- Community Connection
Adoption Identity Race Exploration (AIRE)
AIRE was created out of the need for an inclusive space for BIPOC adoptees (of all genders, identities, and experiences) to build and collaborate. AIRE also offers holistic emotional and spiritual counseling and partners with other organizations to provide consultations about programming, curriculum development, and workshop planning.
- Race Education
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 trauma and grief. It also includes some common traumatic diagnoses and how trauma affects children in academic settings.
- Race Education
CNN: “How to talk to your children about protests and racism”
This article explains how to discuss racism and protests with children. The article breaks down how to lead discussions by age group (toddler, tweens, teens).
- Race Education
EmbraceRace: “‘I [STILL] Can’t Breathe!’: Supporting Kids of Color Amid Racialized Violence”
This conversation and Q&A led by child psychologist Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith explores policing, violence, safety, justice, and race. She also considers how to approach conversations with children of color about institutional and racial violence.
- Race Education
Nursing License Map with edX: “Anti-Racism Resources for Students and Professionals in Healthcare”
This article explores the history of mistreatment and discrimination in healthcare that puts people of color at a disadvantage. It also discusses the changes that are necessary for health professionals and students to be anti-racist and eliminate healthcare inequities.
- Race Education
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 of belonging.
- Race Education
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 as additional resources and links about race and culture.
- Race Education
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 article is specifically for parents and caregivers who want their child(ren) to form a healthy racial identity, learn how to support complex racial problems in children, and speak out against racial inequity.
- Race Education
“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, thoughtful, and healthy. It’s also meant to help children understand the difference between race, ethnicity, and culture.
- Race Education
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 discusses why books are a good medium, the importance of conversations about race, and tips for how to choose appropriate books for your child.
- Race Education
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 the age of the child.
- Race Education
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. The article also features tips for talking about racism and racial differences by age (preschool, grade school, etc.) and additional resources about discrimination.
- Race Education
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.
- Race Education
ChildTrends: “Resources to Support Children’s Emotional Well-Being Amid Anti-Black Racism, Racial Violence, and Trauma”
This article discusses how to talk to children about racism, racial violence, and trauma. It also features books and other resource compilations for parents and caregivers about how to discuss race and racism with children.
- Race Education
The Racial Empowerment Collaborative (REC) at Penn GSE
REC is a research, program development, and training center that brings people together to promote racial literacy and health in schools and neighborhoods. They offer a TEDMED talk which explains how racial stress impacts health and suggests what people can do to alleviate stress caused by racism.
- Race Education
National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI)
This institute is dedicated to improving the quality of life for Black children and families. NBDCI engages in public discourse for local, state, and federal policies in order to amplify the strengths and needs of Black children and families.
- Race Education
American Psychological Association RESilience – “Resources for Parents: Uplifting Youth Through Healthy Communication About Race”
This website features tip tools, books, blogs, and other resources about creating healthy and safe conversations about race between children and parents. This initiative focuses on RES (racial and ethnic socialization), the process by which children learn about race.
- Race Education
Yale University Open Yale Courses – African American History: From Emancipation to the Present (2010)
This archive provides all of the course materials for one of Yale’s Open Courses which examines the African American experience in the US from the 1800s until 2010s. More specifically, the professor analyzes urbanization, modern civil rights movements, and the leadership of prominent Black political figures and leaders.
- Race Education
Online MSW Programs with edX: “How to Teach Kids About Race”
This article discusses how to teach children about the concepts of race, privilege, and racial and ethnic socialization (RES). Though this resource is primarily for social work students, it may be relevant to any adults that would like to start discussing race with children.
- Race Education
The New York Times – “A Conversation on Race: A series of short films about identity in America”
This video project features countless different videos of people sharing their experiences with racism and racial identity. The site even welcomes readers to submit personal stories about their own experiences with racism and racial identity.
- Race Education
CNN – “Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism”
CNN’s Van Jones and Erica Hill partnered with Sesame Street to produce this town hall for kids and families. This short video explains racism and political responses to racism in a way that’s suitable for families and young children.
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 different questions about transracial adoption and racial identity.
- Race Education
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 learn about the cultural differences between their own norms and that of their children’s as these differences collide.
- Mental Health
Beyond Words Psychological Services
This LLC, established by Dr. Chaitra Wirta-Leiker, offers a directory of professional (medical and mental health) resources in the Denver Metro Area. Dr. Wirta-Leiker specializes in issues of race, identity, societal expectaion, family relationships, and adoption.
- Mental Health
The Association of Black Psychologists, Inc.
This is an association that specializes in supporting Black psychologists and patients.
- LGBTQ+
House of Rainbow
House of Rainbow’s services can most apply to and benefit LGBTQ+ people of color and faith. The organization works to combat religious homophobia and also validates LGBTQ religious individuals. It offers 1:1 support, group gatherings, and training workshops. On the website you can learn more about their services and the work they do.
- LGBTQ+
National Queer & Trans Therapists of Color Network (NQTTCN)
This organization works to advance healing justice by transforming mental health for queer and trans people of color. They have lists of community and practitioner resources including crisis hotlines, as well as a therapy directory. This source is great for all minority communities and mental health services can be filtered by city or zip code. You can also request to join the directory as well.
- Mental Health
Inclusive Therapists
Inclusive Therapist’s services can apply to and especially benefit underrepresented communities. With its mission to be a “mental health liberation movement creating change through decolonial education, collective care, and activism.” Inclusive Therapist has a detailed filter system within its directory. You can search by name, keyword, location, insurance, language, service, and specialty. Professional profiles are very detailed as well.
- Scholarships
CollegeScholarships.org: “Haitian Scholarship Funding”
From Collegescholarships.org, this source gives a list of 3 scholarships that are relevant to individuals who are of Haitian descent. More information is given in their descriptions
- Literature
In Their Own Voices: Transracial Adoptees Tell Their Stories
This is a collection of interviews conducted with Black and biracial young adults adopted by white parents. It entails personal stories of two dozen individuals “who hail from a wide range of religious, economic, political, and professional backgrounds”. Some things this book explores is “How does the experience affect their racial and social identities, their choice of friends and marital partners, and their lifestyles?” The book includes overviews of both the history and current legal status of transracial adoption as of 2000.
- Scholarships
Haiti Scholarships
From Haiti Scholarships, an organization geared towards Haitian Scholars who currently live in Haiti, this source gives some scholarship resources to Haitians who live in the U.S. There are about 5 sources to read about.
- Mental Health
Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (BEAM)
BEAM is a national training, movement building, and grant making institution that is dedicated to the healing, wellness, and liberation of Black and marginalized communities.
- Mental Health
Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation
The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation was founded by actress Taraji P. Henson to offer “Black communities resources, connections and support needed to help break the silence and stigma around mental health.” Services include a directory of mental health providers and programs serving the African-American community, African American Cultural Competency training, a mental health scholarship fund, and more.
- Mental Health
InnoPsych
InnoPsych is dedicated to bringing “healing to communities of color by changing the face and feel of therapy.” Their goal is to make therapists of color more accessible. The search directory tool allows users to filter by location, specialty, service type, ethnicity, and insurance type.
- Mental Health
Therapy for Black Girls
Therapy for Black Girls is “an online space dedicated to encouraging the mental wellness of Black women and girls.” The site includes a search directory tool where users are able to search for therapists with filters including location, issue, and whether or not virtual therapy is provided. It also offers podcasts, a blog, and the option to join the site’s community.
- Mental Health
Mental Health America: “Black and African American Communities and Mental Health”
Mental Health America is a resource “driven by its commitment to promote mental health as a critical part of overall wellness, including prevention services for all.” The site includes statistics and examples on what Black and African American people face in regards to mental health.
- Birth Family Search
Closure (2013)
A trans-racial adoptee finds her birth mother, and meets the rest of her family who did not know she existed, including her birth father. This documentary explores themes such as identity, the complexities of trans-racial adoption, and closure.
- Adoptee Groups
Angela Tucker
Angela Tucker is an author, a podcaster, a film producer and has gained a reputation for being a national thought leader on the intersectional topics of race, class, and identity. She was adopted from foster care to a white family, and grew up in a city that was predominantly white. She has 15+ years of working in social welfare organizations, has consulted with NBC’s This Is Us, and supported the lead actor of Broadway musical Jagged Little Pill. Her first book is scheduled for publication in the spring of 2023 (Beacon Press).
- Birth Family Search
Off and Running (2009)
Avery, an African-American adoptee and track star with white Jewish lesbians for parents and two other adopted siblings begins to become more curious about her roots. Her curiosity about her African-American heritage grows and she decides to contact her birth mother. Avery’s life turns into a crisis and struggles over her “true” identity, her isolation from Black culture, and the circumstances of her adoption.
- Mental Health
Find Black Therapist
“This search engine searches for Black therapists throughout the United States. It is filterable by state, city, issues, telehealth, and includes a filter for adoption as well. However, their selection for adoptees is more limited.
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- Mental Health
African Diaspora Mental Health Association (ADMH)
The African Diaspora Mental Health Association is an outpatient mental health clinic, registered and licensed in the state of Massachusetts. They offer many different mental health services including individual therapy, family therapy, bilingual services, couples therapy, and more. Resources for children, adults, and seniors can all be found here.
- Mental Health
Safe Space Africa
Mental health educational products and therapy services for Africans on the continent and diaspora.
- Mental Health
Black Mental Wellness
The mission of Black Mental Wellness, Corp. is to provide access to evidence-based information and resources about mental health and behavioral health topics from a Black perspective, to highlight and increase the diversity of mental health professionals, and to decrease the mental health stigma in the Black community. Their services include culturally inclusive mental health and wellness training, workshops specific to youth and children, and webinars on multiple different topics.
Time: “The Realities of Raising a Kid of a Different Race”
“An article written by an adoptive mother on what every parent should know about transracial adoptions. This article is applicable to adoptees but centers around the Black adoptee experience growing up in a white household.”
- Media
White Sugar Brown Sugar
A blog by a Christian mom about her adopted children. Although she doesn’t disclose names or faces out of respect, she describes her adoptions as domestic, transracial, and open
- Race Education
The Seattle Times: “Adoption across races: ‘I know my parents love me, but they don’t love my people’”
“Adoptee Angela Tucker discusses how she felt like a racial impostor growing up. She explains that she may have looked Black, but didn’t feel that way.”
- Media
NPR: “A Mother Reflects On Privilege, Adoption And Parenting ‘Without Perfection'”
“NPR 37 minute listen as a white mom reflects on her life raising two adopted Black children and two biological white children, and how she became aware of her own white privilege. She also has a blog called Rage Against the Minivan.”
- Media
Rhonda M. Roorda, MA
“Roordaa identifies as a transracial adoptee, and was adopted out of the New York system into a white American family. She has published multiple books on the Black American experience as an adoptee and is an international speaker that can be booked to speak.
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- Media
NPR: “Growing Up ‘White,’ Transracial Adoptee Learned To Be Black”
7 min listen and article on NPR, a Black, transracial adoptee reflects on his identity and experiences growing in life with white parents and white privilege.
- Media
BuzzFeed News: “What A Black Woman Wishes Her Adoptive White Parents Knew”
An essay from the first person perspective of a Black transracial adoptee. The author discusses the racial dynamics in a family with transracial adoption.
- Adoptee Groups
Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families
Chinese Heritage Camp connects adoptive families with the cultural community, adoption experts, and families with shared experiences.
