Transracial Adoption: What Families Should Know Before They Begin

Choosing to foster or adopt a child of a different race is one of the most meaningful decisions a family can make. It is also one that calls for honest self-reflection, intentional preparation, and a willingness to grow in ways you may not yet expect. The love you bring matters deeply, and so does your commitment to understanding the unique experiences your child will navigate throughout their life.

At Let It Be Us, we work with agencies throughout the State of Illinois to recruit foster parents for traditional, specialized, emergency and therapeutic foster care. We also manage adoptive placements for children in Illinois foster care through our partnership with DCFS. Through that work, we see firsthand how families who prepare thoughtfully for transracial adoption build stronger, more connected homes. This guide brings together current research, federal data, and practical guidance to help you understand what transracial adoption involves and how to approach it with confidence.

What Is Transracial Adoption?

Transracial adoption refers to the adoption of a child by a family of a different race or ethnicity. In the context of foster care, this most commonly involves White parents adopting Black, Hispanic, or Native American children, though transracial adoption can involve any combination of racial and ethnic backgrounds. [1]

The term is sometimes used interchangeably with "interracial adoption," though professionals in child welfare tend to use "transracial adoption" when discussing the practice within the foster care and domestic adoption system. "Transracial placement" refers specifically to foster care placements where the child and foster family are of different races.

For families exploring adoption through foster care in Illinois, understanding this distinction matters. Transracial adoption is not simply about bringing a child into your home. It involves a lifelong commitment to supporting your child’s racial and cultural identity, navigating public perceptions, and learning alongside your child as they grow.

How Common Is Transracial Adoption in the United States?

Transracial adoption has grown substantially over the past two decades. According to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, transracial adoptions from foster care increased by 58% between 2005-2007 and 2017-2019, while same-race adoptions increased by 24% over the same period. The share of all adoptions that were transracial grew from 23% to 28%. [2]

White parents account for approximately 90% of transracial adoptions in the United States. [1] As of September 2020, approximately 407,000 children were in foster care, and 57,881 had been adopted that federal fiscal year.

The racial breakdown of children in foster care and those adopted reveals important patterns:

Source: Administration for Children and Families, AFCARS Report (2020)

Black children comprised 23% of all children in foster care in 2019 but represented only 18% of those adopted, indicating they are underrepresented among those who find permanent homes. This disparity is one reason transracial adoption plays an important role in finding families for children in care who are waiting for permanency.

The Legal Framework Behind Transracial Adoption

Several federal laws shape how race is considered in the adoption process. Understanding these laws provides helpful context for any family considering transracial adoption through foster care.

The Multiethnic Placement Act (MEPA) of 1994 prohibits state agencies and organizations receiving federal assistance from denying or delaying adoptions based solely on the race, color, or national origin of the adoptive parent or child. The law was designed to reduce the amount of time children of color spent waiting in foster care for same-race placements.

The Interethnic Provisions of 1996 strengthened MEPA by further restricting the use of race as a determining factor in adoption placements. Under this law, agencies that violate the provisions face financial penalties. [3]

The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) of 1978 provides specific protections for Native American children by requiring agencies to prioritize placement with relatives or within Native American communities. This law was enacted in response to a history of removing Native American children from their families and tribal communities.

Illinois foster care operates within this federal framework. While race cannot be the sole factor in placement decisions, agencies and families are encouraged to consider how they can meet the cultural needs of children placed in their care. Understanding the timeline and steps of the adoption process can help families prepare for what lies ahead.

What Research Says About Outcomes for Transracial Adoptees

Research on transracial adoption is extensive and, importantly, encouraging. A comprehensive review by the Child Welfare Information Gateway found that studies across age groups show no or little difference in the adaptation of transracial adoptees compared to children adopted by same-race parents. [4] Early studies similarly found outcomes comparable to same-race adoptions across multiple measures of wellbeing.

The research also points to clear factors that strengthen outcomes. Transracial adoptions tend to be most successful when:

• Children are placed at a younger age
• Adoptive parents actively facilitate involvement in the child’s birth culture
• Families live in racially integrated communities [4]

Peer-reviewed research published in the National Institutes of Health demonstrates that cultural socialization (parents actively promoting the child’s racial and ethnic heritage) positively correlates with racial and ethnic identity development and psychological adjustment. [5] This means the steps parents take to engage with their child’s cultural background are not optional extras. They are central to healthy development.

That said, outcomes are nuanced. Some research indicates that transracial adoptees raised in predominantly White environments, without same-race peers or role models, may face challenges developing a strong racial identity. [3] Adoptees who reported that their parents took a "color-blind" approach rather than actively engaging with racial heritage were more likely to experience identity confusion. The takeaway is not that transracial adoption is risky. It is that intentional, culturally responsive parenting produces better outcomes for everyone involved.

Challenges Families May Face in Transracial Adoption

Being prepared for potential challenges is a sign of strength, not hesitation. Families who go into transracial adoption with open eyes tend to navigate these situations more effectively.

Racial identity development. Children adopted into families of a different race may wrestle with questions about where they fit. This is especially true during adolescence, when identity formation accelerates. Transracial adoptees have described feeling "too brown to be white and too white to be brown," as one adoptee shared in an interview with the National Council For Adoption. [6]

Public perceptions and assumptions. Families that don’t look alike attract attention. People may stare, ask intrusive questions, or make assumptions about your relationship to your child. Adoptees and their families have reported being mistaken for couples rather than parent and child, or being questioned about why they are together in public.

Cultural competency gaps. Many adoptive parents are deeply loving but may not have the tools or exposure to help their child engage with their racial and cultural heritage. Two transracial adoptees interviewed by the National Council For Adoption noted that their parents were "equipped for adopting a child, but not a brown one" and that "there was not adequate training or education" at the time of their adoption.

Navigating racism. Your child may encounter racism, microaggressions, or bias that you have not personally experienced. Preparing yourself and your child to respond to these situations requires ongoing learning and conversation.

Grief and loss. Adoption involves separation, and that separation carries emotional weight regardless of the child’s age at placement. For transracial adoptees, the loss may extend to language, cultural practices, and connections to their community of origin.

None of these challenges are reasons to avoid transracial adoption. They are reasons to prepare well.

How to Build a Strong Foundation for Transracial Families

Federal resources, peer-reviewed research, and the lived experiences of transracial adoptees consistently point to the same set of practices that help families thrive. AdoptUSKids, a resource operated by the Children’s Bureau, outlines seven key suggestions. [7] Here is how to put them into action:

1. Talk with your family and extended support network. Before moving forward, have honest conversations with your family about what it means to become a multiracial family. Consider how your extended family and friends will respond. Your child deserves enthusiastic support from the people closest to your family, not just tolerance.

2. Find mentors and role models who share your child’s racial identity. Children benefit from seeing adults who look like them and can answer questions that you may not be able to. This is not about replacing your role as a parent. It is about surrounding your child with people who reflect their heritage and can walk alongside them through experiences you may not share.

3. Connect with racially diverse communities. Enroll your child in a diverse school if possible. Join community groups, attend cultural events, and participate in a faith community that reflects your child’s heritage. Make sure your involvement is ongoing, not limited to attending one annual celebration.

4. Keep conversations about race and culture going. Do not wait for your child to bring up questions about race. Use everyday opportunities to talk openly about culture and diversity. A song on the radio, a story in the news, or a character in a book can all spark meaningful conversations. Creating an environment where these topics feel natural helps your child feel safe exploring their own identity.

5. Acknowledge and prepare for racism. Racism is a reality your child may face even if you have not experienced it yourself. Educate yourself so you can help your child cope with and respond to prejudice. This is an ongoing process, not a single conversation.

6. Embrace new traditions as a family. Celebrate your child’s cultural traditions alongside your own. Cooking traditional meals together, learning phrases in your child’s language of origin, or exploring cultural centers are all ways to weave your child’s heritage into daily family life.

7. Consider adopting siblings. Keeping siblings together in transracial adoptions can reduce feelings of isolation and differentness. Brothers and sisters who share the same racial background provide each other with built-in companionship and a sense of belonging.

Explore educational events and webinars through Let It Be Us to connect with professionals and other families who are navigating similar journeys.

The Role of Cultural Socialization in Transracial Adoption

Cultural socialization goes beyond checking a box. It means actively promoting your child’s racial and ethnic heritage through education, social connections, and daily family practices. Research published by the National Institutes of Health found that cultural socialization predicts stronger racial pride and better psychological adjustment in transracial adoptees. [5]

What does this look like in practice?

• Deep engagement over surface exposure. Attending an annual cultural festival is a start, but it is not enough. True cultural socialization involves ongoing relationships with people from your child’s background, regular incorporation of cultural traditions at home, and honest conversations about what it means to be a person of color in America.

• Integrated communities. Families that live in racially diverse neighborhoods, attend diverse schools, and participate in integrated social settings give their children more opportunities to form a strong racial identity naturally.

• Ongoing education for parents. Cultural competency is not something you achieve once. It is something you build over time through continued reading, honest conversations, and a genuine willingness to learn from people whose experiences differ from your own.

In Illinois, all foster parents complete required LGBTQIA+ affirming care training as part of the licensing process. This training reflects the broader principle that caring for children from diverse backgrounds requires active, informed engagement rather than a passive "love is enough" approach.

How Illinois Supports Transracial Adoptive Families

Illinois offers meaningful resources for families pursuing transracial adoption through foster care. At Let It Be Us, we are an Illinois licensed child welfare agency, and our mission is to help families through the foster care and adoption process from first questions through placement and beyond.

Here is what Illinois families can access:

• PRIDE Training: All prospective foster parents complete 30+ hours of training, available in online webinar or self-paced formats. Let It Be Us connects families with the training resources they need to complete this requirement.

• LGBTQIA+ Affirming Care Training: This is a required training for all foster parents in Illinois, reflecting the state’s commitment to inclusive, culturally competent caregiving.

• The Heart Gallery of Illinois: In partnership with Illinois DCFS, Let It Be Us manages the Heart Gallery of Illinois. Families can browse narratives online to learn more about children and teens waiting for permanent families. When families identify a child they are interested in, our staff facilitates the next steps in the matching process.

• Pre-Licensing Coaching: We help individuals and families decide if fostering or adopting is right for them and guide them toward the right licensing agency based on their situation and preferences.

• Educational Events: Free webinars and informational events are available at www.letitbeus.org/events. These sessions cover topics relevant to foster care and adoption with no pressure and no commitment required.

• Extended Care Through Age 21: Illinois DCFS is one of the states that provides care to young people up to age 21, offering additional stability and support for youth in care.

We welcome all families. Single parents, LGBTQIA+ individuals and couples, and renters are all encouraged to explore fostering and adoption. Your background does not limit your ability to provide a loving home.

Starting Your Transracial Adoption Journey

If you are considering transracial adoption through foster care, taking time for honest self-reflection is a valuable first step. Before beginning the licensing process, consider whether:

• You have consistent time available for appointments and training
• Your household can adapt to changing routines, especially during the initial placement period
• You are willing to actively engage with your child’s racial and cultural heritage
• You can stay regulated and calm during behavioral challenges
• You have a dependable support network of friends, family, or mentors
• You are comfortable with ongoing home visits and supervision from agency staff

A realistic self-assessment at this stage helps you enter the process feeling grounded rather than overwhelmed. And if some of these areas feel uncertain, that is completely normal. Support is available at every step.

When you are ready to take the next step, there are several ways to move forward:

• Attend a free webinar to learn more about foster care and adoption in Illinois. No pressure, no commitment. Explore all further educational opportunities through Let It Be Us at www.letitbeus.org/events.

• Browse the Heart Gallery of Illinois to learn about children and teens waiting for families.

• Complete this form to begin your journey:https://letitbeus.org/become-a-foster-parent-form/

Let It Be Us is here to support you. Your foster care and/or foster care adoption journey can start today.

References

[1] University of Nevada, Reno. "Transracial Adoption: Statistics and Social Challenges." 2022. https://onlinedegrees.unr.edu/blog/transracial-adoption-statistics

[2] ASPE/HHS. "Transracial Adoption from Foster Care in the U.S.: Child Welfare Snapshot." U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/private/pdf/264526/MEPA-Graphical-Factsheet.pdf

[3] Hadley, Jessica M. "Transracial Adoptions in America: An Analysis of the Role of Racial Identity Among Black Adoptees." William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice. https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1532&context=wmjowl

[4] Feigelman, W. "What Works in Transracial Adoption." Child Welfare Information Gateway Library, 2000. https://cwlibrary.childwelfare.gov/discovery/fulldisplay/alma991001331489707651/01CWIG_INST:01CWIG

[5] "Cultural Socialization in Transracial Adoption." PubMed Central, National Institutes of Health. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2366972/

[6] Kwiatkowski, Emily. "Two Transracial Adoptees Share Their Life Experiences." National Council For Adoption, 2022. https://adoptioncouncil.org/article/learning-from-the-lived-experience-of-two-transracial-adoptees/

[7] AdoptUSKids. "Seven suggestions for a successful transracial adoption." Children’s Bureau, U.S. DHHS. https://adoptuskids.org/adoption-and-foster-care/how-to-adopt-and-foster/envisioning-your-family/transracial-adoption