PagC 4
‘ri’1' jJJortlanò (Observer
March 10. 2010
G ra n d m o th e r’s H eartach e
its any federally-funded agency from
using race as a factor in placing chil­
In 1972, the National Association dren in adoptive care. Before the law
o f Black Social Workers said that was passed, it was often up to social
trans-racial adoption amounted to workers to make the call on where to
“cultural genocide,” a charge it later place chi ldren. Because many o f them
softened.
had reservations on transracial adop­
Experts on the issue argue that tion, minority children ended up lan­
children in transracial adoptions can guishing for long periods in foster
experience serious psycho-social dif­ care due to the lack o f minority fami­
ficulties later in life if proper precau­ lies looking to adopt.
tions aren’t taken. However, they say
Two years ago, a landmark report
that federal law serves as a stumbling released by the Evan B. Donaldson
block for some important conversa­ Adoption Institute made call for re­
tions on race and family from taking form o f the law. It made the case that
Tax help volunteers Jose Soto (from left), Marya Gonzalez and Jerald Robinson, jo in Camille
place.
children in transracial adoptions can
McDonald with the non-profit CASH Oregon to help low income persons fill out tax returns and
There are few steady numbers for end up wrestling with issues o f self-
sign up qualifying families for earned income tax credits.
tracking transracial adoption. A New identity and self-worth, have trouble
York Times data analysis from 2006 adjusting, and are blindsided by dis­
found that 26 percent, or 4,200, of crimination later in life.
black children adopted from foster
There are other issues, like health-
care in 2004, w ere adopted problems some ethnicities are prone
A numberofcommunity organi­
transracially, nearly all by whites, up to, or something as simple as hair
zations partnering with the Inter­
Paying your fair share of income
The ETIC is meant to offset the nal Revenue Service are offering I from 14 percent in 1998. The U.S. care. But there are other problems as
Department o f Health and Human well. For instance, how should a white
taxes can be a bit stressful, but there tax burden on working low-income assistance with tax preparation.
Services estimates that in 2000, 15 couple react if their minority child is
are people out there who can help. people. The amount of the tax credit Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
percent ofadoptions were transracial. called a slur? The report said that
And with some new changes in fed­ varies, depending on your situa­ programs help out people earning
Over the last decade, the U.S. has these issues need to be talked about
eral and state law, you might walk tion, but you could get a couple $49,000 or less and Tax Counseling
seen a wave o f adoptions from over­ by agencies like DHS.
away with a hunk o f money.
thousand dollars. The stimulus gives for the Elderly program s help
“These are challenges that are not
Because o f the weak economy, people with three or more children people 60 and over with their fil­ seas, with several high-profile celeb­
rity
adoptions
getting
significant
at­
overw helm ing and can be a d ­
many people might qualify for the an extra boost with a larger tax credit ings. To find one near you, dial 21 1.
tention.
The
high
water
mark
was
in
dressed,” said Keith Alford associ­
earned income tax credit for first this year.
The non-profit CASH Oregon
2004,
when
Americans
adopted22,000
ate professor, School o f Social Work
time because their income declined
If you, like many other Orego­ also offers similar services at a num- i
children
from
other
countries,
accord­
in the College o f Human Ecology at
or their marital status changed. The nians, have been receiving unem­ her o f locations in the area free o f I
ing
to
U.S.
State
Department
num­
Syracuse University.
credit was also expanded under the ployment benefits you can now have ch arg e. To find one, v isit
bers.
Alford, and other experts, argue
stimulus bill signed into law last a $2,400 allowance of tax-free unem­ cashoregon.org or call 503-243-
In
Oregon,
a
disproportionate
that
white parents can care for a col­
year.
ployment compensation.
7765.
number o f minority children get ored child if they make efforts to
caught up in the state Department o f connect them to their heritage, live in
Human Services. Thirty eight per­ a racially-integrated neighborhood
cent o f children spending at least a that provides mentors, and are gener­
day in foster care are non-white, and ally aware o f the challenges their
32.6 percent o f adopted children are child faces.
mitment to giving a good cut every time, telling
ethnic minorities.
continued ¿^ J'rotn Front
Kory Murphy, a policy analyst
customers that if there’s a line in you hair, the cut is
DHS doesn’t track the number of with DHS, said that it would be ben­
After getting out o f prison in 2002, he took a job at a
on the house. He also points out that he has barbers
transracial adoptions or the ethnicities eficial to have white parents adopt­
barber shop in the Lloyd Center making the state’s
who use actual razor blades ensuring a clean cut.
o f adopting parents, but with the ing a chi Id o f color to have some sort
minimum wage: $7.25 an hour.
“ I try to give the best service I can,” he said.
state population estimated to be o f counseling on the issue, but be-
Jackson patiently built up a steady clientele who
Jackson works seven days a week and hasn’t had
around 90 percent white by the U.S. causeofMEPA workers in theagency
followed him to Platinum Fade Salon in 2006.
a vacation in four years, but seems unfazed by it.
Census Bureau, it’s safe to say that avoid any discussion o f race to avoid
“It was a big step,” said Jackson.
When he does find spare time, he talks to kids at
some minority chi ldren are being taken a lawsuit.
Raheem Sadruddin, who also cuts hair at Platinum
churches and schools with a fistful o f old newspaper
under the wings o f pallid-skinned
“We just cross our fingers and
Fade, worked alongside Jackson at the shop in the
clippings chronicling his fall and incarceration.
adults.
hope the kids are going to get it,” he
Lloyd Center and came along with him when he
Jackson’s message for young people is always simple:
But discussions about issues of said.
opened his new shop. He admits that he was a bit
If you follow his path, you will not pay a price.
race are largely absent from agencies
Astrid Dabbeni was adopted with
nervous leav ing a steady job for a startup business,
Jackson thinks about taking the business to an­
like DHS, which have a large role in her sister from Columbia and raised in
but had confidence in Jackson’s savvy.
other level, opening a shop in Gresham.
setting up transracial adoptions.
a transracial family. She recalls grow­
“I knew he had a good plan,” said Sadruddin.
“But for right now, I’m focusing on Ninth and
In 1994, Congress passed the Multi ing up with a sense o f white privilege
Jackson attributes his rise to his unwavering com­
Alberta,” he said.
Ethnic Placement Act, which prohib­ that clashed with the real world once
she left the nest.
Now the executive director o f
Adoption Moasiac, a Portland non­
profit that provides educational ser­
vices for adopting couples, Dabbeni
recommends that agencies like DHS
could work around MEPA by having
all couples receive some sort o f coun­
seling on transracial adoption.
K N Û
“They have a sense o f ‘I don’t
belong here,”’ said Dabenni if chil­
dren don’t have an anchor.
The topic hasn’t risen to promi­
nence at the state or national level.
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Still, Murphy points out that a study
being conducted by Portland State
8028 Si Stark St. Portland. Oregon » 503.2611180
University that focuses on dispari­
ties in foster care system might spark
a broader discussion on the issue.
But before that happens, Smith
has two empty seats at her table.
continued ¿ ^ f r o m Front
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