Transracial Adoption International and Domestic Megan Otruba Nancy Pater Morgan Washburn

Outline for Presentation Activity Adoptions –Transracial vs. Same Race Laws and Legislation Domestic Transracial Adoption o Child Welfare System o Social issues of transracial adoption International Transracial Adoption o Trends and Loss of culture o Social Implications

Same Race Adoptions Survival skills o racism National/ethnic heritage Largest population of children in foster care

Transracial Adoption Mixed ethnicity Interracial marriages have agreement o Not with adoption Helping children in countries without the necessary resources Attempts to keep the culture

MEPA-IEP Multiethnic Placement Act of 1994 o Put an end to race matching o Address longer waits by black children Interethnic Adoption Provisions of 1996 o Banned all consideration of racial or ethnic background Goal to speed up adoption process Required recruitment of colored families

ICWA Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 Alarmingly high rates of removal o Language, religion, & customs Preference to the tribe

Transracial Domestic Adoption in the US 2007 National Survey of Adoptive Parents

Race and the Child Welfare System 510,000 children in Foster Care in 2006, and over 300,000 (60%) were children of color Black and Native American Children are 3X more likely to be in foster care than white children/youth

Why is there an overrepresentation? Poverty Visibility of impoverished and minority families to other systems. Vulnerability of African American communities Over-reporting of minority parents for child abuse and neglect Lack of experience with other cultures Defining abusive behavior

Child Welfare System Adopted Foster Children in US (10/1/11 – 9/30/11) -Total: 50,513 - Black: 23.2% - Hispanic 21.3% - White 45.3% - Asian 0.5% - Alaska Native/American Indian 1.5% Adopted Foster Children in IOWA (10/1/11 – 9/30/11) -Total: 864 -Black: 19.1% -Hispanic: 10.4% -White: 59.8% -Asian: 0.1% -Alaska Native/American Indian: 1.7%

Transracial Adoption in the US National Association of Black Social Workers o Early 1970s condemned Transracial adoptions and MEPA and IEPA Preserving African American Families (1994) “transracial adoption of an African American child should only be considered after documented evidence of unsuccessful same race placements has been reviewed and supported by appropriate representatives of the African American community" (NABSW, 1994, p. 4).

NABSW and Transracial Adoption “physicians are more likely to report parents of African ancestry for abuse or neglect than White parents even when the injuries are the same. Children of African ancestry are also more likely to receive additional tests and screenings in an effort to detect injury than their White counterparts even when the symptomatology is the same. (Lane, Rubin, Monteith & Christian, 2002).

Donaldson Report 2008 Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute o Recommend race consideration in selecting adoptive parents Issue faced by transracial adoptees o Coping with being “different” o Struggling to fit in with both social settings o Challenges to develop a positive racial/ ethnic identity o Managing racial prejudice and discriminations

Transracial Adoption “ I knew I wanted to be around more black people so I could learn more because that is a part of me, but the majority of black people I know are poor and urban. I mean, I haven't seen many Cosby Show type black people and the lower class black world usually says they're acting white anyway. (Kristen, 27 yrs old)” (Butler-Sweet 202)

International Adoptions

Russia’s Requirements Requirements change often Main requirement approval from CIS (citizen and immigration services) Single women o Heterosexual statement Number of divorces 6 months before open to international

China’s Requirements Married 2 years Divorces (2 per parent) age requirement Physical and mental health Drugs Criminal history Education Finances/worth

Ethiopia’s Requirements No age limit if married o 5 years married Single-over 25 o No men No more than 40 years difference o Child & parent No LGBT No financial minimum-must prove able to provide

International Adoption Most internationally adopted children are from non- western countries. They are predominately adopted by white middle class families They are more often raised in that white culture rather than in their own.

“It’s important for the parents to realize that they are not adopting a baby, they are adding a person to the family. This child is going to grow up, start dating, marry someday, and they are going to be an interracial family from this point on,” said Pat Eldridge, adoption director at Lutheran Social Service, which handles international adoptions.

International Adoption Bill Chartrand a Ph.D. in international communication is studying adjustment patterns of families that adopt older Korean children. Chartrand states that there is a trend of parents not focusing as much on the differences between these children and American born children. This can have damaging effects on these children.

Intentions of international adoption Bill Chartrand found that families today still prefer adopting an older foreign child rather than an American child that may have been in and out of foster homes, possibly abused, and probably has very special psychological needs.

A Different Perspective Team Sullivan

How can we help? Embracing the differences between American-born and international born children. Not just giving them an doll that is their skin tone but eating foods and celebrating holidays from their culture. It is important to note differences between race and culture with all children

References Butler-Sweet, C. (2011). "A Healthy Black Identity" Transracial Adoption, Middle-Class Families, and Racial Socialization. Journal Of Comparative Family Studies, 42(2), Chibnall, S. et al. (2003). Children of Color in the Child Welfare System: Perspectives From the Child Welfare Community. Department of Health and Human Services Children’s Bureau. Retrieved from Engel, M. H., Phillips, N. K., & DellaCava, F. A., (2010). Cultural difference and adoption policy in the United States: The quest for social justice for children. International Journal of Children’s Rights, 18, pg DOI: / X McRoy, R., Mica, M., Freundlich, M., & Kroll, J., (2007). Making MEPA-IEP work: Tools for professionals. Child Welfare, 86, pg National Association of Black Social Workers (2003). Preserving Families. NABSW National Steering Committee. Retrieved from US Dept. of Health and Human Services (2012). Race/Ethnicity of Public Agency Children Adopted: October 1, 2010 to September 30, 2011 (FY 2011). Wood, M., (2009). Mixed ethnicity, identity and adoption: research, policy and practice. Child and Family Social Work, 14, pg ity_July% pdf ity_July% pdf adoption-raises-culture-questions/ adoption-raises-culture-questions/