- Birth Family Search
International Child Search Alliance (ICSA)
ICSA is an all-volunteer international group of adoptees and adoptive parents offering multiple sources of information to help adoptees from China search for their birth families. Advice is given on ‘Getting Started’, ‘Hiring a Searcher’, ‘Birth Parents Searching for Children’, and more. There is also How-To-Guides that include DNA testing, using the app WeChat, Joining a Province Search, visiting the CCCWA, and more.
- Media
One Child Nation (2019)
This film includes the various diverse perspectives on the one child policy that China implemented in 1980, from the people who carried out the policy to the people who fell victim to the policy. This film is for anyone interested in learning about one of China’s biggest and most impactful planning initiatives. It’s an eye-opening documentary to give new perspectives and understandings of the causes and effects of the policy.
- 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.
- Birth Family Search
Blue Bayou (2021)
A Korean-American man raised in the Louisiana bayou works hard to make ends meet for his family. However, he must confront ghosts of his past when he discovers he could be deported from the US and sent back to South Korea.
- 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.”
- Adoptee Groups
Adoptee Voices Rising
“Adoptee Voices Rising is an adoptee-led, social justice group that advocates for the adoptee community through political engagement and legislation.”
- 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
- Media
The Honestly Adoption Podcast: “What Are Post-Adoption Services And Why Do Parents Need Them?”
A 30 minute podcast where two adoptive parents host an interview and discuss the different post-adoption services that adoptive parents may need and how they can benefit by utilizing these services.
- Media
Therapy Chat: “195: The Trauma of Adoption”
This episode considers how attachment trauma can affect adopted children and adoptive parents. The hosts also discuss how adoption can change relationships within a family and between the family and their community.
- Media
Child Welfare Information Gateway: “Adoption and School”
“Landing page with links and resources for dealing with awkward questions/challenging classroom assignments when adoptees start schools.”
- Media
NCFA: Internships
A link that brings you to the NCFA Internship application. This is an unpaid internship located in Virginia.
- Media
NCFA: “How Adoption Will Be Impacted If Congress Passes These Four Bills in 2022”
“An article written in January on the four proposed bills (from 2022) that Congress was set to vote on regarding different adoption issues.”
- Media
NCFA: “Post-Adoption Services Acknowledging and Dealing with Loss”
“An article on the way Loss, Rejection, Guilt/Shame, Grief, Identity, Intimacy, and Mastery/Control, all impact the adoptee experience.”
- Race Education
The Conversation: “Explainer: what is casual racism?”
“An explanation of everyday and more subtle forms of racism and the microaggressions that racial minorities face.”
- Race Education
NPR: “Microaggressions are a big deal: How to talk them out and when to walk away”
“Podcast and interview with Kevin Nadal on microaggressions and how their impact is not “micro.”” Nadal also has his own website with books on microaggressions and other subjects.”
- Race Education
Vox: “What exactly is a microaggression?”
“This article describes microaggressions and how they go beyond everyday slights or remarks, as well as the negative impact they have.”
- Race Education
Dear Asian Youth: “Mocking an Asian Accent is Never Funny”
“First person piece on why mocking an Asian accent is never funny from the website DearAsianYouth.
This article talks about how mocking accents contributes to racism.”
- Race Education
NMAAHC: “Being Antiracist”
This article explains the ways in which racism exists (individual, interpersonal, institutional, etc.). It also provides simple exercises for people to engage with and examine their own perspective.
- Race Education
NPR: “Want to have better conversations about racism with your parents? Here’s how”
“An NPR article from the perspective of a biracial person with a white mother and father from West Africa.
It explains how to have more complex, understanding discussions about racism with your parents.”
- Race Education
BBC: “The pervasive problem of ‘linguistic racism'”
“An examination of the privileges native English speakers (and English speakers with a native accent) hold from a native English speaker’s perspective.”
- Race Education
Vice: “Why People Still Laugh at Asian Accents: An Investigation”
“An explanation of the racism involved when people mock Asian accents, and the way Asian accents are still laughed at today.”
- Race Education
MTV Impact: “If Microaggressions Happened to White People”
A 3 minute YouTube video highlighting the microaggressions people of color deal with everyday.
- Race Education
NPR: “How ‘Ching Chong’ Became The Go-To Slur For Mocking East Asians”
A short article on the history and prevalence of a racist slur used against Asian people.
- Race Education
NPR: “Microaggressions: Be Careful What You Say”
“An 8 minute NPR podcast that explains microagressions and how sometimes “”because people are good, moral – experience themselves as good, moral, decent individuals, they find it very difficult to accept the fact that they have been engaged in a discriminatory action, or may harbor racial biases that they have. And it violates, in some sense, their sense of being a good person.””
“
- LGBTQ+
NCFA: “Resources for Being an LGBTQ-Friendly Agency”
Same-sex headed families are increasingly becoming a part of the adoption community, so this is a short resource list of resources for being an LGBTQ-friendly agency.
- Media
NCFA: “What You Should Know About Choosing Adoption”
“This article has short drop down answers to FAQs relating to questions birth parents and parents looking to adopt may have about adoption.”
- Media
NCFA: “Being a Birth Mom Changed the Way I Parent”
A birth mom reflects on giving up her first daughter to adoption, and giving birth to two children after.
- Media
Adoption Network: “Understand Your Adopted Child”
“This article explains how adoptees have felt loss and experienced trauma. Every adoptee experiences things differently, and this author brings their own perspective.”
- Media
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.”
- Media
Twisted Sisterhood
“A podcast for birth moms, by birth moms. Ashley Mitchell and Kelsey Vander Vliet Ranyard have a decade between their adoption placements. They address raw and real emotions and experiences, and have other birth mom guests on the show to join in on the conversation.”
- Trainings
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.”
- Media
NCFA: “The Impact of Adoption on Teen Identity Formation”
This article explores the ways in which adoption can affect adolescents’ formation of identity.
- Media
NCFA: “Talking to Adopted Children About Birth Parents and Families of Origin: How to Answer the ‘Hard Questions'”
Things adoptive parents should know relating to discussion about an adoptees birth family. The author argues adoptive parents must be open to discussing these things.
- Media
Adoption: The Long View Podcast
“The host Lori Holden is an adoptive mom herself and her children are in contact with their both parents. Lori explores and examines all different aspects of being a mom and an adoptive mom. While not everything she mentions may be agreed with by all parents, her lived experience may resonate more with parents than a clinical standpoint.”
- Media
Creating a Family: “Helping Your Adopted Child Handle Adoption Microaggressions”
“Short article that identifies different variations of microaggressions that are particular to adoption. It also teaches strategies to instill confidence and coping strategies for children when handling microaggressions.”
- Media
NCFA: “Using Accurate Adoption Language”
” A short, introductory article on word replacement suggestions for words relating to adoption. Instead of words that may be considered inaccurate or inadequate, this article offers alternatives.
“
- Trainings
Adoptive Families Association of BC: Adoption Education Program Online
“The AEP-Online program is designed to provide prospective adoptive parents with a strong foundation of knowledge for caring for their adopted child. This program fulfills the legal requirements for adoption education in British Columbia. The AEP-Online Foundations takes place over 15 weeks and covers the legal, social, and emotional aspects of adoption. Because the program is online, lessons are taught through a variety of media and assignments can be completed at your convenience.”
- Media
American Adoptions: “The Truth About Adopted Adults and Relationship Issues”
“An article explaining that although not many studies have been conducted on adoptees and trauma, many adoptees feel they have relationship issues tracing back to their adoption.”
- Media
Vox: “Why adoption isn’t a replacement for abortion rights”
“When the leaked draft on Roe v. Wade was released, many people argued adoption would be able to replace abortion. This article discusses the shortcomings of this argument and rhetoric. Also, it details the long term consequences for birth parents and also adoptees as a result of separation.
“
- Trainings
NCFA: “Educational Webinars for the Adoption Community”
These webinars by the National Community for Adoption cover a wide range of topics: post adoption, school based support for adoptees, Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA), LGBTQ competency for adoption professionals, as well as financing adoption. They have a library of on-demand webinars designed to meet the needs of today’s adoption professionals and offer supportive education to adoptive families.
- Media
The New York Times: “Deportation a ‘Death Sentence’ to Adoptees After a Lifetime in the U.S.”
“An article on the lives lived by adult Korean adoptees deported back to Korea after US adoptive parents failed to attain citizenship for them. It talks about a problem that the US needs to urgently address: adoptees from abroad who never attained American citizenship.
“
- Adoptee Groups
Adoption Mosaic
“Adoption Mosaic’s vision is to build bridges with adoption communities for forward-thinking dialogue on adoption-related topics while offering support and education to those who are learning what it means to be a part of the adoption constellation.
The Adoption Mosaic mission is to connect, honor, and serve the adoption constellation through innovation in education, practices, and support services.”
- Media
The World I Live In: “I am a mother, grandmother and a birth mother”
A birth mother speaks on her decision to give up one of her children.
- Media
NCFA: “Is Anyone Out There?: Finding Support as a Birth Mother”
“A first person perspective from a birth mother on adoption, loss, and finding support after birth.
She explains the loss felt after placing her child for adoption, and how she found support by speaking with another mom experiencing the same feelings.”
- Media
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.”
- Media
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.
- Trainings
National Training and Development Curriculum (NTDC) for Foster and Adoptive Parents
“””The National Training and Development Curriculum (NTDC) is a new curriculum that is based on research and input from experts, families who have experience with fostering or adopting children, and former foster and adoptive youth. It provides potential foster or adoptive parents with the information and tools needed to parent a child who has experienced trauma, separation, or loss. It is a state-of-the-art classroom and online program that helps to prepare prospective foster and adoptive parents to be successful parents. In addition, the NTDC gives parents access to information and resources needed to continue building skills once they have a child in their home.
While not yet available, “The curriculum will be free and readily accessible to all states, counties, territories, child welfare agencies, tribal nations and adoption service providers in 2022.”
- Racial Identity
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.
“
- Racial Identity
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.
- Racial Identity
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.
- Racial Identity
Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition New York: “Racism and Microaggressions in Transracial Adoption”
“This page discusses racism and microaggressions that can be found in transracial adoption. It is part of a broader resource page on the above topic located on the Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition of NY website.
“
- Racial Identity
Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew
The book’s description is written by an adoptee herself. She discusses 20 things that adopted children may fear and want to discuss with their parents.
- Racial Identity
HuffPost: “10 Things Adoptees Want You to Know”
“An article written by an adoptee on the 10 things adoptees want you to know. While 10 things does not cover everything, the author touches on many relevant aspects and experiences that adoptees have.
“
- Media
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.”
- Race Education
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.
“
- Race Education
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.
- Media
Adoption Associates: “Openness in Adoption”
“A short article offering suggestions mainly to prospective adoptive parents, but also current adoptive parents. It includes topics such as birth families, the search and reunion process, and maintaining openness.”
- Media
Creating a Family: “A Dialog Between an Adoptive Parent and an Adult Adoptee”
“The article is an adoptive parent sharing concerns and how reading adoptee voices scares her. In this blog, an adult adoptee responds section by section and addresses these fears while still asking that adoptee voices be listened to. While short and only one viewpoint, still a good starting point for scared adoptive parents to read.”
- Media
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).”
- Race Education
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.”
- 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
“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”
- Media
AdoptUSKids: “Florida post-adoption support”
“A landing page for post-adoption support services available to families who live in Florida.”
- Racial Identity
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.
- Media
Vox: “Genes aren’t destiny, and other things I’ve learned from being adopted”
An adoptee speaks candidly about their experience being adopted, dealing with other people’s expectations, and the ways in which birth family connection is powerful, but not everything.
- Media
The Honestly Adoption Company
“The Honestly Adoption Company is fiercely committed to helping parents gain insight into their child, change their parenting approach, and in turn, transform their family.
Their podcast helps adoptive parents with children of all ages to better understand adoptees; however it is primarily focused towards those with adoptees under 16.
“
- Media
Who Am I Really?
” A podcast where adoptees of all different backgrounds discuss their adoption journeys and attempts at reunion with their biological families. Episodes are around 1hr long, and range from 30 min to 1 hr ½.
“
- Media
Adoptees On
“AdopteesOn is a Spotify podcast where adoptees discuss their lived experience in an open and vulnerable way. Episodes range from 40 min- 1 hr 30 min long.
Here is a List of different articles, books, and artists referenced in the podcast, and what episode they can be found in.
“
- 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.
“
- Media
The New York Times Magazine: “Why a Generation of Adoptees Is Returning to South Korea”
“A NYT article where a Korean adoptee explores the reasons and ways for South Korean adoptees to return to their birthplace. In addition to the article, there are 994 comments that provide anecdotes and first hand experiences and questions by adoptive parents and adoptees.
“
- Media
NPR: “‘Am I Asian Enough?’ Adoptees Struggle To Make Sense Of Spike In Anti-Asian Violence”
In this NPR article, adoptee voices take center, and different adoptees explain their complex feelings regarding anti-Asian violence and the different ways in which they are affected.
- Media
Los Angeles Times: “‘I’m not allowed to feel those things’: How adoptees experience anti-Asian hate”
A New York Times article on the complex ways Asian adoptees experience anti-Asian hate and racism as a result of their unique identity. Many adoptees in the article speak of how they felt tied to both cultures and/or neither.
- Media
Time: “My White Adoptive Parents Struggled to See Me as Korean. Would They Have Understood My Anger at the Rise in Anti-Asian Violence?”
An article in Time magazine about a Korean American adoptee’s thoughts on the title of “adoptee” and the racial dynamics in transracial adoptions.
- 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.
- Media
Considering Adoption: “5 Things the Spouse of an Adoptee Should Know”
This brief article by Considering Adoption touches on five different things spouses need to know and recognize. While not incredibly complicated or detailed, this article is a good place to start.
- Racial Identity
NPR: “The Parenting Dilemmas Of Transracial Adoption”
“This article touches on color blind parenting and how parents must acknowledge we don’t live in a colorblind society. It is a 37 minute listen on NPR and a short summary is provided.
“
- Adoptee Groups
Adoptee Mentoring Society
Adoptee Mentoring Society is an online mentorship community that values adoptee power, intersectionality, and a healing community. They offer online group meetings between adoptees, and 1:1 mentorship. Prices range from $10-$55 per session.
- Media
Adoptees On: “24 [Healing Series] How Do I Tell My Adoptive Parents I’m Searching?”
“A podcats on how to talk with your parents about searching for your birth family. The podcasts discusses how it’s mormal for adoptees to want to search, and the difficulties of allowing yourself to pursue that.
“
- Media
Adoptees On: “33 [S2 E10] Marni – A Model Reunion”
A hard and honest conversation, but ultimately heart warming and joyful reunion between birth mother and adoptee. The episode walks you through three guiding principles for a successful family reunion.
- Media
Two Adoptees Uncensored: “Listening to Adoptees”
“Christopher, identifies as a queer transracial adoptee born in Vietnam and was adopted at 1 year old. He reflects on growing up in a white family, and predominantly white community.
“
- Media
The Adoption and Fostering Podcast
“A podcast series that follows birth parents, adoptees, and different family members of adoptees (including grandmothers). It features conversations about contemporary adoption and fostering. Episodes are roughly 40-50 min long and involve first person expertise and experts on different subjects.”
- Media
NCFA: Stories
“The National Council for Adoption provides articles for and from adoptees, birth parents, adoptive parents, and expecting parents. “
- Media
Psychology Today: “Adult Adoptee Voices Are Changing Adoption Narrative”
“The article is written by a Korean transracial adoptee speaking about the Side x Side project where adoptees discuss their lives, relationships, and origins. It summarizes the project and talks about how even if adoptive parents think their relationship is great, it may be prudent to reexamine and ask honestly how their children are feeling
“
- Adoptee Groups
Asian Adult Adoptees of Washington (AAAW)
Asian Adult Adoptees of Washington is a group dedicated to providing support to Asian adult adoptees in the state of Washington.They provide a welcoming community to new and current participants, a mentorship program for youth adoptees called the Adoptee Mentorship Program (AMP), educational opportunities for Asian/Pacific Islander adoptees, awareness of issues adoptees face, and allyship to adoptees of different nationalities and communities.
- Adoptee Groups
American Adoptions: “How to Find Adoptee Support Groups”
An article by American Adoptions that support groups for adoptees, international adoptee support groups, support groups for adoptees of color, and for foster care adoptee support groups
- Adoptee Groups
Openly Adopted: “Adoptee Resources”
“Openly Adopted’s website contains a resource sheet with websites, blogs, podcast, mental health, and a list of communitites for adoptees. Their goal is to help bring the voices of adopted children to the forefront of the experience and cultivate a sense of belonging and community for those who struggle with and question their sense of identity.
“
- Adoptee Groups
Adoptees Supporting Adoptees
This is a support group for adoptees to come and share their stories and know they are not alone in their adoption journeys. It is an online community for all adult adoptees that emphasizes non-judgmental discussion.
- Adoptee Groups
I’m Adopted
This is an online community that provides a network for adoptees globally. They are based on Facebook and social media and provide resources, topics, and meet-ups for adoptees.
- Adoptee Groups
Navigating Adoption
“Navigating Adoption is an organization founded on Instagram to provide the adoption and non-adoption community a safe space to discuss adoption-related topics and issues. Their purpose is to serve the adoption community by providing a resource to open up about struggles and an educational platform for adoptees and non-adoptees.
“
- Adoptee Groups
Adoptation
This is a peer support group on Facebook for adult adoptees (intercountry and domestic) in Australia. The goal is to talk about experiences and create a safe space for adoptees.
- Media
Adoption Surrogacy Choices of Colorado: “Understanding an Adult Adoptee’s Emotions”
This blog discusses the contradicting emotions some adoptees may face. It provides an introduction to the complex feelings adoptees can experience.
- Media
The Guardian: “Stories of transracial adoptees must be heard – even uncomfortable ones”
Korean-American adoptee Nicole Chung touches on the way adoptees are expected to fit into the framework of white supremacy and which emotions are considered acceptable for adoptees to have. She discusses her own experience with the phrase “a good adoptee.”
- Media
NPR: “Adoptees express their fear, anger and insight on race during social unrest”
A news article that spotlights adoptees of all backgrounds and adopted families, as they explain how their identity has been shaped by social unrest and the ways it has impacted their family dynamic.
- Media
Healthline: “The Best Adoptee Blogs of the Year”
A list of different adoptees, their blogs, and what each one focuses on
- Media
Diary of a Not-So-Angry Asian Adoptee
“Christina Romo identifies herself as a Korean adoptee, mom, wife, and advocate. She details her life and internal thoughts on adoption, but also provides the perspective of a parent learning how to parent her biracial children.
“
- Media
Confessions of an Adoptee
This blog is a safe space for adoptees of all ages and situations to share their feelings, experiences, worries, fears, and dreams with others. Adoptees posts are anonymous.
- Media
A Chinese Adoptee’s Journey
A blog of an adult Chinese-American adoptee which explores her thoughts and feelings surrounding adoption.
- Media
The New York Times: “IDENTITY: When Parents Adopt a Child and a Whole Other Culture”
A New York Times article on how adoptee identity is a complex issue that is unique for each adoptee. It discusses how parents are not only adopting a child, but also their child’s culture.
- Adoptee Groups
Adoptees of South America + Extended Latin Americas (ASA)
The group is a peer centered group for adult adoptees from various regions of South America + Latin Americas. Our mission is to provide adoptees with space for connections, support and encouragement in any step of their journeys. Connections can be formed in monthly Zoom calls and a private Facebook group.
