Trans Racial Adoption
...July 1, 2001, Vol. 46, Issue 3
Database: Academic Search Premier
CULTURAL COMPETENCE FOR TRANSRACIAL ADOPTIVE PARENTS
This article provides a clear conceptual definition of cultural competence for transracial--cultural adoptive (TRA) parents based on an extensive review of the literature and feedback from both experts and parents. Following the differentiation of cultural competence as defined in the social work literature and cultural competence as applied to TRA parents, a three-part definition of cultural competence for TRA parents is presented. The article expands on each of three constructs: racial awareness, multicultural planning, and survival skills. In addition, it describes the process of beginning to operationalize the constructs. Finally, implications for social work practice, education, and research are suggested.
Key words: cultural competence; multicultural planning; racial awareness; survival skills; transracial adoption
This article explores and defines the concept of cultural competence as it applies to parents who adopt across race or ethnicity. Typically, transracial adoptive (TRA) parents are European Americans who form their families with children who are members of a different racial or ethnic group by birth. This method of family formation has been debated vigorously, especially concerning the domestic adoption of African American or biracial children (Hollingsworth, 1998), and less often concerning international adoption of Asian or Latino children (Tizard, 1991). Although controversial, transracial or transcultural adoption accounts for an estimated 14 percent of all adoptions that take place in the United States (Smith, 1994). Of these, the majority are children who are adopted from countries outside of the United States, including Latin American, Eastern European, and Asian countries. According to U.S. Department...
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