Transracial Parenting & Cultural Diversity

Opportunities for Transracial Families & Adoptees

Recordings from the popular Understanding & Supporting Transracial Adoptees with engaging transracial adoptee presenter Isaac Etter and Inside Transracial Adoption with Isaac & his adoptive mom, Julie, available now in ORPARC's library (ebook indicates video)!

NEW! Transracial Adoptive Parenting Research Study - for Parents, Social Workers & Supervisors! Raffle prizes include copies of the new A Buffalo Out of Water by Jeff Dunn and Marie Discovers Her Superpowers by adoptee Dr. Chaitra Wirta-Leiker! Questions? Email researcher Ivelisse Jalil, MSW at ivelisse.jalil@capella.edu. Thank you BIPOC Adoptees for your consultation!

Join adoptee Isaac Etter's monthly Tuesday evening Q&As for transracial parenting families - FREE for ORPARC families!

Transracial Parenting Classes and more with Adoption Mosaic plus numerous other resources - FREE for ODHS families, including those out of state! Apply here!

Virtual Mentoring for Adoptees by Adoptees - FREE for Oregon adoptees ages 12+! Apply here! Use code: ORADOPTEE when registering.

Join adoptee April Dinwoodie's free monthly 3rd Thursdays Support Group for transracial parenting families.

Advocacy & Education

• Adoption Mosaic - adoptee-led, local to Portland Metro
• Angela Tucker, The Adopted Life, adoptee - local to Washington state - author in ORPARC's library
• Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon
• BIPOC Adoptees - adoptee-led, local to Portland Metro
• Black Parent Initiative - local to Portland Metro
• Dr. Chaitra Wirta-Leiker, Blog - transracial adoptee & adoptive parent psychologist - author in ORPARC's library
• Child Welfare Information Gateway
• The Color of Adoption: Who’s Reaching out to the Black Community?
• Embrace Race
• Families for Native American Children (Understanding ICWA, etc.)
• The Father's Group - Central Oregon area
• Harlow's Monkey
  • For Adoptees & For Adoptive Parents
• Identity Learning with Isaac Etter - adoptee-led - author & trainer in ORPARC's library
• Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO)
• Kidsave Embrace Project
• Latino Network - Portland area
• Mano a Mano Family Center - Salem area
• National Indian Child Welfare Association - located in Oregon
• NACAC - transracial parenting articles & resources
• Pact: An Adoption Alliance
  • Transracial Adoption
• Transracial Adoption Perspectives - Facebook Group
• Wreckage & Wonder

Camps

• Heritage Camps - national
• Kindred Matters - connecting siblings & families, Oregon-based
• Northwest Adoptive Families Association (NAFA) - Oregon-based

Culturally Specific Care & Support

ORPARC Directory of Foster Adoption Competent Providers, including BIPOC-specific!

• African Youth & Community Organization (AYCO)
• The Afro Village
• Arab American Cultural Center of Oregon
• Asian Health & Service Center
• Avel Gordly Center for Healing
• Therapy for Black Girls
• Chinese Friendship Association of Portland
• Chinmaya Mission
• Filipino Bayanihan Community Center
• Inclusive Therapists Locator
• India Cultural Association
• Islamic Social Services of Oregon State
• KEEP Support Groups for ODHS, Tribal-certified Resource or Kinship Families
• Kidsave Embrace Project
• Korean American Adoptee Adoptive Family Network (KAAN)
• Latino Community Association - Central Oregon
• Latino Mental Health Collaborative
• Lutheran Family Services
• National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color
• Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA)
• Native Hawaiian Data Book 2021
• Olalla Center Arcoíris Cultural - Lincoln Co.
• Russian Oregon Social Services - Ecumenical Ministries
• Self-Enhancement Inc.
• Slavic Community Services - Impact NW
• Tribal Resources - an ORPARC Tribal-specific Resource page series
  • Native Heritage
  • Parenting Native Children
• Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center
• WeRNative - fantastic wealth of resources for Native Youth by Native Youth!

Recommended Books & Articles

Cultural Diversity/Transracial/Interracial-related Materials in ORPARC's library and DIGITAL library, including Transracial Parenting Information Packet developed by ORPARC plus our new Culture Connection Collection thanks to the State Library of Oregon through a LSTA grant! A collection culturally & carefully curated to support kids of color in care, adoption, guardianship and/or kincare.

• The Blessings & Challenges of Interracial Adoption by 401st Prophet (faith-inspired)
• Celebrations, Holidays & Other Special Occasions - an ORPARC Resource page
• A Common (and Avoidable) Mistake Transracially Adoptive Parents Make by Dr. Chaitra Wirta-Leiker, adoptee & adoptive parent - author in ORPARC's library
• Cultural Humility Tip Sheet for Parents by NTDC
• Culture & Trauma by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network
• Doing Race, Family and Culture Through Transracial Adoption by Embrace Race
• Helping Children Thrive by Generations United
  • African American Grandfamilies
  • American Indian & Alaska Native Grandfamilies
  • Latino Grandfamilies
• How Racism Can Affect Child Development - an infographic by The Harvard Center on the Developing Child
• How to Honor Your Child's Birth Family by C.A.S.E.
• How White Parents Can Talk To Their Kids About Race by Caroline Bologna for Huffpost
• In My Skin by NACAC
• Inuit Custom Adoption by Jennifer Noah - author in ORPARC's library
• Learning How To Raise a Child of Another Race by Megan Cahill, guest adoptive parent writer for Boston Post Adoption Resources
• Love is Not Enough by Dr. Samantha Stein, Psychology Today
• Love is Not Enough by Embrace Race
• Maintaining Cultural Connections by Child Welfare Information Gateway - many articles!
• Parenting in Racially and Culturally Diverse Adoptive Families by Child Welfare Information Gateway
• Race and Identity in Transracial Adoption: Suggestions for Adoptive Parents by Nicole Callahan
• Racism and Microagressions in Transracial Adoption by Adoptive & Foster Family Coalition
• Raising Foster Children of a Different Race: A Guide for Foster Parents by City Ministries
• Straddling Two Worlds: Transracial Adoption & the Authenticity of Blackness by Angela Tucker, adoptee - author in ORPARC's library
• Supporting Racial Identity Development: One Therapist's Journey by Krissy Perry, M.Ed.
• Talking About Race and Racism by Joemy It-Gates and Wei Ming Dariotis
• The Realities of Raising a Kid of a Different Race by Karen Valby
• This Is What It's Like Part I, Part II and Part III by Dr. Chaitra Wirta-Leiker, adoptee & adoptive parent - author in ORPARC's library
• To the Foster or Hopeful Adoptive Parent Considering a Transracial Placement by Rachel Garlinghouse for Foster Care Institute
• Transracial Adoption by AdoptUSKids

Videos & Podcasts

• Adopting A Child of A Different Race? Let's talk by Susan Devan Harness (Salish-Kootenai Confederated Tribes), adoptee - author in ORPARC's library (video)
• Adoption in Interracial & LGBTQ+ Families with adoptee Tony Hynes - author in ORPARC's library on Adoption: The Long View Podcast
• Being Adopted With Amy Wilkerson on the Robyn Gobbel Podcast - author in ORPARC's library
• Creating a Family Podcast
  • Transracial Adoption: A Mom & Son Talk about What They’ve Learned with Isaac (adoptee) & Julie Etter, adoptee & adoptive parent - author in ORPARC's library
  • Transracial Adoption from the Eyes of Adoptee, Birth Mom, & Adoptive Mom
• Cultivating Roots in Families Who Adopt Transracially by Monique Jackson, AdoptUSKids MPLD fellow (video)
• Growing Up 'White,' Transracial Adoptee Learned to be Black with Chad Goller-Sojourner, by NPR (podcast & short article)
• The Hierarchy of Racial & Cultural Needs of Transracial Adoptees & Fosterees Part I by Dr. Chaitra Wirta-Leiker, adoptee & adoptive parent - author in ORPARC's library
• Isaac Etter's Adoption Story- Episode 1, 2, 3 & 4 - author in ORPARC's library (videos)
• Late Discovery & Transracial Adoptee Perspectives on Adoption by Adoption Unfiltered (video+transcript) - authors in ORPARC's library
• Parenting Transracial Youth by Dr. Chaitra Wirta-Leiker - author in ORPARC's library (fee-based course)
• Peer Support Strategies for Families in Tribal Communities Webinar by AdoptUSKids
• Positive Identity Formation and Community Connectedness for Children & Youth in Transracial Placements by NACAC (video)
• The Stories of LGBTQIA+ Adoptees of Color: A Mini Documentary by Zoe Seymore, adoptee (video)
• What is the Inclusive Family Support Model? by Amara (video)
• You Should Be Grateful: Talk About Adoption & Race with an Adult Adoptee with Angela Tucker - free course courtsey of Jockey!