There seems to be a lot of biracial children in the foster care system?

Question

Is this true? Me & my husband are interested in adopting a child through foster care but we know we're only interested in a biracial child because my bio kid is biracial and i think the Adoptive kid will fit in better (wont feel so different from the rest of the family).

I read that biracial kids sometimes grow up with identity problems (no matter how much love you give them) But given that me & my husband is together the Adoptive biracial child can still have both or their heritage

Answer 1

Children that are in the system already have one strike against them.  Being bi-racial can also be considered another strike.  Raised in a 'proper' environment they can learn to accept themselves in their own skin. It doesn't mean that they won't have their own battles with it or face racism but hopefully they will be able to overcome both issues.  

I will say though that being among similar ethnic groups could be positive for that child as they get an understanding that whatever ethnicity they are is great.  That does not mean that somebody outside of their ethnic group isn't capable but may take more 'work' should both parties be of parenting status.

Answer 2

Adopted children (whether biracial or not) "grow up with identity problems (no matter how much love you give them)".  Being separated from your parents and raised by strangers is hard.

There are a lot of biracial children all over the place - yes, even in the foster care system.  I'm not sure that - at least in America - you can find anyone who knows with absolute certainty that they are a "pure" race - in other words, we're pretty much all biracial (or tri- or quad- or whatever).

I think you're very smart to look at this from the adoptee's point of view.  It sucks royally to be out of place, to be different from those around you, and the more you look like the people around you, the less you'll have to deal with.  Unfortunately, because the child didn't come directly from you, s/he will still have identity issues.  

Please remember, though, that adoption is about finding families for children who need them, not a matching playmate for your child.  It could be very degrading for a child to find out later on that s/he was only chosen because of his/her looks (which might translate to "if I don't always look (small, cute, pudgy, skinny, etc.) then these people will stop loving me").  Please do lots and lots of research into adoption, from the adoptee's perspective, before going any further.  Some great reading:

Twenty things adopted kids wish their adoptive parents knew

Helping children cope with separation and loss

Journey of the adopted self

Toddler adoption: The weaver's craft

Answer 3

I type and I type is a voice of reason. And who would know best then someone who lived it?

Great question btw.

Answer 4

I don't know about the kids in foster care, but I did want to comment on the identity problems.

As a biracial person, I had some of those identity problems, mostly in my teens and 20s, but I eventually overcame them.

My parents didn't bring it up much because they were usually so involved in the day-to-day of running a family, they never had time to look at the big picture.  (In fact, it usually only came up when they were sniping at each other with us kids behind the other's back.  Mom might say, "You know, you're more [mom's race] than you are [dad's race], anyway" and vice versa, trying to win an ally, haha!)

I struggled with what I thought I should be until one day I realized I didn't HAVE to choose one identity over the other.  I'm just both.  Both heritages make me who I am, just as both my parents make me who I am.

Thinking you have to choose one race over the other is like thinking have to completely accept one parent, and completely reject the other...as though you can't have two parents.  Who says so?  Completely ridiculous.  Being free of that is like realizing an arbitrary line in the sand that people think is a boundary is really just an arbitrary line in the sand.  The boundary only exists in our minds.

Edit: After reading some of the other replies, I wanted to add that my personal solution certainly isn't the answer for everyone.  It is okay for a kid to identify more with one over the other, or with one exclusively, or to switch a few times.  Ultimately they just have to know they have the freedom to choose, and you'll love them no matter what...because that's what'll give them the strength to stand on their own in a world that will try to squeeze them into narrow categories.

Answer 5

I don't think there are more biracial kids in foster care then there are of any other race...

THANK YOU FOR LOOKING IN TO ADOPTION! You have no idea how much you will be helping the child you save from the h**l that is foster-care.

Kids from foster care tend to have issues because of their abusive pasts... Being bi racial has very little to do with it...

Just love them and accept them and let the dice fall where they may... You can't tell how a child will turn out... It doesn't matter if it is adopted or one you gave birth to...

Just be the best parents you can be... That is all you can do.

Answer 6

It would depend on where you live...I have quite a few bi-racial children on my caseload.....

Answer 7

There are a lot of biracial kids in the foster care system.  You can talk to agencies and ask for then to only pair you with multi-racial children.  some will do that.

Answer 8

this is the oddest thing i've ever heard.

Answer 9

Yes there are. Sadly someone who is mixed raced is considered a special needs adoption just for that fact.  It is true that mixed kids can have identity problems this can be blamed on society for wanting to force multiracial people to pick one racial category. It’s just like the One Drop Rule BS. Black + white does not = black, it = multiracial. Other mixes have similar issue like the Eurasians (white + Asian) though they don’t have the ODR.

There are some mixies who decided to self identify as one race but it should be their choice never should it be forced on them or they feel they have to go with it because of society.

I think your family could be a good place for mixed child even though monoraicals will never truly know what it’s like being mixed raced. Don’t have shame for wanting a child that could more physical fit into yoru family, that’s one reason a lot of people choose not to adopt transraically.

Alas the multiracial movement is trying to change this make it better and easier for the younger and future mixed kids.