Adopting outside of your race?

[wildrose]

I would actually be interested to know if Russia allows this as they have become quite restrictive in the last few years. And of course the draw of Russia for international adoption is that they have white children so they would mainly be used to seeing white adoptive parents. I actually saw a story on CNN a couple of days ago about a Russian delegation from their Children's Services coming to a ranch in the states that treats foreign adopted children with autism, RAD, FAS and the like to check on the children, which the adoptive parents were none to pleased about. I don't think there is anything wrong with adopting outside your race. If you can give a child who doesn't have one a good home I think that is wonderful, but I would actually do some research before you get your heart set on Russia to make sure that they would allow it.

[east93]

I would actually be interested to know if Russia allows this as they have become quite restrictive in the last few years. And of course the draw of Russia for international adoption is that they have white children so they would mainly be used to seeing white adoptive parents. I actually saw a story on CNN a couple of days ago about a Russian delegation from their Children's Services coming to a ranch in the states that treats foreign adopted children with autism, RAD, FAS and the like to check on the children, which the adoptive parents were none to pleased about. I don't think there is anything wrong with adopting outside your race. If you can give a child who doesn't have one a good home I think that is wonderful, but I would actually do some research before you get your heart set on Russia to make sure that they would allow it.

Oh yes, I agree.
I know they're quite strict in a sense, I've been looking around but haven't found an answer as of yet.

[joyfulmomto8]

We have two precious little boys that we adopted from Kenya. We were blessed that through my husband's work, we lived in Kenya for two years. There is a great need for so many children in Kenya. WE had prayed for years before we even knew that we would be in Kenya about adoption, and it was always something we felt called too. Once in Kenya we knew God had put us there for more than hubby's work Levi and Isaiah are now 4. They know they are different than us (the color of their skin) but we celebrate that God made us all different, and all for his glory! We have LOTS of Kenyan decor in our home, paintings, and all the beautiful hand carved art. My boys know and are proud to be from Kenya, but they identify theirselves as Americans It is just something you "weave" into their lives... their culture (reading children's books about the country,looking at pictures, incorporating art work, and talking about the culture)....

[ashley of lovelock]

I think people underestimate that even a child in your own ethnicity may not look like you. We never had a preference for what "type" of child we were willing to adopt, so when our son was born (full hispanic descent) it was just how it was. I am even half hispanic, and we don't like a bit alike. Now that we are adopting again (we also had bio kids before and after adoption, who look like little they are from Sweeden they are so blonde!) we don't have a preference this time either. I think if it matters to you, do not open yourself up just to get placed quicker. I would never try to pretend our son is anything but full hispanic, and we are so proud of his background. We are also will to handle all the people, comments, and misunderstandings that come with it. There will be lots of opinions for sure, so you have to be 100% sure you are ready to deal with them before they come! Best wishes!

[pippi777]

I'm not adopted, nor have adopted. But I have worked with families that have adopted children from other countries. One was from Russia (adopted 2 boys), and I've worked with at least 4 or 5 families (and known several others) that have adopted children from Ethiopia. I think it's awesome! In each case, the parents, and myself, have tried to bring things from the culture they're adopted from into their lives quite often. Yes, they're growing up in the US, but it's still important for them to know the culture they're coming from, too! For the ones from Ethiopia, the mom's and I have spent hours (online, asking hair stylists, mom's we've seen whose children's hair seems well taken care of, etc.) trying to figure out how best to care for their hair, products, styles, etc., etc., etc.

I would LOVE to adopt some day! If a child needs a home, they need a home. It doesn't matter what country the adoptive parents are from!

[mamamaassy]

The one thing you may need to keep in mind is that sometimes it's actually quite difficult to adopt outside your own race. Adoption agencies like to place children with families that have something in common - whether it be race, religion, language, or even having lived in the same country... they want to see some sort of connection. Now obviously, there's a lot of exceptions to the rule (i.e., if you're a major celebrity, none of the above seems to really apply) but that is generally how it works.

My husband is Egyptian, so if we chose to adopt (a possibility) we would be placed ahead of the pack if we were interested in an Arab child, as he is also fluent is Arabic. Egypt, coincidentily, does not allow adoptions outside of the country - there's been 1 reported in the last 20 or so years.

I have friends who are caucasian and Spanish... and just adopted a little girl from China. Their nudge facotor was that the mom is fluent in Mandarin.

So if you're really serious about adoption, it's important to look into things like that - even if it means learning a whole new language (which I actually highly reccomend for everyone anyways. It's so awesome).