Transracial and transcultural domestic adoption

Adoption is a beautiful journey that creates families through love, resilience, and commitment. As more families embrace transracial and transcultural domestic adoption, it's crucial to understand what these terms mean and how they shape the experiences of both adoptive parents and adoptees. 

What is Transracial and Transcultural Adoption?

Transracial adoption refers to the adoption of a child of a different race than the adoptive parent(s), while transcultural adoption goes a step further, often involving a child from a different ethnic, linguistic, or cultural background—even within the same country. In the context of domestic adoption, these differences often emerge in the United States when white families adopt Black, Latino, Asian, or Indigenous children.

These types of adoptions have grown over recent decades, particularly since the 1994 enactment of the Multiethnic Placement Act (MEPA), which prohibits delay or denial of adoption based on race or ethnicity.

Challenges of Transracial and Transcultural Adoption

While all adoptions come with unique dynamics, transracial and transcultural adoptions carry additional complexities, particularly related to racial identity, cultural preservation, and social integration. Here are key challenges adoptive families may face:

1. Identity Development for the Child

Adoptees may struggle with racial identity, especially if their adoptive family lives in a racially homogeneous area. A child’s ability to form a strong self-identity often depends on having exposure to their birth culture and role models who share their racial or cultural background.

2. Cultural Preservation

Preserving a child’s cultural heritage isn’t just a nice gesture—it’s a responsibility. This includes understanding cultural norms, participating in community events, and incorporating language, music, traditions, and even cuisine from the child’s birth culture.

3. Confronting Racism

Transracial families often encounter racism or intrusive questions from strangers. Adoptive parents must be proactive in educating themselves and their children on how to navigate racial bias, and be strong advocates for them in schools, communities, and society.

4. Belonging and Connection

Adoptees sometimes feel caught between two worlds—never quite fully belonging to their adoptive family's culture or their birth culture. Parents should support open conversations about race, adoption, and identity from an early age, using tools like books, therapy, and community support.

Best Practices for Adoptive Parents

To foster a healthy environment, here are evidence-based recommendations for families involved in transracial or transcultural adoption:

• Educate Yourself: Read books, attend workshops, and follow voices of adult transracial adoptees.
• Build Diverse Communities: Seek out multicultural spaces, schools, and neighborhoods that mirror your child’s identity.
• Celebrate Differences: Incorporate your child’s cultural background into daily life and family traditions.
• Talk About Race Early and Often: Silence can send the wrong message. Children need language to express their experiences.
• Connect With Birth Families (when possible): Open adoption arrangements can provide the child with access to their cultural roots and a more complete identity.

Real-Life Impact: Stories from Adoptees and Parents

According to research, many adult adoptees wish their families had done more to engage with their racial and cultural identities. On the other hand, families who embrace diversity and maintain cultural ties report stronger bonds and more resilient children.

Transracial and transcultural domestic adoption is a deeply rewarding journey, but it demands ongoing reflection, cultural humility, and intentional parenting. By prioritizing a child’s racial and cultural identity, adoptive families can help their children thrive—not just survive—in a world that still grapples with difference.