Defining Transracial Adoption in MO
Suppose you are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy but are afraid of considering adoption because of your child’s difficulties because of their identity. In that case, you can find solace in the fact that adoption is a process that you entirely control. You will be one to decide as to which family your child will live with, and you’ll be able to maintain contact with your child and their adoptive family if you wish.
Adoption in MO has been a growing option for many families across the US looking to create a bigger family or just start a family. As more people look to adoption as an option, transracial adoptions have also grown.
As a birth mother, it’s important to keep yourself informed of all the possibilities that could occur in your adoption process if you choose to pursue an adoption. This means you should consider the possibility of a transracial/interracial/multiracial adoption.
For help with adoption and pregnancy today, contact Adoption Choices of Missouri by calling or texting (816) 527-9800 or by filling out our online contact form. Our adoption specialists will be ready to help you make the best decisions for your adoption journey.
What is Transracial Adoption?
Transracial adoption, also known synonymously as interracial or multiracial adoption, is generally defined as when a family adopts a child of a different race. As mentioned earlier, adoptions in the US have been steadily increasing, which means transracial adoptions have also been increasing.
This shift in adoption dynamics means there are a lot of resources available to help you through your adoption journey. Your adoption specialist will also be able to help guide you so that you make the best decisions for your unique situation.
At Adoption Choices of Missouri, we work with domestic adoptions, which means that the adoptive family and the adopted child are from the same country. On the other side, there are international adoptions. As the name applies, this is when adoptive families adopt a child from another country. Both of these types of adoptions contribute to the growing number of interracial adoptions within the US.
Types of Adoption in Missouri
As a birth mother, you may be concerned about putting your child up for adoption because you fear they may lose some part of their culture or identity through adoption. This is a valid concern to have, but one of the ways you can alleviate stress about this is to consider the type of adoption you want. Each type of adoption depends on the level of communication you want.
If you want to maintain contact with your child and their adoptive family, you can choose to have an open adoption. Open adoption is where identifying information of both the adoptive family and birth mother is shared. Through this adoption, you can maintain aspects of your culture and help your child understand their identity.
If you wish to maintain contact but do not want to share identifying information, you can choose a semi-open adoption. The adoption agency typically facilitates communication between both parties in a semi-open adoption, but you can share aspects of your identity and culture through this type of adoption.
The last kind of adoption you can consider is a closed adoption. As the name implies, this type of adoption is where no identifying information is shared. This kind of adoption is a great option if you wish to remain anonymous. Through this kind of adoption, you can still maintain aspects of your race and identity because you’ll be able to choose the family you want your child to grow up with.
Benefits of Transracial Adoption
One of the benefits of transracial adoption is exposing yourself to a new culture, depending on the family you choose. Most waiting families are also ready to adopt a child that may not look like them, so you can be reassured that the family you choose will accept your child as they are with open, loving arms.
Another benefit to pursuing a transracial adoption is breaking down stigmas associated with transracial adoptions. The more people who choose transracial adoption, the more resources about transracial adoption will be available. In addition, it’s a great way to expose other people to the fact that transracial adoptions exist.
Ultimately, adoption is a choice to celebrate, whether it’s transracial or not. Adoption is a great way to create families and create lasting bonds between a child and their family.
Adoption Choices of Missouri serves birth parents statewide and beyond, please call us or text us to learn more! Call us toll-free at 877-903-4488 or, in Missouri call or text us at 816-527-9800
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.