As interested and involved parents, we are always curious about research on the transracial adoption experience.  A recent study by the Evan B. Donaldson Institute examines transracial adoptee identity.  The study is quite long, but the "principal recommendations" and the "summary" are quite easy to read.
Click here for the study. Or to read the press release, click here.

This study on the adoptee experience provides us with opportunities to be proactive parents, doing our part to make the transracial family experience better for our children today and tomorrow.

One suggestion from the study is to educate parents about race issues.  We parents need a little help building our adoption and race toolkits. A group of FCC-SoCal parents recently watched and discussed WE CAN DO BETTER (the educational component to the documentary film ADOPTED).  The film explores many of the issues discussed in the Donaldson study.

Beth Hall (co-founding director of PACT, an adoption alliance - www.pactadopt.org)) spoke in the film sharing her expertise. She shared that we parents must talk about race. We need to strive to be a close family, even through the tough stuff like race. She reminds us to take advantage of these rich opportunities to be a strong and close family. We need to take the lead and talk about race. "When you adopt a kid of color, you become a family of color."

The Donaldson study also strongly reminds us parents to find ways to empower our children and to help them find comfort with their race/ethnicity.  Consider becoming more active within the FCC-SoCal community.  Check out the good things that are going on for children and their parents within China Care.  Enjoy joining and attending an upcoming Organization of Chinese Americans event as a family.

As always, let us know if you would like to add your energies big or small to the FCC-SoCal community.

A Happy Holiday Season to you.

Jodi Wilf
Interim Co-Chair