Making a case for race: Legal and psychological bases for considering ethnic and racial identity in parenting plan evaluations

Abstract Ethnic‐racial identity formation can be an important consideration in parenting plan evaluations, particularly for multi‐racial/ethnic families and transracial families. This article discusses the literature regarding the relationship between positive ethnic‐racial identity formation, positive psychosocial outcomes for children of color, and parental ethnic‐racial socialization practices. Additionally, since ethnic‐racial identity formation is a crucial developmental task relevant to the best interests of the child, this article also discusses how parenting plan evaluators can explore parental ability to promote a child's racial and ethnic identity development.