Pact, An Adoption Alliance

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Transracial Adoption

We get many requests for information about transracial adoption. It tends to be a topic that evokes strong feelings and a sense of controversy, which makes it a topic of interest to many students, members of the media and the public at large. Many papers focus on issues of the debate, i.e., should transracial adoptions be allowed to happen and are they in the best interest of children of color, rather than the issues faced by families and children after such placements. In general this debate has been articulated by groups like the Union of Black Social Workers who have been concerned that children growing up with white parents will not be given by their parents the tools and strategies they need to feel good about themselves and survive and rise above the racism they will face throughout their lives. On the other side have been those who say all children need loving homes and cannot afford to wait for families. These groups have sometimes articulated the position that race does not matter and love can overcome all difference. Below are some points you should look at when considering both sides of the issue. You will want to look beyond the debate to issues of parenting and identity formation for children who have already been placed transracially and whose needs now focus on finding their place in a world that is race conscious and sometimes dangerous.

In the mid 90s, the Senate passed a law called the Multi Ethnic Placement Act (MEPA) which was amended as the Inter Ethnic Placement Act (IEPA) a federal mandate against using race as a placement factor. The law means that white parents cannot be slowed or stopped from adoption because of their race. In general, "good" adoption practice should place the child's interests first, over and above that of adoptive or birth parents. In the context of transracial adoption this means children of color need adoptive parents who place a high value on their child's racial identity formation and comfort.

Limited research has shown transracial adoption to be as successful (from the point of view of stable adoptions and "adjusted" children) as same race adoption. Adoption "failure" is more likely to occur for the older child, regardless of the child's or parent's races. However, no child should have to give up his or her cultural identity in order to have a family. In the best of all possible worlds, transracially or transculturally adopted people should be able to fully identify with their family's white culture as well as be a part of their birth heritage and culture. Not everyone will choose to explore or express their racial identity in the same way, but each individual should have the opportunity to learn the cultural cues and mores of their racial community so that they are able to be full members of that community without feeling handicapped because of what they do not know.

We urge adoptive parents to try to keep in mind that transracial adoption presents certain challenges that don't exist in same race adoption. Certainly, transracially adopted children are often asked if their adoptive parents are their "real" parents and other such intrusive questions. Typically they love their parents but there are times when they wish they didn't have to "show" so publicly and be the object of strangers' attention and curiosity. Transracial adoption is harder on kids precisely because the world is so race conscious and racist. That is why we at Pact try so hard to help families and kids feel good about themselves and proud to be members of their family.

If you are considering transracial adoption we would suggest you order our self assessment tool, Below The Surface (http://www.pactadopt.org/publications/below.html). For a deeper understanding of the issues of parenting across racial lines, we suggest our book, Inside Transracial Adoption (http://www.pactadopt.org/publications/inside.html). For other materials and publications about Transracial Adoption look to our webstore http://www.pactadopt.org/store/.

Pact has also developed an individualized program called "Building Connections" that will give parents the opportunity to complete a detailed assessment of their current lifestyle and connections as they become (or continue their growth) as a family of color built through adoption.

If you are interested in receiving materials from us please email your address. We have two kinds of information packets available. One is for families who are looking to adopt through Pact and the other is for families who want to get Pact's educational information. Please specify in your email which packet you would like to receive.

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