encyclopedia of adoption

black adoptive parent recruitment programs

Programs designed to encourage black couples and singles to adopt children of all ages, from infancy through adolescence. Although black adoptive parents adopt at about the same rate or higher than white adoptive parents, there are greater numbers of black children in need of families.

Some social workers believe the social work system is dominated by whites who do not provide sufficient assistance to blacks interested in adoption. According to an article in Ebony magazine, blacks face numerous obstacles in their attempts to adopt, and as a result, "many begin the adoption process, become exasperated and then just forget about the whole idea."

ONE CHURCH, ONE CHILD is a program that recruits adoptive parents through black churches, with the goal of each church recruiting at least one adoptive family. This program was founded by Rev. George Clements, a Catholic priest who later adopted as a single parent.

Black children are disproportionately represented in foster care nationally and remain in foster care for a longer period of time than do children of other races.

Some adoption agencies concentrate on recruitment of black children. One example is Homes for Black Children, an adoption agency with affiliates in several cities. Some black organizations, such as the National Association of Black Social Workers and the National Urban League, have supported these recruitment efforts.

Despite outstanding efforts on the part of many black social workers, there are still large numbers of black children of all ages waiting to be adopted. Even though there are numerous black children awaiting adoption, there are some black social workers (and social workers of other races) who are adamantly opposed to TRANSRACIAL ADOPTION, while others believe it may be one solution to finding permanent homes for black children.

Some agencies and programs for black adoptions include the following:

Black Homes for Black Children
115 S. 46th St.
Omaha NE 68132
(402) 553-6000

Homes for Black Children
511 East Larned St.
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 869-2316

One Church, One Child
1730 West Chestnut St.
Louisville, KY 40203

One Church, One Child
1317 Winewood Blvd., Bldg. 8
Tallahassee, FL 32301
(904) 488-8251

Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Mostly I Can Do More Things Than I Can't (Chelsea, Mich.: National Resource Center for Special Needs Adoption, 1987).

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