Transracial Child Adoption in USA

Transracial Child Adoption in USA

Introduction

Transracial child adoption is a term used in US for adoption of Black children by White people. It is gaining pace in USA (Lee 2003). The people are getting positive towards transracial child adoptions. It is because culture of USA is changing. The American attitude towards race is changing. People are trying to eliminate racial boundaries. Transracial adoptions are a step in the direction of eradicating the mentality of “us-vs-them” (Payne 1998). The government has also enforced laws related to this type of adoption. The Adoption Antidiscrimination Act of 1995 introduced by US senator McCain is an order issued to the states to prevent any delaying for transracial adoption (Mullins 1996). The states that have been observed to violate the order have also been fined (Hansen and Pollack 2007). The US Intercountry adoption statistics indicate that California, New York, Texas, Minnesota and Illinois are the states to have the most adoptions from the year 1999 to 2012 (Inter-country Adoption 2012).

The personal intention of the adoptive families is in favor of adopting a white child. This tendency is indicated by the figures as mentioned in the next paragraph.

The following numbers represent online profiles of families who have adopted children. It shows what races they are open to adopting:

88% would 'accept' a White baby33% would 'accept' a South American or Hispanic baby28% would 'accept' an Asian baby14% would 'accept' a Black baby

This is almost the same for international adoption as well. Black children are adopted by only 7% of internationally adopting parents, with most prospective adoptive parents preferring to adopt a child of Asian or Eastern European descent (Howertin 2012).

Black children have to wait quite long before getting adopted. According to the Californian adoption agency, many families refuse to adopt a change of color. If while filling the adoption paper work, the family mentions to be open with respect to any race, they are matched with a child of color. However, celebrities are inclined towards adopting black children. This is perhaps because they are accustomed to racial diversity in LA and NYC. This is also because of their extensive travelling. The reason is also the existence of ample means which enable them to meet the requirement of the children such as cultural and social ones.

It is of consideration whether transracial adoptions are in the benefit of the children of color. Being beneficial, to what extent these adoptions contribute towards the well being of the children. What are the laws pertaining to these adoptions? How effective are the procedures and laws of adoption? Sometimes the states do not follow the rules. At other times the adoption agencies create trouble. The state laws are very essential from the perspective of ensuring a secure family for children of color and other children of minority groups.

The following chart indicates Adoption statistics of USA- Research 4.19.2013 (Development of Health and Human Services --Statistic Brain).

Adoption Type Breakdown

Percent

Percent of adopted children that lived with their birth family before adoption

43 %

Percent ...