Willingness to adopt black foster children: Implications for child welfare policy and recruitment of adoptive families

Little is known about racial disparities in adoption dynamics and pathways for foster children. Only a handful of studies have examined variables that could influence prospective adoptive parents' willingness to adopt children. But these studies generally have not focused on parent's willingness to adopt Black foster children - a disproportionate number of whom are available for adoption. This study responds to gaps in adoption and foster care knowledge and was guided by two broad questions: What are the differences between parents willing to adopt Black foster children and those who are not? What variables affect parents' willingness to adopt Black foster children? Subjects in the Study were 541 White adoptive parents participating in a longitudinal study of adoptive families. Data were collected using mailed questionnaires completed over the three waves of the study. Findings show that parents who are willing to adopt Black foster children differ notably from those who are not, particularly with regard to attitudinal factors impacting their decision to adopt and their experiences with adoption workers and agencies. Results of the study have important implications for child welfare policy and recruitment of adoptive families. These implications, along with those for future research, are considered.