How adoption support groups help families navigate social inequities

At Families Rising, we believe every child deserves to grow up in a safe and loving environment regardless of their background. Core to our mission is helping families navigate the sometimes unseen challenges that can accompany transracial foster care and adoption placements.

 

In November, our team – including our CEO Ligia Cushman, Program Manager Melissa Greene, and Education Specialist Sarah Benson – talked with The Imprint, a news outlet focused on the child welfare and youth justice systems in the U.S. The article sheds light on the systemic inequities facing young people of color in foster care, the unique challenges of transracial placements, and how Families Rising is stepping in to support families through robust programming, and resources.

 

After working with nearly 400 transracial Minnesota families, we’re proud to see Families Rising work recognized in addressing these critical issues! Read the full article and join us in amplifying the conversation about creating a more equitable foster care system.

Key Takeaways:

The Importance of Cultural Awareness in Foster Care:
  • Transracial placements in foster care often place children of color in predominantly white communities, where they may face racism and cultural isolation. We address these challenges by providing culturally informed training, adoption support groups, and resources to parents.
Real-Life Challenges for Transracial Families:
  • Foster and adoptive parents like Becky, who was interviewed in the piece, experienced firsthand the need to protect children from discrimination while providing a safe, loving home. Stories like hers make a difference, emphasizing the importance of understanding the intersection of race, identity, and community dynamics in foster care.
Families Rising’s Role in Bridging Gaps:
  • Through training, adoption support groups, and community-building efforts, we equip foster and adoptive parents with practical strategies to support children’s racial, cultural, and emotional needs. Our approach ensures families are better prepared to advocate for their children and navigate complex societal challenges. By sharing stories of lived experiences, families find community through empathy and shared experience to better support their children.
Impactful and Memorable Training and Support:
  • We focus on storytelling and real-life experiences in our training sessions and adoption support groups, making them more impactful and actionable than traditional training. This approach helps adoptive and foster parents build confidence and empathy while developing tangible strategies through other families’ lived experiences in adoption and foster care.
Advocacy in Education:
  • We also support families in educational advocacy. Whether it’s IEPs or 504 plans, our team helps parents navigate special education systems and combat biases that may impact their children. Our hands-on experts, like Sarah Benson, ensure that parents are equipped to advocate for their children, navigate challenging conversations with teachers and school leadership, and receive appropriate support without stigma.

 

Building Community and Connection:
  • We foster relationships. Whether you are a transracial foster and adoptive family or a family navigating gender or cultural identity, creating opportunities for shared learning and support is central to creating loving homes and communities.

To read the full article and explore these insights further, visit https://imprintnews.org/top-stories/minnesota-nonprofit-aims-to-teach-transracial-foster-families-how-to-advocate-for-their-kids/256437.

At Families Rising, we believe in creating equitable, supportive environments for all foster and adoptive families. If you’re looking for adoption support groups, training, or resources, we’re here to help. Check out our calendar of upcoming support groups in Minnesota, and contact us anytime!

 

 

Last Updated: June 26, 2025