Exploring barriers and facilitators for Black families seeking to privately adopt Black infants

Abstract

The adoption of Black children by White parents remains a controversial practice in both public and private adoption throughout the U.S. While research surrounding transracial adoption is plentiful, there is a lack of research that provides insight from Black adoptive parents and their experience with the private adoption of Black children.

This phenomenological qualitative study explored the barriers and facilitators for Black families seeking to privately adopt Black infants. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 potential or adoptive parents. The participants’ revealed barriers include the cost associated with adoption, lack of access to private adoption information, unethical adoption practices, negative experiences with adoption professionals, cultural incompetence in adoption practices, the impact of transracial adoption, and stigma about adoption in the Black community. Facilitators were access to the adoption community, access to adoption information, ethical adoption practices, fulfilling a need in the Black community, and advantages of adopting Black children. Using an Antioppressive practice framework, we discuss implications for adoption professionals to evaluate practices that improve diversity, equality, and equity in private adoption.