Transracial and Intercountry Adoptions: Cultural Guidance for Professionals

418 Pages·2016·4.141 MB·English

by  Rowena Fong (editor), Ruth McRoy (editor)

T R A N S R AC I A L

AND
I N T E R C OU N T R Y
A D O P T I O N S
Cultural Guidance for Professionals
EDITED BY
ROWENA FONG AND RUTH MCROY
TRANSRACIAL AND
INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTIONS

Transracial and
Intercountry
Adoptions
CULTURAL GUIDANCE FOR
PROFESSIONALS
Rowena Fong and Ruth McRoy
editors
columbia university press(cid:18)new york
columbia university press
Publishers Since 1893
New York Chichester, West Sussex
cup.columbia.edu
Copyright © 2016 Columbia University Press
All rights reserved
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Transracial and intercountry adoptions : cultural guidance for professionals / edited by
Rowena Fong and Ruth McRoy.
pages cm
Includes index.
ISBN 978-0-231-17254-7 (cloth : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-0-231-17255-4 (pbk.) —
ISBN 978-0-231-54082-7 (electronic)
1. Intercountry adoption—United States. 2. Interracial adoption—United States.
3. Intercountry adoption—United States—Case studies. 4. Interracial adoption—
United States—Case studies. I. Fong, Rowena. II. McRoy, Ruth G.
HV 875.5.T73 2016
362.734089—dc23
2015017338
Columbia University Press books are printed on permanent and durable acid-free paper.
This book is printed on paper with recycled content.
Printed in the United States of America
c 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
p 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Cover design: Rebecca Lown
References to websites (URLs) were accurate at the time of writing.
Neither the author nor Columbia University Press is responsible for URLs
that may have expired or changed since the manuscript was prepared.
to all transracial and intercountry
adoptive families and children.

contents
foreword(cid:18)IX
acknowledgments(cid:18)XI
introduction(cid:18)1
Rowena Fong, Ruth G. McRoy, and Ann E. Schwartz 1
one
(cid:2)
Overview of Intercountry Adoptions(cid:18)19
Rowena Fong, Ruth G. McRoy, and Hollee McGinnis
two
(cid:2)
Legal and Policy Issues Affecting Intercountry Adoption Practices(cid:18)38
Karen Smith Rotabi and Carmen Mónico
three
(cid:2)
Legal and Policy Issues Affecting Transracial Adoption Practice(cid:18)69
Ruth G. McRoy, Amy Griffin, and Hollee McGinnis
four
(cid:2)
Interculturally Competent Practice with Gay and Lesbian Families(cid:18)90
Devon Brooks, Doni Whitsett, and Jeremy T. Goldbach
five
(cid:2)
A Neurodevelopmental Perspective and Clinical Challenges(cid:18)126
Bruce D. Perry, Erin Hambrick, and Robert D. Perry
six
(cid:2)
Ethnic Identity Formation(cid:18)154
Ellen E. Pinderhughes, Jessica A. K. Matthews, and Xian Zhang
viii contents
seven
(cid:2)
Mental Health Issues(cid:18)193
Amanda L. Baden, Jonathan R. Mazza, Andrew Kitchen,
Elliotte Harrington, and Ebony White
eight
(cid:2)
Medical Issues(cid:18)237
Dana E. Johnson and Judith K. Eckerle
nine
(cid:2)
School Issues(cid:18)274
JaeRan Kim and Beth Hall
ten
(cid:2)
The Need for Adoption-Competent Mental Health Professionals(cid:18)315
Debbie B. Riley and Ellen C. Singer
conclusions(cid:19)359
Rowena Fong and Ruth G. McRoy
list of contributors(cid:18)371
index(cid:18)383
foreword
two of the world’s leading authorities on adoption, Drs. Rowena
Fong and Ruth McRoy, have coedited this impressive volume, which
focuses on two significant and controversial contemporary issues: transra-
cial adoption (the domestic adoption of children whose racial or ethnic
background does not match that of his or her adoptive parents) and inter-
country adoption (the adoption of children across national lines, regardless
of race or ethnicity). This work draws on the extensive research experience
and broad social work practice experience of coeditors Fong and McRoy, in
combination with the expertise contributed to specific chapters by a veri-
table “who’s who” of other researchers and practitioners who are leading
figures in the world of transracial and intercountry adoptions.
Readers will find that the volume is both evidence based and accessible.
Authors come from disciplines that include social work, sociology, psychia-
try, pediatrics, and psychology (clinical, counseling, developmental) and
work in diverse applied settings serving children and their families. The
research cited in their chapters reflects the authors’ multidisciplinary back-
grounds and the growing interdisciplinary nature of the field of adoption
research and practice. The authors present and critique existing research,
while noting the significant gaps in our current knowledge base. Students
and researchers looking for underresearched topics will find that many
opportunities await them.
Chapters focus on the needs of children (e.g., mental health, medical,
ethnic identity, developmental, from neurobiological to social) as well as
the contexts in which children grow up, especially their families, schools,
and communities. Children’s needs and vulnerabilities are explored in the