3 Tips for an Interracial Adoption
Adoption is a growing trend in the US, but there are still plenty of myths and stigmas surrounding adoption and the birth parents who choose an interracial adoption. At Adoption Choices of Oklahoma, we want to break down these stigmas to make information about an unexpected pregnancy and adoption more readily available.
One of the stigmas surrounding adoption is that a “real” family is one that is biological, and that is simply not true. Family is made by creating and maintaining a healthy relationship, even if you are not biologically related to your child. As such, an interracial adoption is possible and should be something you should consider if you are looking to place your child up for adoption.
At Adoption Choices of Oklahoma, we want to provide as many resources as possible for you to consider when choosing adoption for your baby or just to research different ways to handle your pregnancy.
What is an Interracial Adoption?
While researching adoption and the choices you will have to make while creating your adoption plan, you may have come across the term “interracial adoption,” and you may be confused about what this could mean since adoption has many different terminologies associated with it.
An interracial adoption, also known as transracial adoption, is when parents of a different race adopt a child. While many people frown at the idea of a different race taking care of their child, you should realize that there are probably a lot more similarities between you and the waiting family than you realize.
Like them, you are waiting for the perfect opportunity to provide your child with a loving family, and chances are, the waiting family you choose, even if they are of a different race, are more than happy and excited to welcome your child in their life.
Consider the Type of Adoption You Want
The first tip in considering an interracial adoption is deciding upon what kind of adoption you want. During the adoption process, you will work on an adoption plan with your adoption specialist, which is where you will decide on the level of communication you want with your child post-adoption. The type of adoption you want is dependent upon the amount of communication you want.
If you wish to remain anonymous after you have given birth and do not have contact with your child, you can choose to have a closed adoption. This means any identifying information from both parties will not be shared.
If you wish to have some form of contact with your child, like updates on their life, you can choose to have a semi-open adoption. As the name implies, this type of adoption is one where you will know who the adoptive parents are. Communication between both parties may or may not exist in this type of adoption.
The last type of adoption is open adoption, and as the name implies, this is where communication between the birth parent, child, and adoptive family is open. There are no barriers to communication between the parties, and this is a great option if you wish to be more involved.
The important thing to understand is that there is no right answer as to which adoption type is the best. Instead, you should be thinking about which adoption type best fits your needs, and your adoption specialist will be able to help you decide.
Be Open About Your Wants and Needs
While going through the adoption process, it may be easy to forget that your wants and needs are just as important as your child’s. As such, when you make any big decisions in your adoption plan, you should think about how it may impact you in the future.
You should also communicate clearly to your adoption specialist about what you want your future to look like because as much as your adoption specialist knows you and your situation, they cannot read your mind. Thus, you should make sure that you are clear in how you communicate with your adoption specialist so that they can create the best adoption plan for you.
If you are in need of pregnancy-related resources, such as financial assistance, make sure to be open about it because that is the only way the adoption specialist can provide these resources. Your adoption specialist will be able to help you receive financial aid if you need it, and if you need resources such as counseling or support groups, your adoption specialist may be able to connect you with local resources.
Your wants and needs are as valid as anyone else’s, so you should make an effort to communicate with others about it so that you can get the help you need.
Communicate With the Adoptive Family
Of course, an interracial adoption is not always easy. Your child will grow up looking different from their parents, and they may get a lot of questions about it, but interracial is a great way for your child to grow in a diverse home. Growing up in an interracial family is also a great way for your child to get understand their own identity early on so that they grow up to be accepting and respectful of other cultures.
It may seem daunting even to consider an interracial adoption, but the important thing to understand is that you always have the chance to get to know a family better by contacting them. More times than not, you’ll find that they are just like you and that they want to give your child the best life possible.
If you choose to have an open adoption, you’ll be able to communicate with the family about tough issues like identity. Being open to talking about these issues provide your child with a great support system as they navigate a life of diversity. In addition, being open about these issues is a great way to destigmatize adoption and interracial families.
Adoption Agencies Near Me
While navigating through the world of adoption, you may be a little overwhelmed, and that’s okay. There is a lot of information about pregnancy, and at Adoption Choices of Oklahoma, we want to be able to provide you with information and resources that adoption can be an option for you.
Adoption Choices of Oklahoma is a private adoption agency, licensed by the state of Oklahoma and a leader in the adoption community. We have been assisting birth parents, children, and adoptive families in Oklahoma for over 19 years. Our staff members are committed to providing an ethical, empowering, and personalized adoption experience to all involved in the adoption process. If you are currently in the process of adopting a baby and have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact us.
Toll-free: 800-898-6028 | OKC Local: 405-755-1999 | Tulsa Local: 918-447-7777 | Text: 405-201-6643 | Email
Meet the author: Victoria Chan is a sophomore at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and she is currently a Literature, Media, and Communications major. She currently runs her own blog, where she shares her poetry and creative writing projects. When she is not working or studying for school, she is often reading or writing, as she seeks to pursue a career in writing.
