African American children may account for 15 percent of the U.S. child population, but they represent a disproportionate 32 percent of the 510,000 children living in foster care.
They are also less likely to be adopted, according to the Adoption Institute’s May 2008 study “Finding Families for African American Children.”
Buckner Foster Care and Adoption is reaching out to families of all races to encourage them to adopt children of color.
Two upcoming information meetings, held at Buckner Children’s Home, 5200 S. Buckner Blvd., Dallas, will help families learn more about the needs:
• June 19 from 7 to 9 p.m. for families interested in foster care, foster-to-adopt and CPS adoptions of children of all races/ethnicities. Meeting located in the Calabria Building Rm. 203. RSVP required. Contact Kim Naleid at 214-321-4530.
• June 23 from 6 to 9 p.m. for families interested in domestic infant adoption for children of all races/ethnicities, but especially for children of color. Meeting located in the Calabria Building. Pre-application and RSVP required. Contact Sharon Hedrick at 1-866-236-7823. Details at www.beafamily.org.
“Many of the children we see available for adoption, through foster care and through domestic infant adoption, are African American,” said Rachael Daugherty, Buckner Adoption caseworker and community coordinator.
“But the majority of families open to adopting children of color are Anglo.”
According to a 2004 U.S. Census Bureau report, 17 percent of U.S. adoptions are transracial, meaning a child’s race or ethnicity is different from that of his parents.
Melanie and John Avent of Waxahachie, Texas adopted children Gracen, Ross and Easton through Buckner. Though the Avents are Anglo and their children are biracial and African American, they’ve formed a family bond stronger than most through open communication, diverse family relationships and love.
“This is our normal,” Melanie said.
“God created them and He wanted them to be who they are. He wanted them to have brown skin and dark curly hair and brown eyes. And he wanted their mom to have white skin and straight hair and blue eyes. They are what children between me and John look like. And I think they’re beautiful.”
Critics of transracial adoption think that it robs children of their racial identity.
But Daugherty said that adoption research indicates children adopted across racial lines “will still thrive. It really depends on how parents help their child to adjust to challenges and to fully embrace their culture and racial heritage.”
Buckner Adoption offers many educational opportunities for families adopting across racial lines, which includes everything from ethnic hair care to answering your child’s tough questions about their racial identity, Daugherty said.
“Our ultimate goal is to place children in permanent, loving families,” she said. “It would be ideal for a child to grow up in an environment where they won’t have to deal with these tough questions. But what’s most important is finding families for children who need them.”
To learn more about Buckner Foster Care and Adoption, visit www.beafamily.org.
