It is a point of fact that children of color are more likely to be placed in foster care and less likely to be placed directly into adoptive homes. Panelists—including a birth mother, adult adoptee, adoptive parent, and director of an adoption resource organization for birth parents—examine the significant but less-often discussed historical and cultural factors that contribute to this phenomenon and present findings of focus group discussions with young women who share their views on adoption and how we can reframe community perceptions and attitudes. Panelists share deeply personal adoption experiences and highlight how the complexities, decision-making, and emotions around adoption transcend generational differences.
Renee Alexander, PhD — Visiting Lecturer/Faculty Mentor, Cornell University
Laura Bruder — Former Executive Director, BraveLove
Paola Fusilier — Founder and Director, Pasadena Counseling Center, LLC
Jini Thornton — Adoptee and Adoption Advocate
Course length: 90 minutes
Course level: Beginning
Certificate type: This course offers a Social Work CE certificate
Credit type: Cultural Competency CE
After attending this course, participants will be able to:
- Recall common adoption myths, misperceptions, and narratives among communities of color.
- Explain the cultural and historical contexts among communities of color that may lead to adoption hesitancy.
- Give examples of strategies to help normalize adoption among communities of color.
Updated 12/5/25
National Council For Adoption, #1804, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 04/13/2023 – 04/13/2026. Social workers completing this course receive 1.5 cultural competency continuing education credits.
This course does not offer credit for NJ or NY social workers. More information on continuing education credits is available here.
