MD 552/652: Intercultural Adoption (4 units)
Evelyne A. Reisacher, Assistant Professor of Islamic Studies and Intercultural Relations
Spring 2008 Pasadena

DESCRIPTION:

This course uses a multidisciplinary approach to study intercultural adoption with a missional mindset. It is designed for individuals who are considering intercultural adoption, organizations that facilitate adoptions, or other interested Christians in order to address contemporary issues stirred up by intercultural adoption when viewed through the lenses of anthropology, intercultural relations, attachment theory, sociology and theology. Specifically, we will explore relevant theory and use case studies in the literature and in our own experience to: investigate the impact of culture on child-rearing practices; explore how to develop healthy and secure bonds between adoptive parents or families and adoptees when they come from different cultural backgrounds; understand the social and global issues raised by international, transracial, and cross-cultural adoption; and develop a biblical understanding of intercultural adoption.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Students who successfully complete this course will:
1. Understand the relationship between culture and adoption
2. Identify the key contemporary and global issues intercultural adoption raises
3. Articulate what is needed for healthy bonds to develop between adoptees and adoptive parents and families when their culture differs
4. Develop their own model of intercultural adoption, incorporating their own biblically-and theologically-informed perspectives.

COURSE FORMAT:

The course utilizes a combination of lectures, discussions and videos. It is a one-week intensive that meets daily from 8:30 am to 4:30pm.

REQUIRED READING: 1500 pages from the following texts. If you have previously read any of the required texts, please select an alternative text from the recommended reading list or a book approved by the instructor.

1. Bowie, Fiona. Cross-Cultural Approaches to Adoption. Abingdon, UK: Routledge, 2004.
2. Jackson, Timothy P. (Ed). The morality of adoption: Social-psyhcological, theological and legal perspectives. Grand Rapids, MI: William B Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2005.
3. Siegel, Daniel J. and Mary Hartzell. Parenting from Inside Out: How a Deeper Self-Understanding Can Help you Raise Children who Thrive. New York: Tarcher, 2003.
4. Stevenson-Moessner. The Spirit of Adoption: At Home in God’s Family. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2003.
5. Keck, Gregory C. and Regina M. Kupecky. Parenting the Hurt Child: Helping Adoptive Families Heal and Grow. Colorado Springs, CO:Piñon Press. 2002.
6. Readings from: Freundlich, Madelyn, Adoption and Ethics Series. Washington, DC: Child Welfare League of America and The Evan B Donaldson Adoption Institute. 2000. (3 Volumes)

1.The Role of Race, Culture, and National Origin in Adoption
2.The Market Forces in Adoption
3.The Impact of Adoption on Members of the Triad

RECOMMENDED READING:

1. Berlin, Lisa J., YairZiv, Lisa Amaya-Jackson and Mark T. Greenberg, eds. Enhancing Early Attachments: Theory, Research, Intervention, and Policy. New York: The Guilford Press, 2005.
2. Brodzinsky, David M. and Marshall D. Schechter, eds.The Psychology of Adoption. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 1993.
3. Gray, Deborah D. Attaching in Adoption: Practical Tools for Today’s Parents. Indianapolis, IN: Perspectives Press. 2002.
4. Panter-Brick, Catherine, and Smith, Malcolm T (Eds). Abandoned Children. Cambridge University Press, 2000.
5. Rothman, Barbara Katz. Weaving a family: Untangling race and adoption. Boston, MA: Beacon Press, 2005.
6. Simon, R, and Rhonda Roorda. In their own voices: Transracial adoptees tell their stories. New York: Columbia University Press, 2000.
7. Tolfree, David. Whose Children? Separated children’s protection and participation in emergencies. Save the Children Sweden. Fälth & Hässler, Varnamo, Sweden, 2004.
8. Trenka,Jane Jeong; Oparah, Julia Chinyere; and Shin, Sun Yung. Outsiders within: Writing on transracial adoption. Cambridge, Massachusetts: South End Press, 2006.
9. Wehrly, Bea, Kelley R Kenney and Mark E Kenney, Counseling multiracial families. Multicultural Aspects of Counseling Series, Volume 12. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 1999.

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Four 300-word book reviews (15%)
2. 2000-word paper analyzing cases studies of international or intercultural adoption and following the format presented in the syllabus (30%)
3. 1500-word paper discussing the challenges and opportunities of intercultural adoption from a missiological perspective (15%)
4. Two interviews of adoptees and two interviews of adoptive parents conducted by the student will be analyzed missiologically/theologically (25%)
5. Class participation and attendance (15%)

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM:

FINAL EXAM: No written examination.

Note: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design, but is subject to modification. Last Date Edited: 1 May 2008