Doing so will not only show respect to your child's culture, but will also help your child build a healthy self esteem."

One adoptive parent recommends the Jamaican Mango and Lime line of products for African-American children. She has used them for her children and has been very pleased with the results. Read more at Transracial.Adoptionblogs.com.

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Labels: support, trans-racial, parenting

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Independent filmmaker Jeff Farber is releasing a new documentary next week titled "Living on the Fault Line". The film documents the trans-racial adoptions of several Vermont families, and follows them through their days - both the good and the bad.

"Parents are forthcoming in the film about their children's awareness of race - noticing at a young age that they look different from other family members. They also talk about comments related to race which cross the line of reasonable matters. One mother chokes up talking about woman she didn't even know inquiring about whether she would get her Chinese daughter's eyes 'fixed'."

The families share more than just their struggles. Precious, memorable moments are caught on film as well. Family dinners, trips to local fairs and festivals, and nights out at the Vermont Symphony Orchestra capture the joy and closeness of the film's subjects. Read more at TimesArgus.com.

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Labels: race, trans-racial, ethnicity

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Most people think language is only an issue if a child is adopted from a foreign country. But even domestic children can have a speech delay or a thick accent that makes them hard to understand.

"Children with speech delays can find it very frustrating to try and communicate with others, and especially when they are in a new environment and around people who are not used to their speech, it can be challenging."

Speech delays can be caused by neglect, exposure to drugs or alcohol in utero, or traumatic events. A thick accent (if, for example, the child is from the south) can also make language and communication difficult. Read more at AdoptionBlogs.com.

Labels: communication, trans-racial, foreign_adoption

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In 1970, 40 percent of married-couple households had biological children. In 2000, than number dropped to 24 percent. What is increasing, however, is the number of married-couple families whose children are adopted from various cultures and ethnic backgrounds.

"The number of American families saying 'yes' to transracial adoptions amounts to a whole revolution in adoption& Besides societal changes in America, the trend in oversees adoption has been influenced by world events, such as the fall of the Berlin Wall, which revealed large numbers of children in orphanages needing homes, and the Chinese one-child policy, which led to the abandonment of baby girls..."

International adoptions can take longer, and are often more expensive, but more couples are willing now to endure the wait and the expense than ever before. Read more at Newsday.com.

Labels: international, trans-racial, multi-cultural

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Many people considering adoption ask themselves that question. It's a common fear among potential adoptive families. Though all potential adoptive parents want to believe that they'd be completely unbiased, and would love an adopted child as much as they would a biological child, there is still uncertainty.

"Talk to other adoptive families... Many adoptive parents are more than happy to talk about their experiences, their fears in the beginning and how things turned out for them. Hearing another adoptive parent admit to having similar concerns early on in their adoption process, and then seeing them united with their new child and completely in love with him or her, is very reassuring."

Another way to connect with other adoptive families is to join a local support group or online forum. Hearing positive stories from other families will help ease your fears as you move forward in the adoption process. Read more at Adoptionblogs.com.

Labels: support, trans-racial, adoptive_parents

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Though international adoptions get the most attention and "press", trans-racial adoptions - adopting an American child of a different race - are becoming increasingly popular as well. Trans-racial adoptions pose unique challenges, as mom and dad try to effectively blend cultures and deal with residual stereotyped about "blended families".

"It's important for the parents to be able to do everything from 'talk about racism to put cornrows in their children's hair,' [Adam] Pertman said."

Liz and Dan Grudus have adopted two African-American children. Liz says she is frequently asked questions about her family, and she takes the opportunity to dispel myths about trans-racial adoptions. Read more at App.com.

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Labels: international, support, trans-racial

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