Transracial Adoption Readiness: An Identity Needs Hierarchy
Coordinated by Hudson Valley Professional Development
A framework for understanding the best practices in parenting of transracial adoptees to best support their racial and cultural identities.
Maintaining the racial and cultural identity of fostered and adopted youth of color in transracial placements is crucial to supporting their lifelong mental health, but it can be difficult to determine how those needs will be met by caregivers who do not share their racial or cultural background. This training will outline the Hierarchy of Racial and Cultural Identity Needs of Transracial Youth, a framework for understanding and defining the best ways to assess prospective caregiver readiness to parent transracially in a manner that communicates and centers the needs of transracial adoptees of color. General content areas to be assessed and specific interview questions for prospective parents will be explored.
2 CEs available to NYS LMHCs, LMFTs, LCSWs, LMSWs, LCATs, NYS Licensed Psychologists and NYS Licensed Psychoanalysts provided by Hudson Valley Professional Development, LLC upon successful completion of training.
Objectives:
Upon completion of the training, participants will be able to
-describe the importance of preserving racial and cultural identity for fostered and adopted youth of color in transracial placements.
-explain the Hierarchy of Racial and Cultural Identity Needs of Transracial Youth and its application in caregiver assessments.
-identify key content areas to evaluate when assessing prospective caregivers' readiness for transracial adoption or foster care.
-apply targeted interview questions to assess caregiver preparedness to meet the racial and cultural identity needs of transracial youth.
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In accordance with the NY State Department of Education guidelines, in order to receive continuing education contact hours, a participant needs to be present for the duration of the workshop/training. Therefore, participants who arrive late or leave the event early will not be granted a certificate of completion.
Cancellation Policy: Refunds will be provided for cancellations made in writing up to the day before the event.
Accommodations and Accessibility: HVPD welcomes participants with diverse abilities. Please contact us at info@hudsonvalleyprofessionaldevelopment.com to request accessibility accommodations. Accommodation requests are considered in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
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Dr. Chaitra Wirta-Leiker is a licensed psychologist, international/transracial adoptee of color, and an adoptive parent. She specializes in providing mental health support focused on adoption, trauma, and racial identity work through her private practice based in Denver, Colorado. She is a frequent speaker and trainer at adoption agencies, camps, and conferences throughout the U.S., and the creator of the National Adoptee-Therapist Directory. She is also the author of “The Adoptee Self-Reflection Journal,” “The Adoptive Parent Self-Reflection Journal,” and the “Adoptees Like Me” illustrated series for elementary readers.