Most families will find themselves needing additional information and support to help them raise children from a different racial or cultural background. These families may face unique challenges as children, youth, and young adults develop their own identity. This section offers resources for professionals preparing families who are in the process of or are considering adopting children from racially or culturally diverse backgrounds.
Affirming and Nurturing Racial Identity and Equality in Children [Webinar]
Edwards & Hudson (2020)
Youth Law Center
Explores messages and actions that caregivers could use to assist children in exploring and appreciating their own racial identity as well as adopting an antiracist worldview.
Parenting in Racially and Culturally Diverse Adoptive Families
Racial Equity Information and Resources
Raise the Future
Provides a collection of resources for child welfare professionals and families on the topic of race equity within the child welfare system.
Racial Equity in Targeted Recruitment and Support: Strategies for Reaching and Engaging Families of Color [Webinar]
Groh, Coon, & Cushman (2022)
AdoptUSKids
Proposes strategies and unique approaches that child- and family-serving systems should consider when recruiting and engaging families of color for out-of-home and/or adoptive placements.
Racism and Microaggressions in Transracial Adoption
Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition New York
Discusses the existence of racism and microaggressions within child- and family-serving systems and offers resources that professionals and parents can use to support children of color and address personal biases.
The Realities of Raising a Kid of a Different Race
Valby
Time Magazine
Outlines information that every transracial adoptive parent should know about raising children from a different race.
Seven Suggestions for a Successful Transracial Adoption
AdoptUSKids (2019)
Provides tangible advice from child welfare professionals and adoptive parents on transracial adoption, from learning to respect an adoptive child’s culture to ways to maintain their connection to their culture after adoption.
Transracial Adoption
Kids in the House (2019)
Features videos to prepare families to adopt and raise children of different racial, ethnic, or cultural backgrounds, including what to know before considering transracial adoption, acknowledging White privilege in interracial adoption, handling insensitive comments, and more.
Transracial Adoption and the Black Lives Matter Movement [Webinar]
Spaulding for Children (2020)
Shares real-life testimony of three transracial adoptees on how the Black Lives Matter movement had a significant impact on Black and Brown adoptees and shares how child- and family-serving systems, including adoptive parents, can better understand the life-long impact that is present between adoption and race.