The adoption of black children.

THE ADOPTION OF BLACK CHILDREN D UR NG the past quarter century, many changes have occurred in adoption practice in this country.’ Unfortunately, the placement of children of minority groups, racially mixed children, or seriously handicapped children-the so-called “hard to place”-has failed to keep up with this trend. This lack of placement is particularly true of black infants and children. It is estimated that between 20,000 and 60,000 children of black and racially mixed background are presently in need of adoptive homes or some other type of permanent placement. In this statement, the Committee on Adoptions and Dependent Care of the American Academy of Pediatrics will review the established methods of providing homes for black children. The Committee urges improvement of these methods and the development of newer and more vigorous approaches for placing these children.