Transracial Adoption/Interracial Adoption

Transracial/Interracial Adoption

Transracial adoption, also known as interracial or multiracial adoption, is when parents adopt a child of a different race or ethnicity. Usually, but not always, in the US, transracial adoptions are white parents adopting children of color. Transracial adoptions have increased significantly in the last 20 years.

How Common Are Transracial Adoptions in the US?

44% of all adoptions in the US are now interracial. Transracial adoptions can happen via domestic infant adoptions, foster care adoptions, or international adoptions, but the percentage varies by type of adoption.

21% of domestic infant adoptions are transracial
28% of foster care adoptions are transracial
84% of international adoptions are transracial

What is clear is that transracial adoptions are increasing. The proportion of adopted kindergartners being raised by a mother of a different race or ethnic group rose by 50% between 1999 and 2011.

Are Transracial Adoptions Good for Kids?

Research supports that transracially adopted children compare favorably to children adopted into same race families, but we know from listening to adult transracial adoptees that it is easier for kids when adoptive parents are well prepared to raise a child of another race. These resources can help:

Raising Adopted Kids – New Research (article)
Parenting Transracially Adopted Tweens and Teens (1 hr. podcast w/ experts)
Suggested Books for Adults on Transracial Adoption

How To Help Interracially Adopted Children Develop a Healthy Sense of Racial Identity

When parents do not share the same race and ethnicity as their child, they have the added responsibility to help their child form a healthy racial identity. We do not live in a color-blind world. These resources can help:

How Transracial Adoptees Navigate Race As They Age (1 hr. podcast w/ experts)
You’re Chocolate, I’m Vanilla: White Parents Raising Children of Color (1 hr. podcast w/ experts)
Panel of Adult Transracial Adoptees (1 hr. podcast w/ panel)

Creating a Family has many other resources on transracial adoption. Here are a few additional ones that we think you will find particularly helpful:

Handling Social Media & Birth Family Contact with Your Adopted, Foster, or Kinship Kids (article)
Tips for Raising a Transracial Adoptee (article)
Adoption Microagressions Parents Need to Know About (1 hr. podcast w/ expert)
The Traumatic Impact of Racism (1 hr. podcast w/ experts)
7 Core Issues in Adoption and Foster Care (1 hr. podcast w/ expert)
Best Books for Transracially Adopted Kids (broken down by age of the child and race/ethnicity)

Many more Creating a Family interviews with experts, blogs, and fact sheets on interracial adoption can be found at the icons below.

Sources: Creating a Family radio shows below, www.aspe.hhs.gov

Additional Resources

Creating a Family Radio Shows on Transracial Adoption

Creating a Family Blogs on Transracial Adoption

Creating a Family Factsheets, Tips on Transracial Adoption