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Transracial adoption, especially the adoption of black children by whites, is a deep and divisive social issue. Critics note the untapped potential for black families to adopt black children and the unaddressed conditions that bring black children to higher incidence of foster care placement. They emphasize the inability of white parents to adequately develop black children's racial identification and promote skills for surviving in a racist society. They also note the need to deal with issues that bring minority and poor children into foster care in the first place. Supporters argue that the number of black children available for adoption far exceeds the pool of black adopters and note the lack of empirical evidence suggesting that transracial adoption harms minority children. They emphasize the harm done to children who have extended stays in foster homes awaiting placement with black families. A significant yet often overlooked aspect of transracial adoption is the history of deep-rooted racial tension between blacks and whites. Some ethical considerations to examine include the values of equality of opportunity for children versus community, interracial community versus multiculturalism (community preservation versus integration), and a child's individuality versus racial/ethnic community. (Contains 14 references.) (SM)

This paper looks at three parties impacted by adoption: the adoptive parents, the adopted child, and the adoptive family. When working with adoptive parents, counselors should respect the strength of the couple, their commitment to parenthood, and the closeness that may develop from weathering the issue of childlessness. Adoptive parents are encouraged to feel a sense of entitlement to their adopted child, to not reject or criticize birth parents, and to accept the differences between adoptive and biological families. Behaviors of adopted children include the need to be perfect, fantasies bout their family of origin, and feelings of grief and loss. Successful adoptive families work at acknowledging their differences by participating in family building, practicing equality, realizing the salience of adoption, and maintaining open communication on the subject of adoption. Two techniques for counseling with adopted families are discussed. These include the brief solution focused therapy model employed by the Center for Adoptive Families, and the therapeutic tool of the adoption story. It is important to realize that adoptive families seek counseling services with problems and concerns similar to other families. By ignoring the adoption issues the counselor may contribute to the silent and mysterious influences adoption issues have on the family, or may be ignoring a potential avenue to growth and change. (Contains 22 references.) (ADT)

As part of a series of reports designed to support the implementation of Proposition 10: The California Children and Families Act and to provide comprehensive and authoritative information on critical issues concerning young children and families in California, this report examines the current situation for children who have been maltreated by their parents and who are served by the child welfare system. The report provides background information on the current design of the state's child welfare system and data on the numbers of children affected by maltreatment. The report also describes how young children are disproportionately affected by child maltreatment and how their unique vulnerabilities are exposed and often exacerbated by the system. Some of the problems currently affecting child welfare are described, and a series of innovative program approaches are offered that suggest alternative service designs that are now being implemented for young children. The report asserts that Proposition 10 commissioners have the opportunity to offer both financial assistance as well as a fresh perspective on the developmental needs of young children and the factors associated with healthy development, and thus can have a positive impact on truly disadvantaged children. Finally, the report argues that by focusing on preventive services for vulnerable families, catalyzing coordination among existing service systems, and targeting service delivery to the critical transition points in children's lives, the developmental trajectory of many youngsters may be improved considerably. The report's two appendices list useful organizations and experts and identify child welfare funding sources in California. (Contains 111 references.) (KB)

In this paper, an overview of children's psychological processes is presented within the context of adoption, foster care, or other type of placement which requires the child to develop the coping skills necessary to continue toward optimal growth psychologically, cognitively, and socially. Findings from a research review indicate that children raised in loving, caring, secure, consistent, and stable environments have a greater probability of developing socially, psychologically, physically, emotionally, and morally. Further, when alternative placements are necessary, if the child is placed in an appropriate setting the probability of the child achieving optimal growth through the developmental stages is greatly increased, provided that there is a sense of permanency. The probability of optimal growth is contingent on the willingness of the new primary caregivers to provide a safe and loving environment. Children faced with an uncertainty in their placements, whether long-term foster care or questionable placement with a biological parent that is subject to change, were found to have an increased probability of social maladjustment over their adopted counterparts. Regardless of the placement decision, the report finds that the earlier a permanent placement is determined, the better the chances for the child's adjustment. (Contains 33 references.) (CR)

Counseling psychologists have yet to study the counseling needs of transracially adopted children. The intent of this paper is to present a model that increases understanding of possible adaptations of transracial adoptees. Race and culture of adoptees, parents, and that reflected within the community in which the family resides are all highlighted as critical in conceptualizing the unique needs and experiences that transracial adoptees may bring to counseling. The model proposes that transracial adoptees' cultural identities are composed of both racial group cultural identity and the cultural identity of their parents, and that transracial adoptees' racial identities are composed of a combination of their own racial identity and that of their adoptive parents. In addition, an individual may have a unique cultural adaptation that is qualitatively different from that of the parents and the racial group. The model as diagrammed has two axes, a cultural identity axis and a racial identity axis. Future research might address the psychological adjustment and sense of well-being of transracial adoptees across all cells of this model. (Contains 3 figures and 39 references.) (Author/SLD)

Transracial adoptions continue to occur in the United States, despite a long-running debate over the effects on the self-esteem and racial identity of adoptees. It is important for counselors to understand the needs of transracial adoptees in order to support such individuals in the process of identity development. A review of the literature was conducted to determine factors fostering healthy racial identity and self-esteem in transracial adoptees. The results of the review showed that the factors that tend to promote racial identity and self-esteem in adoptees include: living in a multiethnic community, attending desegregated schools, having adoptive parents with a strong acceptance of the child's ethnic heritage, and regular exposure to individuals sharing the child's ethnic background. Research shows that transracial adoptions can be successful in meeting the needs of transracial adoptees if the right conditions are present. Most available research on transracial adoption has been conducted in metropolitan areas. The status of transracial adoptions in primarily rural, white communities is still unknown and needs to be addressed before formal recommendations are proposed and implemented. (Author/KW)

In 1970, as part of an effort to meet the needs of black children waiting for adoption by two-parent black families, the Chicago (Illinois) Child Care Society launched a longitudinal study of the growth, development, and family life of transracial adoptees (TRAs), or black and mixed-race children adopted by white families, and inracial adoptees (IRAs), or black and mixed-race children adopted by black families. This document reports the results of interviews with 35 TRAs and 20 IRAs and their parents when the children were 17 years old. It was found that: (1) the rate and type of adoptees' developmental problems were similar to those found in the general population; (2) the majority of adoptees had good self-esteem; (3) among IRAs, 83 percent said they were black, and among TRAs, 33 percent said they were black and 55 percent said they were of mixed race; (4) among TRAs, 73 percent lived in primarily white neighborhoods, while 55 percent of IRAs lived in primarily black neighborhoods; (5) TRAs had primarily white friends and IRAs had primarily black friends; (6) TRA females were more likely than TRA males to date blacks; (7) almost all TRAs knew of their adoption before they were 4 years old, while 80 percent of IRAs learned about their adoption after they were 4; and (8) a total of 83 percent of TRAs and 53 percent of IRAs expressed interest in meeting their biological parents. A list of 58 references is provided. (BC)

This report examines "permanency planning" and "special needs adoption" for children with disabilities, based on the experience of Project STAR in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Project STAR (Specialized Training for Adoption Readiness) was established in 1985 to provide support services for families of children with disabilities and to locate alternative family placement for children who cannot live with their birth families. Project STAR's adoption services fall into five categories: permanency assessment and preparation of child; family recruitment and preparation; family and child preplacement/placement; post-placement services; and post-finalization services. Factors accounting for the success of Project STAR's adoption efforts are outlined, such as offering support services responsive to the needs of adoptive families. Project STAR's permanency planning activities attempt to build or strengthen permanent and stable family relationships for children, and involve family preservation, family involvement with their children placed out of home, family reunification, and finding other permanent options. The policy context of children and youth services and mental health/mental retardation services in Pennsylvania is discussed. Policy issues that impact specifically on Project STAR's mission are then examined, and recommendations are offered. An appendix describes the methodology used in the policy analysis, and an executive summary is provided as a separate document. (JDD)

To illustrate the problems and possibilities in the adoption of older special needs children, two case studies based largely on informal interviews are presented. The case studies describe the experiences of two families, one of which adopted a mentally retarded 9-year-old boy with severe facial deformities while the other adopted an 11-year-old boy with a history of abuse and severe emotional and behavioral problems. The families' experiences are recounted from perspectives of: (1) the implied objective past, that is, the past that must have been and is remembered; (2) the symbolically reconstructed past, which redefines past events so that they have meaning and utility for the present; (3) the social structural past, which structures the experiences found in the present and conditions the future; and (4) the mythical past, which refers to symbolic creations used to manipulate social relationships. The families' experiences were also examined in the context of postmodern theory, which sees individuals as having an absence of reflection on the past and a perceived inability to control the future. Letters from the two families that describe reactions to their adoption experiences are included. The case studies show that without the benefit of a shared past for families and adopted children, the connecting of past, present, and anticipated future can be problematic, leading to misunderstandings and disruptions in everyday life. (AC)

Study compares adolescents living with neither biological parent with their peers on a wide range of outcome measures. Results reveal some overall disadvantages of living with neither parent, although the disadvantages relative to nontraditional families are limited. Differences in family resources either partially or completely account for outcome differences between nonbiological parent and other family structures. (Contains 32 references and 5 tables.) (GCP)

The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes of the general public with regard to the acceptability of adoptive parents changing their minds and returning an adopted child who, after placement, had severe behavior problems. Results revealed that only 23% believed parents should be permitted to return an adopted child when the child has severe behavior problems. (Contains 47 references and 2 tables.) (GCP)

Noting that the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) requires substantial changes in family court and child welfare casework practice that must be implemented by the states, this report documents the current child welfare situation in New York City and identifies the resources needed by the courts to maintain childrens safety and move children quickly into permanent homes. Following introductory remarks, the report provides background information on the federal legislation, the New York State Adoption Safe Families Act (NYS ASFA), the implementation of the Act in New York City, and the delayed disbursement of federal funds to address family court workload challenges. To obtain information for the report, the Citizens Committee for Children interviewed senior staff from several organizations with appropriate expertise, conducted a literature review, and surveyed family court judges and family court referees. Findings and recommendations are reported with regard to: (1) workload and the family court; (2) barriers to expedited permanency; (3) family court mental health services; (4) the complexity of petitions to terminate parental rights; (5) parents and the ASFA; (6) 18-B panel attorneys, law guardians, and ASFA; (7) testimony used during family court hearings; (8) Administration for Childrens Services (ACS) attorneys and ASFA; and (9) ACS caseworkers and ASFA. The report's five appendices include a glossary of relevant terms, guidelines for outcome measures, guidelines for permanency reviews, and data collection instruments. (Contains 49 references.) (KB)

Describes the evolution of the art therapy process at a U.S. six-week day camp for Russian children from orphanages. Art therapy helped address anxiety-provoking issues that the children faced. This paper explores cross-cultural issues, and the attachment disorder and PTSD symptoms that emerged, and demonstrates the importance of art as a healing agent. (Contains 13 references.) (GCP)