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.
