Introduction to Special Issue: Adoptees’ Ethnic Identity Within Family and Social Contexts

This special issue contains studies that examined adoptees’ ethnic identity and their well-being in family and social contexts. These studies report on ethnic identity among diverse ITRAs, at different ages, adopted into two countries, and using differing sample sizes and methodologies, including two community-based interventions. In sum, these studies represent an emerging focus on identity development in families where parents, as members of the dominant culture, face the task of helping children who are members of minority groups, develop a positive identity. Moreover they constitute a significant step, providing direction for future research and highlighting useful implications for policy practice.