Entry 1: Master of social work students' knowledge and attitudes towards transracial adoption.

APA Citation:
Clement, A. (2014).Master of social work students' knowledge and attitudes towards transracial
adoption. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/docview/1532118131?pq-origsite=summon
Summary:
The article Master of Social work by Ayellakai Clement was research on transracial adoption
through a survey taken at Southern Connecticut State University on masters second year social
work students. The survey went over different ideologies the student had towards transracial
adoption. The focus of the research is to determine if social workers curriculum needs to be
altered to better understand this topic. Before the research was conducted Clement went over
research thats been done in the past by credible sources such as Perry, Fenster and Kirton. For
Clements survey the data was analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages,
mean scores and standard deviations). The study was conducted on 50 students. The age range of
the students was 26-34 from that 74% were caucasian. From the study Clement found that the
social workers were not educated with the programs necessary regarding transracial adoption
specifically. Overall, the findings show that students demonstrated positive attitudes towards
TRA, but maintained that cultural identity is very important for every child considered for
adoption,(p. 29).
Evaluation:
Clement is a graduate from Southern Connecticut State University with a degree in Masters of
Social work. She now works as a care manager. Clement is a credible because she did thorough
research before conducting her study and her findings were looked over and approved of by the
thesis advisor and department chairperson of her college. The work that she conducted was
unbiased and was for the purpose to inform the public how knowledgeable masters students were
regarding transracial adoption.
Reflection:
This was a strong source because she reflected off of several other people's work to get an idea of
how to perform her research. On top of that she has a different argument for adoption that
doesnt have to do with the parents but rather those conducting the transactions: social workers.
Her focus was on if they were being educated enough on the topic as well as finding out their
attitude towards cross-matching races. This brings up the controversy on how credible social
workers are to make the decision on what child goes where.
Significant quotes:
This is necessary because student social workers are future implementers of child welfare
policies and will be involved in day to day interaction with children and families. Exploring the
perception of student workers contributes to filling the gaps in existing literature and also
provides updated views of students on the topic,(p. 1).
Implications of this study to social work practice are that, it provided relevant
information regarding policies on transracial adoption. It could also create an opportunity for
potential organization of more training or seminars for student workers and can further direct
syllabus design for MSW students,(p. 29)

Entry 2: Broken Links Enduring Ties: American Adoption Across Race,Class and Nation
APA Citation:
Seligmann, L.(2013)Broken Links Enduring Ties: American Adoption Across Race,Class and
Nation. Retrieved from
http://ebookcentral.proquest.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/lib/asulib-ebooks/reader.action?docID=13
32611

Summary: Broken Links Enduring Ties is told from the aspect of a mother with an adopted
baby from Asia. She conducted research mainly on the different types of relationships children
face with their adoptive family. Whether it be gay, single, interracial what have you and the
different challenges and successes that come with it. She speaks of open and closed adoption, the
process of how people choose children only after considering the foster care and race stigma.
Seligmann takes quotes from many parents regarding their situations and how they deal with
raising a child that is never fully theirs.
Evaluation:
Seligmann is a mom as well as an anthropologist of 20+ years, she is very good at studying
cultures and identifying behaviors so it was not hard to do so in this situation. Although she is
also a mom of an adopted child she refrained from using only her insight. There was that of other
parents and credible professionals on the topic. She attributes help with creating the book to
anthropology grad students, colleagues and primary resources.
Reflection:
This source was hard to get into because everything was so wordy, however there is a whole new
concept that I did not consider before. In her book she addresses the topic of open and closed
adoption. She touches base that in some cases there is a huge different in social class with the
birthmother and adoptive family, with that in mind sometimes birthmothers dont really want to
leave their child but do so because it is the right thing. This could help support an argument
that children of color come from more tense situations however maybe contact with the original
family should still be an option.
Significant quotes:
I have fond feelings for our birth mom, so it insults me when people assume they know
something about her. It bugs me when people assume the birth mom is uncaring or unloving.
Maybe some birth mothers are that way, but ours is not at all like that. She wept for hours on the
day she had to sign the papers. I know because we had to sit in the waiting room for about seven
hours. She told me flat out that she decided this because she loves Ceci so much. Her point was
clear: if she didnt love Ceci so much she would have just limped along as an unwed teen
mother. She wanted more for her. (p.110)

The purpose of this volume has been to train our attention on the salient ways that
Euroamerican adoptive parents in the United States have engaged in family-making, and to
convey how their CA, RA, and AA children, as they grow up, are responding to and critiquing
their efforts.(p.201)

Entry 3:

APA Citation:
Oliwenstein, L.(2010).African-American Babies and Boys Least Likely to Be Adopted, Study
Shows. Retrieved from
http://www.caltech.edu/news/african-american-babies-and-boys-least-likely-be-adopted-study-sh
ows-1610
Summary:
The article written by Lori Oliwenstein was with the intention to inform the public of this
problems children and parents alike face in the adoption industry. According to studies done
from 2004-2009 by a group of economists african-american babies are less likely to be adopted
than children of other races. A non-black baby is seven times more likely to be chosen. On top of
that a female has a one-third higher chance to be adopted than a boy. Adoptive parents will bay
$38,000 more dollars for a baby that isnt black. This leads to the writer's argument about
children that get left behind and put into the foster system which is a bad thing.
Evaluation: Lori Oliwenstein is an Editorial Director, Office of Strategic Communications with
this title I believe he sources correctly because he understands the danger of fake news. The
website is kept up to date there are links to more numbers on the study. Also the url is an edu
making it more trustworthy.
Reflection:
This source is more of an eye opener than anything. There is sort of this myth that everyone
adopts black children however when looking at the actual numbers they are the least popular.
Now there are questions as to what makes people want black children less and now also curious
to look at the number of black children in the foster systems, as well as information on how that
mentally affects them.
Significant quotes:
First, the researchers found that a non-African-American baby is seven times more likely to
"attract the interest and attention of potential adoptive parents than an African-American baby,"
says Felli.
The first involves the restrictions some states impose on same-sex and single-parent adoptions;
the second involves the 2008 Hague treaty, which placed significant roadblocks in the path of
potential parents from other countries who want to adopt children from the United States.