Race and Adoption

I read with great interest an article the other day which noted that race should no longer be a key criterion for social workers seeking adoptive families for children in foster care in Great Britain, stressing that the priority must instead be to quickly find a child a new home. Issuing new advice to those working on adoptions, and dismissing critics including the National Association of Black Social Workers in the United States, Education Secretary Michael Grove, himself adopted as a child, is moving Britain closer in line to its European neighbors, who largely disregard a child’s ethnicity. What do you think?

Race and Adoption

In this week's Newsweek there is an article entitled "Raising Katie." Click here to read the article. It describes an African American family who have adopted a Caucasian child.

The family is very open about the racism they experience when they are out with Katie. The family is open with wondering if raising a child from another race is the best thing for the child. They do try to provide here with elements of her culture, but realize that there is only so much they can do. In this case, it certainly seems that Katie found the best and most supportive home regardless of the race of those involved.

Transracial adoption issues seem to run on a cycle, sometimes the overall opinion is "get the best family regardless of race" and at other times it is "find the best same-race family." There are arguments on both sides. And the comments section of the Newsweek article certainly shows that many are still debating this issue. What do you think?