Resource Who: Parents
Child Mind Institute: “Trauma & Grief”
This webpage features countless articles about the basics of recognizing and addressing trauma in children. It includes topics like the effects, causes, and treatments of…
Today: “What Black adoptees want white parents to know about transracial adoption”
This article features the voices of Black adults who were adopted by white families. The adoptees share their perspectives on identity, culture, and their sense…
RESilience: Books About Race and Ethnicity
This is a directory of books about race, organized by age. It features books for young children, elementary school-age children, teens, and adults, as well…
The National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC): “I Am a Parent or Caregiver”
The NMAAHC’s purpose is to help children understand what race is, how it operates in society, and why it’s important (particularly in the US). This…
“Daddy Why Am I Brown?”: A healthy conversation about skin color and family
This is a children’s book meant to start a conversation about how kids can learn to talk about skin color in a way that’s kind,…
Resilience – “Reading and RES: Parent Tip Tool: Choosing and Using Books to Discuss Race and Ethnicity”
This brief article explains how reading books with your child is a key way to start and continue conversations about race and ethnicity. It also…
Beynd the Golden Rule
This illustrated book serves as a parent’s guide to preventing and responding to prejudice. This book explores how to discuss racism and tolerance depending on…
American Academy of Pediatrics: “Talking to Children About Racial Bias”
This article explains how children learn racial bias, strategies to help children deal with these biases, and how parents can confront their own racial biases.…
RESilience – Engaging My Child: “Parent Tip Tool: Uplifting Families Through Healthy Communication About Race”
This is a brief parent tip tool that explains what RES (racial and ethnic socialization)is, who participates in RES, and suggestions for engaging in RES.
Gladney University – reFRAMED Bonus: “Continuing the Conversation with Ebony Mack, MSW”
This conversation is a continuation of the discussion “Bridging the Gap: Strengthening Competencies of Transracial Adoptive Parents” led by Ebony Mack. This training considers many…
Gladney University – Bridging the Gap: “Competencies of Transracial Adoptive Parents”
A presentation led by Ebony Mack (MSW, adoptee, adoptive parent, and more) about white parents who have adopted transracially. Mack discusses how they (parents) often…
Birth Parents Only: Our Journey to Heal
This is a private Facebook group that was formed by and for birth parents. It’s a place to freely share thoughts and feelings about adoption…
Parents of Boys Adopted From China
This is a private Facebook group for adoptive parents of boys adopted from China. It’s a place of support and connection for adoptive and waiting…
Creating a Family: “Adopting or Fostering a Child Who Identifies as LGBTQ”
This is a $20 course for adoptive and foster parents about providing a healthy environment to discuss emotional topics with LGBTQ+ youth. The curriculum covers…
Movement Advancement Project (MAP): “Child Welfare Nondiscrimination Laws”
This is an interactive map of child welfare nondiscrimination laws in the United States. Users can examine laws and equity scores by state. Policies regarding…
PFLAG NYC: API Parents & Caregivers Group
This group meets twice a month for a lunchtime discussion for API parents and caregivers whose children are part of the LGBTQ+ community. They are…
Creating a Family: “Tips for Raising an LGBTQ Foster or Adopted Child”
This article provides ten tips for raising LGBTQ+ foster or adopted kids. It emphasizes the importance of supporting children by using their preferred pronouns, employing…
PA Parent an Family Alliance
This LGBTQ+ Tip Sheet is a great resource for parents who have an LGBTQ+ child. The guide goes over tips on what to do immediately…
healthychildren.org: “Coming Out: Information for Parents of LGBTQ Teens”
This article is a great resource for parents who have LGBTQ+ teenagers. The article gives explanations of and tips for how to answer common questions.…
Planned Parenthood: “What should I teach my high school-aged teen about identity?”
This article is a great resource for parents and guardians who want to teach their teenage children about identity. It provides detailed explanations for questions…
Rise Magazine: “Resources for LGBTQ Parents and Parents of LGBTQ Children and Youth”
This magazine article benefits LGBTQ+ parents and parents with LGBTQ+ children. It article explains the importance of acceptance and provides a list of resources about…
Johns Hopkins Medicine: “Tips for Parents of LGBTQ Youth”
This article is a resource for parents who have LGBTQ+ children. In the article, Johns Hopkins’ pediatric and adolescent medicine specialists share their tips on…
The Trevor Project: “Behaviors of Supportive Parents and Caregivers for LGBTQ Youth”
This is a resource for parents of LGBTQ+ children about how best to support queer youth. The importance of supporting gender expression, understanding LGBTQ+ issues,…
Free Mom Hugs
Free Mom Hugs is an organization that encourages education, visibility, and conversation about the LGBTQ+ community. Their webpage offers education opportunities for everyone through speaking…
The Real Mama Bears
The Real Mama Bears is a resource that serves the LGBTQ+ community. The organization supports, educates, and empowers families with LGBTQ+ members. They offer private…
University of Michigan Center for Sexuality & Health Disparities: “All About Gender”
This guide will benefit parents who have transgender, questioning, gender expansive, gender nonconforming, or non-binary child. The guide explains gender terms, answers FAQs, explains transitioning,…
Medical News Today: “8 of the best online therapy programs for kids”
This article is for parents who are interested in learning about therapy for their children. It explains types of child therapy, identifying if a child…
Nemours Children’s Health: “Taking Your Child to a Therapist”
This is another great resource for parents to learn about therapy for their children. It explains what therapy is, what problems they help with, how…
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP): Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Finder
This therapist locator can help parents who are interested in searching for a therapist for their child. Users can filter results by location and can…
William James College: “Guide for Parents of Asian/Asian American Adolescents”
This guide benefits parents of Asian and Asian American adolescents. The guide and accompanying video is available in six languages. It covers the history of…
Attaching in Adoption: Practical Tools for Today’s Parents
This is a comprehensive guide for adoptive parents on how to care for adopted children and promote healthy attachment. It explains what attachment is, how…
The Primal Wound
This book clarifies the effects of separating babies from their birth mothers as a primal loss, affecting the relationships of the adopted person throughout life.…
The Special Needs Parent Handbook – 2nd Edition
This book provides practical advice for parents of children with special needs and disabilities. It discusses hiring babysitters and free respite help, finding the best…
Wrightslaw Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities
This is a directory for resources for kids with disabilities across the United States. It lists consultants, psychologists, tutors, therapists, coaches, and other professionals who…
Child Welfare Information Gateway: “Parenting Your Child With Developmental Delays and Disabilities”
A brief overview on how to identify a disability in a child, the first steps parents can take to address their child’s needs, and parenting…
Family Resource Center on Disabilities
This center is dedicated to providing parents of children with disabilities with information, training, and assistance. Their resource page features many websites and tools for…
NACAC: Find a Parent Group
This organization has a search directory that allows users to filter through countless adoption support groups in North America. There are many support group categories,…
Adoption Network: “How to Find Support Groups for Adoptive Parents”
This article explains the benefits of parent support groups for parents of adoptees. It discusses single parents’ and couples’ challenges and provides some resources for…
Capital Adoptive Families Alliance (CAFA): Support Groups
This alliance explains the importance of support groups and provides information about their own support group. CAFA’s support group offers general support to parents and…
NCFA: “A Guide to Adoption Subsidies and Assistance for Adoptive Parents”
This article discusses subsidies that provide additional support for adoptees and their families. It explains what they are, which entities provides them, who is eligible,…
Child Welfare Information Gateway: “Adoption and Guardianship Assistance by State”
This article answers the question: “Does your State provide additional finances or services for medical or therapeutic needs not covered under your State medical plan…
Adoption Training Online
This resource is from the Children’s Aid Society of Alabama and offers several adoption trainings. Trainings cover domestic adoption, international adoption, medical courses, and more.
Gladney Center for Adoption: “Why Are Foster Care and Adoption Training Required?”
This article explains why foster care and adoption training are required. It discusses pre-service training, foster parent in-service training, post-adoption training, kinship-specific training, and more.…
Gladney Center for Adoption: “Adopting a Child With Special Needs and Disabilities”
This article discusses considerations for prospective parents when adopting a child with special needs or disabilities. It explains how to understanding children with special needs,…
Love Without Boundaries: “Adopting a Child With Special Needs”
This organization provides reference information for common special needs, including craniofacial conditions, digestive system conditions, infectious diseases, and more. There’s also a family stories page,…
No Hands But Ours
This organization focuses on waiting children in China with medical needs. They have resources for prospective adoptive parents, adoptive parents, and about special needs. It…
Utah’s Adoption Connection: Children with Special Needs
This digital lending library allows prospective adoptive families, foster parents, and adoptive parents to rent books for free. Users can check out up to three…
Gladney Center for Adoption: “How We Decided Which Special Needs Boxes to Check on Our Preference Checklist”
This article by an adoptive mother discusses the considerations that go into the preference checklist adoptive parents must complete. She offers advice about how to…
RainbowKids: “Special Needs in Children”
This adoption advocacy website is a resource for families considering special needs adoption. It has information about special needs, adoption agencies and professionals, hosting, and…
Medical Home Portal: “Adoption of Children with Special Needs”
An article covering general preparation advice for parents adopting a child with special needs. It discusses adoption of children with special needs, getting ready for…
Gladney Center for Adoption: “Special Needs Adoption Guide: What you need to know when considering special needs adoption”
An article explaining what parents need to know regarding special needs adoption. It clarifies special needs adoption, the medical conditions checklist, file reviews, setting up…
U.S. Department of State-Bureau of Consular Affairs: “Health Considerations”
An article about the differences between convention requirements (which normally have an Article 16 requirement) and non-convention requirements. It also explains the expectations for accredited…
CDC: “International Adoption”
An article on vaccinations and disease for parents adopting internationally. It gives recommendations and information for pre-adoption procedures, overseas medical examination processes, vaccinations, finding a…
Adoption Support Alliance
The ASA offers a beginner’s adoption course designed for prospective adoptive families. The class discusses various aspects of adoption, including logistical challenges, managing grief and…
lowcosthealthinsurance.com: “Will my health insurance cover an adopted child?”
This article explains how health insurance works with adopted children. It mentions that while most insurance plans covering biological children must also cover adopted children,…
Child Welfare Information Gateway: “Preadoption Training”
A brief article regarding different types of adoption training for prospective and adoptive parents. There’s also a list of trainings that are required or useful…
U.S. Department of Labor: “Protections for Newborns, Adopted Children, and New Parents…The Newborns’ and Mothers’ Health Protection Act of 1996”
An article on protections for newborns, adopted children, and new parents in the context of a health protection act passed in 1996. It explains how…
Holt International: “Parenting Adoptees”
This is a Christian organization that offers programs including Post-Adoption Coaching & Education (PACE) and Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI). Both programs help parents better understand…
America World Adoption: “Adoption Training”
This Christian adoption agency offers curriculum designed to help families prepare for the placement and care of a child. They also offer courses for post-adoption…
Therapy Chat: “195: The Trauma of Adoption”
This podcast episode considers how attachment trauma affects adopted children and adoptive parents. The hosts also discuss how adoption can change family and community relationships.
The Honestly Adoption Podcast: “What Are Post-Adoption Services And Why Do Parents Need Them?”
A podcast where two adoptive parents host interviews and discuss the different uses and needs for post-adoption services available to adoptive parents.
White Sugar Brown Sugar
A blog by a mom about her adopted children. She doesn’t disclose their names or faces out of respect and describes her adoptions as domestic,…
The Seattle Times: “Adoption across races: ‘I know my parents love me, but they don’t love my people’”
An article where adoptee Angela Tucker discusses feeling like a racial impostor growing up. She explains that while she looked Black, she didn’t feel that…
NCFA: “Being a Birth Mom Changed the Way I Parent”
An article where a birth mom reflects on giving up her first daughter to adoption, then giving birth to and raising two children after.
NCFA: “What You Should Know About Choosing Adoption”
A webpage full of answers to FAQs relating to birth parents and prospective adoptive parents.
Adoption: The Long View Podcast
Host Lori Holden is an adoptive mom and her children are in contact with both of their birth parents. Lori examines the various aspects of…
Creating a Family: “Helping Your Adopted Child Handle Adoption Microaggressions”
A short article that identifies variations of microaggressions that are particular to adoption. It also teaches adopted children strategies to maintain their confidence and coping…
NCFA: “Is Anyone Out There?: Finding Support as a Birth Mother”
A first-person perspective article from a birth mother on adoption, loss, and finding support after birth. She explains the loss that she felt after placing…
The World I Live In: “I am a mother, grandmother and a birth mother”
A podcast episode where a birth mother speaks about her decision to give up one of her children. She mentions that it was one of…
NCFA: “Educational Webinars for the Adoption Community”
A webinar library that covers countless topics: post adoption, school based support for adoptees, Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA), LGBTQ competency for adoption professionals,…
Adoptive Families Association of BC: Adoption Education Program Online
This program is designed to provide prospective adoptive parents with strong foundational knowledge for caring for their adopted child. It’s a 15-week, asynchronous course covering…
NCFA: “Talking to Adopted Children About Birth Parents and Families of Origin: How to Answer the ‘Hard Questions'”
An article about how adoptive parents should navigate discussion about an adoptee’s birth family. The author suggests that adoptive parents must be open and transparent…
NCFA: “The Impact of Adoption on Teen Identity Formation”
This article explores the ways in which adoption can affect adolescents’ formation of identity.
NCFA Intercountry Adoption Journey
Held through the National Council for Adoption, this 10-hour course fulfills the training requirements of countries that are party to the Hague Adoption Convention. It…
Twisted Sisterhood
A podcast for birth moms, by birth moms. The hosts discuss their emotions and experiences with adoption. They also feature other birth mom as guests…
NCFA: “Positive Practices in Transracial Adoption Parenting”
In the article, an adoptee asserts that parents must bring up the topic of adoption first and work with their children to understand their feelings.…
Adoption Network: “Understand Your Adopted Child”
This article explains how adoptees have felt loss and experienced trauma. Additionally, it talks about birth family searches and the shortcomings of some of the…
NCFA: “The Adoptive Parent’s Responsibility when Parenting a Child of a Different Race”
An article about the different ways adoptive parents can and need to support their children. This specifically discusses the issues, privileges, and challenges of adopting…
Adoptive Families: “How to Be an Anti-Racist Adoptive Parent”
An article on how to actively challenge racism and discuss privilege, especially in the context of a multiracial family.
NBC News: “All-American, with one foot in China”
A brief article about the need for adoptive parents to educate their children adopted from China about racism, identity, and the reality of life in…
AdoptUSKids: “Florida post-adoption support”
A landing page for post-adoption support services and parent support groups available to families in Florida.
“Raising Our Multiracial Family”
A Black woman shares the story of her multiracial family. One of her four children is a white, adopted son.
NPR: “A Mother Reflects On Privilege, Adoption And Parenting ‘Without Perfection'”
An interview about a white mother’s reflection on her life raising two adopted Black children and two biological white children, and how she became aware…
NACAC: “Transracial Adoption: Love is Just the Beginning”
An article by Deb Reisner, mother to a family with African-American, Native-American, Latino, and European-American children. She details the importance of listening to her children…
HuffPost: “10 Things Adoptees Want You to Know”
An article written by an adoptee about what the world should know about the adoption experience. While this is only an introductory adoption article, the…
American Adoptions: “4 Unique Challenges Faced By Transracial Adoptees”
An article by American Adoptions that examines some of the challenges that many transracial adoptees face.
Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew
A book written by an adoptee which lists 20 things that adopted children may fear and want to discuss with their parents.
Creating a Family: “A Dialog Between an Adoptive Parent and an Adult Adoptee”
An adoptive parent’s blog about how reading adoptee’s stories and opinions worries her. Adult adoptee responds by addressing her fears. This is a good resource…
Angela Tucker: The Adopted Life
A 2-hour virtual workshop led by a transracial adoptee (Angela Tucker). Families leave understanding how transracial adoptees progress from racial awareness to racial identity, as…
Adoption Associates: “Openness in Adoption”
A brief article offering suggestions to prospective adoptive parents and current adoptive parents for maintaining transparency in adoption. It discusses birth families, the search and…
Children’s Bureau: “Parenting in Racially and Culturally Diverse Adoptive Families”
A factsheet from the Children’s Bureau that explains how to support a child’s racial and cultural identity, embrace life as a racially and culturally diverse…
Child Welfare Information Gateway: “Adoption by Family Type: Racially and Culturally Diverse Families”
A resource page from the Child Welfare Information Gateway with links to information about racially and culturally diverse adoptions.
National Training and Development Curriculum (NTDC) for Foster and Adoptive Parents
NTDC is a new online program based on research and input from experts, families who have experience with fostering or adopting children, and former foster…
American Adoptions NEWS: “25 Helpful Resources for Transracial Adoptive Families”
A resource page with links to transracial adoption blogs, websites, books, Facebook groups, and more.
NPR: “White Kid, Black Family: Transracial Adoption”
An article about a Black father and his family’s experience with raising a white child and transracial adoption.
Rudd Adoption Research Program UMASS Amherst: “Promoting Adoptees’ Well-Being in Transracial Adoptive Families”
An article with parenting techniques designed to support and uplift transracially adopted children. It also has a bibliography which features additional useful resources.
The Honestly Adoption Company
This company helps parents understand their children, change their parenting approach, and transform their family. Their podcast helps adoptive parents better understand their adopted children.
NPR: “The Parenting Dilemmas Of Transracial Adoption”
This article examines the problems of color-blind parenting and how parents need to acknowledge and celebrate racial diversity. There’s also a 40-minute long audio version…
The New York Times: “IDENTITY: When Parents Adopt a Child and a Whole Other Culture”
An article about the complexities of the adoptee identity. It discusses how parents are not only adopting a child, but also their child’s culture in…
