Adopting Children of Color

Children of color represent the largest share of the foster care population and are over represented in foster care as compared with their numbers in the general population. According to the Federal Government's national statistics for 2008, 39 percent of the children waiting for families in the foster care system are White, 30 percent are Black, and 21 percent are Hispanic. However, the race and ethnicity of children who are waiting in particular regions or States may vary significantly. In some States, American Indian children are disproportionately represented. Children adopted from other countries will need to adapt to a different culture and may be of a different race than their adoptive parents. Find resources in this section related to the adoption of children of color and on transracial or transcultural adoption, including State and local examples.

Articles: Transracial Adoption
Pact, An Adoption Alliance
Provides a selection of articles addressing issues of racial identity in adoption.

The Color of Life
Adoptive Families Magazine
Links to a wide range of resources on transracial adoption, including books, articles, and websites.

Conspicuous Families: Race, Culture and Adoption
Adoption Learning Partners (2002)
Presents an online course for adoptive families who are involved in, or considering adoption of, a child of a different race or ethnicity.

Families Adopting in Response (FAIR)
Includes articles on culture and transcultural adoption.

How Cultures Blend in Adoptive Families
Families Adopting In Response (FAIR)
Discusses how cultures blend in transcultural adoptive families.

Inside Transracial Adoption
Steinberg & Hall (2000)
View Abstract
Offers information on issues commonly faced by parents of transracial adopted people.

Transracial Adoption
The Adoption History Project
Examines transracial adoption from a historical perspective.

Transracial Adoption: It Will Change Your Family Forever (PDF – 40 KB)
Infertility and Adoption Counseling Center (2008)
Explores the adoption of children of color by White parents and offers strategies adoptive families can use to best meet the needs of their transracial adopted people.

Transracial Adoption: The Pros and Cons and the Parents' Perspective (PDF - 258 KB)
Morrison
Harvard BlackLetter Law Journal, 20, 2004
Illustrates the phenomenon of transracial adoption in the United States from the parents' perspective.

Transracial Parenting in Foster Care and Adoption: Strengthening Your Bicultural Family (PDF - 510 KB)
Iowa Foster and Adoptive Parents Association
Provides tips for parents and children in transracial homes to help them thrive and celebrate their bicultural family and for children to gain a strong sense of racial identity and cultural connections.

Transracial/Transcultural Parenting
North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC)
Discusses the role of race in adopted people's lives and ways to help parents build their children's sense of racial and cultural identity.

Transracial/Transcultural Adoptions
Adopting.org
Provides resources and information for those considering transracial and/or transcultural adoption.

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State and local examples

Calendar of Religious and Cultural Observances
Offers an example of one school's attempt to educate all families about the religious and cultural observances of various minority groups.