A companion to What White Parents Should Know about Transracial
Adoption, this practical workbook guides readers to better understand
transracial adoption and do the work of anti-racist, trauma-informed
parenting.
A must-read for white parents who have transracially adopted or
prospective parents considering transracial adoption, this follow-up to
What White Parents Should Know about Transracial Adoption offers a
wealth of activities, templates, and questions for self-reflection.
Melissa Guida-Richards, who learned at the age of 19 that she was
adopted from Colombia as an infant, addresses the complexities of
transracial adoption with insight, compassion, and the wisdom of lived
experience. Through thought-provoking questions and activities,
Guida-Richards guides you to:
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Consider the role of infant-mother bonding and understand
developmental trauma in adoptees
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Understand the complex history of adoption; recognize illegal and
unethical practices, such as trafficking operations and baby
factories; and ask the important questions when working with adoption
agencies
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Look more deeply at implicit bias, white saviorism, and white
fragility
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Locate and utilize adoption-competent mental health care
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Offer culturally aligned education, community, and resources to your
child
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Acknowledge the effects of racism and celebrate your child's race and
culture
Throughout the workbook, Guida-Richards guides you to break free from
toxic positivity, understand and drop defenses, engage in difficult
conversations, and learn to listen to your child's experience. Whether
you are a potential parent considering a transracial adoption, a parent
of an adopted child, or a therapist or advocate working with adoptive
families, this practical and engaging workbook will help you "do the
work" of furthering anti-racist, child-centered, and trauma-informed
parenting.
