Race, Identity Formation, and Adoption

All adoptions are transcultural, given that every family has its own unique culture. However, for children who are adopted into families of a different racial or ethnic background, the losses are compounded. The impact of these losses is often seen as youth enter their teens and young adulthood, forming identities separate from their families. In this course, participants learn about the importance of and strategies for ensuring that children and youth have every opportunity to grow up secure in their connection to their community of origin, and with insights about forming healthy identities for themselves.

Ashley Westerman – Freelance Reporter/Producer
Derek Hamer – Student, Eastern University
Kim Stevens – Program Manager, North American Council on Adoptable Children
Ramya Gruneisen – Missouri Refugee Wellness Program Officer, United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, and Adjunct Professor, School of Health Sciences, Lindenwood University

Course length: 84 minutes

After completing this course, professionals will be able to:
• Describe potential impacts of transracial adoption on adoptee identity.
• Express the importance of creating a culturally aware, empowering environment for transracially adopted children.
• Give examples of strategies that equip prospective adoptive parents to parent a child of a different race or culture, both pre- and post-adoption.

Course level: Beginning
Cost to register: $15

If you are a NCFA member, look for your discount code in the membership portal.

Updated on 5/5/24.