ABSTRACT
Transracial adoptions refer to children from one racial background who are placed for adoption with families of a different racial background. Transracial adoptions involve the placement of ethnic minority children with White adoptive parents. Transracial placements remain controversial, as many suggest that if systemic obstacles to adoption by minority families were addressed, transracial placements would not be needed. Barth and Berry suggest that "the majority of transracial placements are with foster parents who have privileged legal status for adopting children in their home". While some previous outcome studies on African American children adopted by White families suggest that adoptive parent satisfaction and adjustment do not significantly differ from inracial adoptions. Issues associated with the match between adoptive parents and child, transition planning, behavioral issues of the children, and abusive behavior of these adoptive parents seemed to impact the outcome of these transracial placements. The records were totally void of any discussion of cultural issues and the impact of transracial adoptions.
