Establishing A Tool-Kit for White Transracially Adoptive Parents

Dr. Laura S. Anderson

Training Description

Issues of race and racism continue to impact the lives of system involved youth of color.   Many foster and adoptive placements are interracial with White parents raising children of color. If foster and adoptive parents are not considering racial identity development as a critical part of a youth’s needs while in care, then accidental harm can be done and youth in care can feel isolated, misunderstood and at greater risk for social emotional harm. This training is designed to examine the challenges involved in transracial foster and adoptive placements, and to help build awareness and skills for foster and adoptive parents. We will also discuss building resilience in youth placed transracially as well.  The training will provide concrete scripts and support strategies for those working with youth and families in transracial placements.

Learning Objectives

1. Participants will define 3 distinct challenges that transracially placed youth experience as they integrate their child and adolescent identities while in the child welfare system.

2. Participants will identify 3 concrete ways to support White parents and caregivers who need to understand that transracial foster and adoptive parenting often requires differing parenting and community strategies

3. Participants will identify 3 different scripts to speak to children and teens of different ages about race, racism and resilience.

4. Participants will leave with 3 concrete resources to continue to support transracially placed youth and their caregivers.

Agenda 

9:00-9:30am Introduction and statistics

9:30-10:30am  Distinct challenges for transracially placed youth

10:30-11:30am  Supporting caregivers to do the work, ask for help and have hard conversations

11:30-11:45am  Break (CEUs will not be offered for this time)

11:45am-12:45pm  Use current events and practice concrete scripts for caregivers to speak with youth of different ages

12:45-1:15pm  Summary and evaluations

Meet Our Trainer

Dr. Laura S. Anderson is a clinical child and family psychologist who is licensed in Hawaii and California, and she has worked with youth and families for over twenty years. Dr. Anderson is currently based primarily in Hawaii. Her areas of expertise include school-based behavioral health, assessment, support for adoptive families, support for gender expansive youth and their families, foster care consultation, and the provision of cross-culturally sensitive care. She is lucky to have had wonderful clinical mentors and enjoys teaching others things she has learned “in the trenches” of direct service to children, adolescents, families, schools, and various other agencies. Dr. Anderson enjoys working with kids, families, and systems as they overcome barriers, build on their strengths, and thrive.

This course meets the qualifications for (4) BBS CEUs for LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCCs, and LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences & is provided by Fred Finch Youth Center, CAMFT Provider #045295.