For children in adoptive, foster, or kinship families—especially those in transcultural placements or with complex trauma histories—developing a strong sense of identity and belonging doesn’t happen automatically. In this episode, we explore why racial mirrors and shared-experience support are essential tools for nurturing healthy identity in kids who may not see themselves reflected in their families, schools, or communities. We unpack how regular interactions with peers and mentors of similar racial or cultural backgrounds—and especially those who’ve also experienced adoption or foster care—can affirm a child’s sense of worth, value, and place in the world. These connections offer more than representation—they offer belonging, language, and healing.

This episode is sponsored by Show Hope, a movement to care for orphans by engaging the church and reducing barriers to adoption. Learn more at showhope.org. This podcast is produced by The Adoption & Foster Care Clinic, an independent nonprofit interdisciplinary medical and therapeutic clinic that provides trauma-informed comprehensive medical and ongoing therapeutic services for adoptive, foster and kinship care families (both pre and post adoption)—learn more at adoptionfosterclinic.org