Creating a World Where Every Adoptee Thrives: The Identity Mission
At Identity, we are on a mission to ensure that every adoptive family thrives. We envision a world where adoptees feel truly seen, heard, and valued—where their full identity and experience are celebrated within their families and communities. Through education, advocacy, and compassionate support, we strive to provide parents with the tools needed to foster understanding, connection, and love. Our hope is that by empowering families, we build a foundation of healthy relationships for adoptive families.
What It Means to Be Seen, Heard, and Valued
For adoptees, feeling seen, heard, and valued is about honoring their entire being—their story, culture, and experiences. Here's how we define these essential pillars:
SEEN — Making sure adoptees feel seen and understood as their whole selves—honoring every part of their identity, story, and journey.
HEARD — Ensuring adoptees feel safe to express their feelings and struggles openly, even when those emotions relate to adoption itself.
VALUED — Celebrating adoptees for all of who they are, both before and after adoption, creating a space where they feel unconditionally loved and accepted.
Navigating Adoption with Intention
Parenting in adoption requires a thoughtful and intentional approach. Parents need to understand and support their child’s full identity, including the unique aspects of their adoption story. Providing books, toys, and art that celebrate the child’s background and personal journey can foster a sense of belonging and pride. Additionally, parents benefit from engaging in open conversations about adoption, identity, and belonging, while creating a home environment where their child feels safe, supported, and valued.
Creating Safe Spaces for Healing and Growth
Many adoptees face identity challenges, feelings of loss, or grief related to adoption. Our approach acknowledges these struggles while encouraging families to remain open and vulnerable. When parents engage in conversations about adoption, race, and loss, they create trust and help their children feel safe sharing their experiences.
Identity's Origin
Identity was founded out of the experiences of Isaac Etter, a transracial adoptee who faced the complexities of adoption and identity firsthand. Isaac was adopted at the age of two by a white couple and grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. While his childhood was filled with love and support, he often struggled with understanding his identity—both as a Black child in a white family and as an adoptee.
Throughout his life, Isaac noticed the unique challenges that adoptees face, from navigating questions about belonging and identity to overcoming the complexities of adoption loss. These challenges were not limited to transracial families but were universal to the adoption experience. His own struggles with finding his place in the world inspired Isaac to advocate for more resources and support for adoptive families of all kinds.
Join Us in Building a Brighter Future for Adoptive families
Together, we can create a world where every adoptee feels seen, heard, and valued. Identity is here to support you every step of the way. To learn more or access resources, visit us at identitylearning.co. Let’s build resilient, connected families and celebrate the beautiful complexity of every adoption story.
