The AFDiT Framework
Decision Values
The decision values are used to support and inform professional judgements around transracial adoption.
Click the titles to read more about each one.
Acknowledge power imbalances between
the dominant culture and the marginalised
communities from which transracial adoptees
often come. Examine power dynamics, which
can affect the adoptee’s sense of identity,
belonging and experiences within their adoptive family, immediate community and wider society. This involves recognising the advantages and benefits enjoyed by the adopter compared with an ethnically, racialised and minoritised child.
With effective communication, birth parents can provide valuable insights into the child’s cultural heritage, traditions and customs. Collaborating with them allows adoptive parents to gain a deeper understanding of the child’s cultural background and ensure that it is integrated into their upbringing.
Cultural preservation can be achieved through detailed and accurate documenting of the
child’s cultural identity factors. Information about the child should be collected in ongoing collaboration with birth parents and the birth family, child’s ethnicity and cultural background. Through the process of co-creating this framework, concerns have been raised about poor recording standards and practices that provide very little information. The AFDiT emphasises the need to capture detailed information about the child’s identity factors as this ensures important aspects of the child’s heritage are preserved and shared with foster carers and adoptive families. Importantly, this information should support with careful and more considered linking and matching processes.
During pre-transition, social workers should continue assessing, supporting and empowering adoptive parents to educate themselves about the child’s heritage and to show they are integrating elements of their culture into the family’s daily life. Adoptive families should also demonstrate they are proactively seeking out opportunities to connect with individuals and families and other community groups who share the child’s racial or ethnic background. This can involve participating in cultural events, joining community organisations, and engaging with support groups or networks specific to transracial adoption.
This principle is about acknowledging early childhood trauma children may have experienced including trauma associated with their race, ethnicity, religion and heritage. Taking a holistic approach, there is an emphasis placed on the importance of creating an environment where the child feels secure and can build trust with their adoptive family. This includes understanding the impact of racism, discrimination and cultural disconnection on the child’s well-being.
We identified that some children adopted transracially feel and see themselves as white rather than their own racial identities and they reported racial imposterism. They found it hard to address discrimination and micro-aggression as some adoptive parents disregarded their racial identity. This value simply emphasises ‘seeing race and difference.’ Social workers, foster carers and adopters must acknowledge difference, positively and inclusively work with it, validate, foster pride in the child’s racial identity, and ensure cultural continuity.
This value involves delving into the adoptee’s personal story, understanding the challenges they may face (may have faced), and acknowledging how these experiences may have influenced their sense of self. Additionally, social workers should be aware of the presence of unseen aspects within the adoptee’s racial identity. For example, unseen, unvoiced, invisible and untold or hidden elements, such as cultural heritage, family background, ancestral ties, spirituality, disabilities, or religion can significantly impact identity affirmation. By recognising and validating these often overlooked dimensions of identity, social workers can better support transracial adoptees in developing a strong and resilient racial identity.
Read all about the decision values by downloading the full AFDiT framework.