In response to:

>last I remember, AA (or bi-racial) infants were still a small minority of infants placed for adoption.

This has changed dramatically. 43% of all infants adopted privately are now African American. And for the most part they are placed transracially. (National Adoption Information Clearinghouse statistics)

Why? Many AA families cannot afford the high fees often found in private adoption and many Caucasian families cannot afford the atrocious fees charged (I've never seen a fee less than $20,000 and I've recently seen fees in the high $30's. Many people are willing to pay a huge fee for a Caucasian child even when the child is known to have been born FAS/FAE or exposed to all manner of drugs.

Since the advent of the adoption tax credit fees have gone up anywhere from $5000 to $15,000 with the justification that "well it's not really that much, deduct the $10,000 off." Many families that adopt don't qualify for the tax credit as they either don't make enough or have enough deductions that they pay few taxes.

In the state system the numbers are even higher. Over 83% of the 500,000 children in foster care are minorities. Once relative adoptions, step parent adoptions and direct foster care adoptions (where the child goes directly into a foster home that later adopt him/her), LESS THAN 10,000 adoptions occur from foster care IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY!!!! (National Adoption Information Clearinghouse statistics)

Many families give up on adopting from the the state system after years of frustrating efforts and adopt internationally. In my experience it seems only those who cannot afford to adopt from the state stick with it long enough to be successful.

Twice we've given up on the state system even though we're a transracial couple and transracial family seeking to adopt a larger (four or more) sibling group, and within days we had our two boys. We're again working on the domestic foster care system. We've been matched with a sibling group of four AA sisters with some major issues. At the last hearing the case worker failed to file ANY documentation needed, failed to show up and failed to tell the children's lawyer that there was an identified adoption family ready to go. When I spoke to the lawyer she was very surprised, as she'd been told we 'might want' to adopt the girls, but weren't particularly 'keen' on adopting the 1/5 year old so she should stay in temporary care. As a result, we're now fighting a guardianship order which would leave the baby in long term foster care without being adopted.

With private adoption, each person involved in the process adds their fees on top of the person before. So you get a situation where birth mom needs two months rent/groceries prior to delivery, usually at some horrendous fee/month. I had one situation where the agency wanted $1500 every TWO weeks for birth mom. The lawyer than adds anywhere from $1500 to 4,500 in fees for himself or herself. Then along comes the agency for anywhere from $7,000 to $10,000, then add in a facilitator who charges anywhere from $1500 to 8500 (depending on the race of the infant, lower for AA infants, more for Hispanic, more still for Asian, and hugely more Caucasian infants) and on it goes..

If it goes to another agency, and it usually will for AA infants the next agency adds on a chunk more.. I know of one agency here in Utah that adds $10,000 into EVERY situation no matter what the expenses actually are, and justifies it as 'the cost of doing business'. Another agency I know keeps AA infants in foster care for two, three, or four or more months till someone comes along who's desperate enough to pay the $19,000 or more (plus foster care) and legal fees.

There is no national standardization of what 'reasonable fees' are for private adoption.

There's no incentive in state care for social workers to move children into adoptive placements.

There's very little in resources for families who take on children with extensive emotional issues so the disruption rate can be very high.

There are NO LAWS about 'piggy backing' (the layering of fees one on top of another).

There are very few programs to assist African American families to adopt AA infants at lower costs and the few programs that exist often have long waiting lists and actually aren't that low cost anyway.

There is little regulation about exchange of information about children in either private adoption or state adoption and agencies routinely withhold vital health information about a child's background.

My son died 17 years ago because I was NOT told that he was born addicted to heroin. First time he tried 'recreational drugs' he was hooked and we had no preparation for the extent of the physical addiction. He died as a result, stoned on Cocaine and knifed to death in a racially motivated incident. Because his killers were 'white', under 18 and sons of a Judge and a Police officer they were never charged in that incident.

Unfortunately, racism is alive and prospering in adoption, both state and private. And not enough of us make the time in our lives to do anything to change it.

Anyone who's interested can join us at EthicsInAdoption at Yahoo Groups. We're hoping to collect enough people with motivation to actually begin to work for changes in both systems. We also share information, primarily about domestic adoption, ethical and unethical agencies and facilitators and 'marketing agents'. If you're interested in these issues, browse to the EthicsInAdoption homepage and sign up. You will be asked to share what your interest is prior to joining. In addition, if you are associated with an agency/business we need to know that as well prior to joining. We truly don't want anyone using this group to cause trouble for families working for change.

My invitation to all list members if you're NOT part of the solution, you ARE part of the problem. Racism will continue in adoption until WE (the adoptive families) make the frying pan too hot and change has to happen.

If each list member on this group, did ONE THING each day towards improving either the private adoptive system or the state adoptive system, and continued to do that for three years, the amount of racism that exists would be much more limited than it is today. This is my personal belief.

As long as adoptive parents keep paying the high fees the agencies will continue to charge them. As long as adoptive parents passively allow these things to continue, they will continue.

respectfully

Deedee