Some families need 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.
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: It Will Change Your Family Forever
Berger (2018)
Infertility and Adoption Counseling Center
Explores the adoption of children of color by White parents and offers strategies adoptive families can use to best meet the needs of those adopted transracially.
Transracial Parenting: Stories From Our Families (PDF - 842 KB)
Hofmann and Cosgrove (2017)
Guidance, 30(3)
Adoption Network Cleveland
Presents accounts of families who adopted children of different races, ethnicities, or cultures, including how they prepared for the adoption, what they learned through the process, and the advice they would give future transracial parents.