enable African-American children to appreciate their culture of origin through living within a family of the same race and culture; (3) enable African-American children to learn how to cope with racism through living with families who experience racism daily and have learned to function well in spite of that racism; and (4) to break down the systemic barriers that make it difficult for African-American and other families of color to adopt.” (Smith 1994).Those who also opposed interracial adoptions believed that White families chose to adopt African-American children simply because of the shortage of healthy, white babies. White couples who were interested in interracial adoption viewed the adoption as a positive opportunity. The majority of couples looking to adopt did so because they couldn’t have children of their own. The National Association of Black Social Workers position forced child care agencies to examine their policies and helped highlight the inequalities in the child welfare system that did not give African-American equal access to African-American Interracial Adoptions6children. It also made agencies take into consideration the concept of the importance of maintaining the child’s culture and origin. Three studies were done to question the child care agencies. They are: (1) Barriers to Same Race Placement (1991), (2) Black Pulse Survey (1981 & 1993) and (3) Community Response to Children Free for Adoption (1984). The Barriers to Same Race Placement study was conducted by the North American Council on Adaptable Children. It revealed that agencies run by African-Americans were successful in placing 94% of their African-American children with African-American families. It said that “Child caring agencies who are having difficulty working with the African-American community need to consult with African-American agencies to learn their successful strategies.” (Ramos 1996). It also conclud...
