Hi Daphne,

I agree with all you’ve written here. The state’s removal of three of these kids from a kinfolk placement with an aunt is especially tragic. I’ve been in that situation myself as legal guardian of one of my nieces and there’s no way I would have kept her from seeing her parents. My brother and his wife were both on crack at the time, so I wouldn’t let them take her out anywhere, but I felt they were entitled to see their daughter in a safe place. My niece, of course, wanted to see them. They were her parents! The State of Texas should have worked with the aunt instead of pulling the kids.

We live in a racist society, and that fact adds an element of risk to trans-racial placements and adoptions. Placing kids with strangers is already risky enough, and frankly I don’t see anything wrong with being against trans-racial adoptions. Admittedly, though, I’m not a big fan of adoption in general, being far more interested in promoting family preservation.

Many thanks for your thoughtful response!