How easy is it to adopt interracially in America?

Question

if you are a white woman, early-mid twenties with a white husband and a 2 year old biological child, how easy is it to adopt an African American or Mexican child in America? If approved for adoption, will it take longer to find a child of Mexican descent or African American than it would a Caucasian child? And if you have a biological daughter and think she would do best with a sister can you request a certain gender? We are interested in eventually overtime adopting an African American child and a Mexican child in the states. Will this be much more difficult?

Answer 1

There are an abundance of newborn African American children for adoption.  You could be fast tracked if that is what you are interested in.  You can certainly request a certain gender, but the wait may be longer.  I've included a link to one site that is always looking for families open to AA/Mixed race infants.

Answer 2

It is no more difficult than any domestic adoption.  Regarding gender -- Some agencies do not allow you to pre-select the gender of the baby you hope to adopt, and others do.

IT IS A MYTH....that there's an abundance of African American babies for adoption.  Fifteen years ago, yes!  Now - not at all!  ALL races of infants have many adoptive parents hoping to adopt them.  This is one of many POSITIVE changes in adoptions!  Another?  The OPENNESS that is now standard in adoptions.

Answer 3

In general it is almost impossible to adopt a Hispanic baby. In the hispanic culture they don't  give up their babies unless the baby stays in the family. Usually the extended family helps the mom raise the child. Adopting from Texas and California usually increase rates. I live in WA state I am half hispanic and every agency told me it would be impossible or a long wait for a hispanic baby as stated above. For an African American baby the wait is less especially if you don't care about the gender but can wait and get your requested gender. Good luck in your adoption journey

Answer 4

In domestic adoption (private  adoption) the birthmom usually picks the parents and she can chose any race. It is not hard to adopt an african american baby - however with any child you want to make sure you can give them a healthy supportive environment to grow up in. A mexican child can be a little harder because culturally adoption is more taboo in the hispanic community, so mexican parents may be less likely to make an adoption plan. However, there is no real barrier for this type of adoption. Most agencies prefer you don't specify gender because you usually match before the birth, and the gender is often unknown.

Rather than specifying a gender and race it makes more sense to be open to as many potential situations as possible, then you'll appeal to more birthmothers and have a better chance of being chosen.

If you adopt through the foster care/child welfare agency (these are older kids who are usually abused or neglected) I think they do try to place with same race families as possible.

Answer 5

"Easy" probably isn't the right word, but it is certainly not more difficult than any other adoption. There are some additional layers to your homestudy - they will question why you want to adopt transracially, your attitudes towards race, your experiences.  Is your neighborhood/church/circle of friends and family ethnically diverse? How will you handle the racism your child and your family will undoubtedly face? Most importantly, what will you do to ensure that your child has personal role models of their own race, and exposure to their own culture?

Most agencies will not let you request a specific gender. Some do let you, but most do not. It's something that could definitely increase your wait significantly - a lot of people find it, well, offensive. It gives the appearance of trying to find the child you want to fit into your family, rather than being the family that the child needs.

Some transracial adoptions have a shorter wait - simply because there are so many fewer people who open themselves up to full AA.

More important than the wait times is making sure you understand all of the issues involved.

Some great books:

Inside Transracial Adoption

Black Baby White Hands: A View from The Crib

Twenty Things Adopted Children Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew

The Primal Wound

In Their Own Voices: Transracial Adoptees tell Their Story

In Their Parents Voices

Good luck to you!

Answer 6

i don't know if it is more difficult or not, but i wouldn't think it is... i have a friend that has 3 biological children, and has 3 mixed children she and her husband have adopted

Answer 7

With the exception of Native American children, it is not difficult to adopt transracially.  Your homestudy and pre-adoptive education should include information and exploration of your feelings of racism, cultural education and awareness and the many, many other challenges that come part and parcel with transracial adoption.  

Adopting Native American children falls under the Indian Child Welfare Act and there are specific laws governing this.

Answer 8

I don't believe it is any easier than any other adoption.  If you foster children, and are willing to adopt a child rather than infant, that can make placement faster, and cheaper. If you want to adopt an infant, most adoptions are open now, and the birth mother chooses the adoptive parents.  So, it all depends on the birthmother. My hub and I looked into adoption through Lutheran Social Services, and through them, you can state you are open to all races, or just your specific race, but that doesn't mean you will be chosen any quicker if you state you are open to all races.  For a typical couple it can take 1-2 years on average, and the cost is quite high, anywhere from $25,000-$30,000 for a domestic adoption.

Answer 9

If you are adopting from the foster care system and are willing to adopt a child who is not an infant, it should not be difficult at all.  Infants will be more difficult as they are less often available.