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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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Korean American Adoptees (KAA)

The Korean American Adoptees Facebook group is a group for Korean adoptees to meet and discuss whatever topics they’d like. All members must be 18+.

CCI Birth Parent Searching and Reunion Group

This Facebook group aims to provide information, resources, and encouragement for adult Chinese adoptees who are seeking to find their birth family or are currently in reunion. They also have a confidential discussion forum for any questions or experiences that are wanting to be shared.

Parents of Boys Adopted From China

This is a closed Facebook group that is for adoptive parents of boys adopted from China. It is a place of support and connection for parents, as well as for those who are processing and waiting to adopt their own son from China. It is also open to college aged/older males adopted from China.

NPR It’s Been a Minute: “Joel Kim Booster on making a queer, Asian American ‘Pride and Prejudice'”

This is a podcast by gay Korean adoptee Joel Kim Booster (comedian and actor). This episode explores how the film Fire Island honors queer friendships, subverts heteronormative themes, and tells a story which feels universal.

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 based in New York City but have virtual meetings on zoom. They also have an events calendar for anyone who can or wants to attend. This is a parent resource for API parents who have LGBTQ+ children.

Asian American Health Initiative (AAHI)

The Asian American Health Initiative’s services can most apply to and benefit AAPI in Montgomery County. As a part of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, AAHI assists with many programs, projects, and activities. Within the webpage, you can find a good resource page with documents in many languages, a mental health provider directory, and information on their many other programs

William James College: “Guide for Parents of Asian/Asian American Adolescents”

From William James College Center of Excellence for Multicultural and Global Mental Health (CMGMH), this guide will most apply to and benefit parents of Asian/Asian American Adolescents. The guide and accompanying video is available in six languages. The guide covers the history of Asian-American Discrimination in the U.S, history of Asians fighting discrimination, why it’s important to talk about it, how to talk about it, and further resources.

Adoption Stories: Excerpts from Adoption Books for Adults

This book shows that adoptees are an assorted population with varying backgrounds. It argues that adoptees should be given the right to ask questions about our background and even gain access to our adoption documents when we inquire. They have the right to ask questions—even if it makes adoption agencies uncomfortable. This book, containing excerpts from Janine’s “Adoption Books for Adults” collection, is “completely biased on the rights of adopted people and void of influence from adoption authorities”.

Adoption Network: “How to Find Support Groups for Adoptive Parents”

This article explains the benefits of parent support groups for parents of adoptees. It includes a section on single parents as well as on couples, and provides a few starting links for those looking.

Adoption Support Alliance

The Adoption Support Alliance offers an Adoption 101 course designed for anyone considering growing their family through adoption. The class discusses different aspects surrounding adoption, including the logistics of both domestic and international adoption, how to deal with grief and trauma, birth family relationships, and more. The ASA also offers classes on ‘Race, Culture & Adoption’ and ‘Adoption Training for Church Communities.’

Child Welfare Information Gateway: “Preadoption Training”

“Different types of adoption training are available to help prospective and adoptive parents learn more about the different aspects of adoption. The Child Welfare Information Gateway has compiled a list of different trainings that may be required and are useful for parents looking to understand more about their child and their development. “

Holt International: “Parenting Adoptees”

Holt International is a Christian organization that offers programs including Post-Adoption Coaching & Education (PACE) and Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI). Both programs help parents to work with their children. Holt also provides resources on racial and adoptee identity, birth parents, and privilege and international adoption. All of these sections have links and videos designed to help parents understand their child.

America World Adoption: “Adoption Training”

America World Adoption is a Christian adoption agency offering ‘Anchored in Hope: Strengthening Adoptive Families’ which is designed to help families prepare for the placement of a child and to equip them to meet the unique needs of their child in a 10 hour curriculum. They also offer courses for preparing for after adoption with shorter training around 1 ½ hours. AWAA’s other resources include webinars and individual appointments.

Adoption Training Online

From the Children’s Aid Society of Alabama, several paid trainings are offered. There are Hague approved bundles. Trainings are various- spanning from domestic adoption, medical courses, and mental health

Gladney Center for Adoption: “Why Are Foster Care and Adoption Training Required?”

This article explains why foster care and adoption training is required. It discusses pre-service training, foster parent in-service training, post-adoption training, kinship-specific training, and more. The author also provides general advice about learning through parenting experience and how it is a journey.

Stuck (2013)

A documentary that follows four children from three different countries on their individual voyages from orphanages to their new homes with families in the United States. It explores the corruption and greed behind the adoption process as parents try to adopt kids but are blocked by outside efforts.

Unlocking the Heart of Adoption (2002)

This is an hour-long documentary which chronicles the filmmaker’s journey as a birthmother and reveal the personal storeis of adoptees, birthparents, and adoptive parents. A wide variety of perspectives on adoption are explored, including the connections between birth families and adoptive families.

No Hands But Ours: “Preparing for Adoption: A Family Therapist’s Perspective”

An article on preparing for adoption by Ashley Yeager, a family therapist and Trust-Based Relational Intervention Practitioner. She incorporates a spiritual feel, and explains different steps for prospective adoptive parents to take.

Lion (2016)

The extraordinary birth search family based on a true story. When a little boy from India gets lost on a train and taken thousands of miles away from home gets adopted by an Australian couple. With his unforgettable memories, his determination, and the online technology Google Earth, 25 years later Saroo sets out to find his first home.

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.

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

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.”

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 and provides a solid foundation for all prospective parents pursuing intercountry adoption.”

NCFA: “Positive Practices in Transracial Adoption Parenting”

“In the article, an adoptee suggests parents bring up the topic of adoption first and work with their children to understand their feelings.”

NPR: “White Kid, Black Family: Transracial Adoption”

“A Black father speaks about his and his family’s experience raising a white girl and transracial adoption.”

Rudd Adoption Research Program UMASS Amherst: “Promoting Adoptees’ Well-Being in Transracial Adoptive Families”

“An article with parenting suggestions designed to support and uplift transracially adopted children. It also contains a useful bibliography which features even more resources.”

NCFA: “The Adoptive Parent’s Responsibility when Parenting a Child of a Different Race”

“An article by the National Council for Adoption on the different ways adoptive parents can and need to support their children. This specifically discusses the issues, privileges, and challenges of adopting a child of a different race. “

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 short article perspective on the need for adoptive parents to educate their Chinese adopted daughters about racism, identity, and the reality of life in America.

“Raising Our Multiracial Family”

“A Black woman shares her story of raising her family of 4 children including one white, adopted son. Insta- @raisingculturesfamily , tiktok- @raisingcultures”

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.”

NACAC: “Transracial Adoption: Love is Just the Beginning”

“A first person perspective by Deb Reisner (North American Council on Adoptable Children member), mother to a family with a blend of African American, Native American, Latino, and European American races and cultures. She details the importance of listening to her children about their experiences with racism and family methods of externalizing racism.”

American Adoptions: “4 Unique Challenges Faced By Transracial Adoptees”

“An article on American Adoptions that examines 4 challenges that many adoptees will have to face (also included in race education).”

Angela Tucker: The Adopted Life

A workshop led by Angela Tucker, a transracial adoptee. Her website describes the workshop as the following: Adoptees of color who are parented by white people have different needs than their non-adoptive counterparts and are well-served by thoughtful attention to the intersectionality of race, culture and identity by all in their life – not just their parents. This workshop is fully customized and invites all of the people in that child’s life to come together for a 2-hour virtual workshop, facilitated by Angela. Families leave with a deeper understanding of how transracial adoptees grow through the development stages of racial awareness to racial identity, and practical skills for how to handle insensitive or racist remarks.

Children’s Bureau: “Parenting in Racially and Culturally Diverse Adoptive Families”

A PDF created by the Children’s Bureau and Child Welfare Information Gateway that explains relevant things adoptive parents should know, especially concerning transracial or culturally diverse adoptions.

Child Welfare Information Gateway: “Adoption by Family Type: Racially and Culturally Diverse Families”

“Landing page by Child Welfare Information Gateway with links to resources for adoptive parents looking for information on racially and culturally diverse adoptions. “

American Adoptions NEWS: “25 Helpful Resources for Transracial Adoptive Families”

A resource page with links to transracial adoption blogs and websites, books, FB groups, and more.