I became a foster parent after years of doing various non kid-related things. Adopting wasn't my goal; I thought it would be gratifying to take in foster children. The first foster child placed with me is now my daughter. When I was asked by my social worker if I wanted to consider adoption, I thought long and hard about it. I'm a single parent -- but my birth son and I both loved this little girl. She was four when I adopted her and is almost twelve now. I'm white (as is my son), and my daughter is black. Here in the Bay Area, people are pretty open minded and don't ask too many questions. All adoptions have their challenges, but adopting across racial lines can bring additional ones.

Although I adopted my daughter through the County, I've utilized resources from a private adoption agency called PACT. The Bay Area agency provides high quality adoption services to children of color. There is a wide array of books sold through PACT's online store, on many different aspects of adoption including transracial adoption. I think it's incredibly important for parents who are adopting children who don't share their cultural or racial background to educate themselves. PACT also has workshops on racial awareness and runs a camp for adopted children of color and their families every summer.