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African American pregnant woman cradles her belly, looking downIf you’re thinking about placing your baby for adoption, you have many choices to make. One important decision you will want to pray about is whether you wish to place your child with parents of a different race. You may wonder if a transracial adoption is right for you.
 
A transracial adoption, or interracial adoption, is when a family adopts a child of a race different from their own. Transracial adoptions are on the rise as families are becoming more diverse than they were in years past.
 
God’s family is made up of every tribe and nation, so it makes sense that adoptive families have the same. Adoptive families don’t need to have the same physical characteristics as their adopted child. Of course, it’s important to understand some pros and cons when choosing to place your baby with a couple of another race. Most of all, you want to find a loving, caring family to raise your child. Love goes beyond skin color and culture.
 
Here are some things to consider to help decide whether placing your child with a couple of another race is best.
 

Welcoming Cultural Diversity

Hopeful adoptive parents who choose transracial adoption are typically more open-minded culturally. They will teach your child to accept people and interact with people that are different from them. Since they live with diversity in their own family, your child will grow up with an appreciation of diversity that many kids don’t.
 

Social Acceptance

Because transracial adoptions are on the rise, your child’s family is likely to look more like other families your child knows. Many television shows depict transracial adoption since it’s so common today.
 

Healthy Identity

Children who grow up in a transracial family are often more racially aware than other kids their age. Of course, this can be challenging at times. Still, eventually, this awareness can give them a sense of identity and self-confidence in being aware of cultural issues beyond their peers.
 

Where Can I Find Adoptive Couples of a Different Race?

Lifetime Christian Adoption works with adoptive couples of many different backgrounds and ethnicities. When you make an adoption plan with Lifetime, you have control over every step in the process, and that includes choosing your child’s parents.
 
Hundreds of hopeful adoptive parents have profiles on our website. You can search for adoptive parents by race, religion, and more by using the search here. When you browse these online adoptive parent profiles, you can also read more about each family’s lifestyle, their home and neighborhood, their desire to adopt, and much more. You can also watch their adoption videos, giving you a better picture of the life they would provide for your child.
 

Considering Transracial Adoption

Remember, you are in control of the adoption process from start to finish. You are choosing an adoptive family who you think will best raise your child. After you choose your top two or three adoptive couples, your Adoption Coordinator at Lifetime will arrange for you to speak over the phone. During this call, you can ask the adoptive couple as many questions as you want about the topic of race.
 
Here are some potential questions you could ask the family:

  • What do you think about race and racial issues?
  • Are you ready to initiate the conversations with your child?
  • Are you prepared to listen to your child’s questions and thoughts about race?
  • Are you ready to learn from your child about what they’re experiencing?
  • Will you be comfortable talking about race, identity, and culture with your child?
  • What will you do to understand racial issues better?

As you decide if placing your child with an adoptive family of another race is right for you, remember to pray. God will give you the wisdom you need. And if you find the right family and they happen to have a different skin color, be confident that your child will be loved and grow up to be a happy, healthy adult.
 
To get started with placing your baby in a transracial adoption with Lifetime Christian Adoption, call or text us at 1-800-923-6784 today or request free adoption information.

Heather Featherston

Written by Heather Featherston

As the Vice President (VP) of Lifetime Adoption, Heather Featherston holds an MBA and is passionate about working with those facing adoption, pregnancy, and parenting issues. Heather has conducted training for birth parent advocates, spoken to professional groups, and has appeared on television and radio to discuss the multiple aspects of adoption. She has provided one-on-one support to women and hopeful adoptive parents working through adoption decisions.

Since 2002, she has been helping pregnant women and others in crisis to learn more about adoption. Heather also trains and speaks nationwide to pregnancy clinics to effectively meet the needs of women who want to explore adoption for their child. Today, she continues to address the concerns women have about adoption and supports the needs of women who choose adoption for their child.

As a published author of the book Called to Adoption, Featherston loves to see God’s hand at work every day as she helps children and families come together through adoption.

Read more about Heather Featherston