The Vision Behind Shades of Belonging

Dr. McCarty-Caplan founded Shades of Belonging to explore the lived realities of people who live between worlds. Originally sparked by a need to understand the Jewish adoptee experience, this work has grown to address the universal challenges of identity and inclusion across religious, cultural, organizational and familial landscapes. The initiative examines how systems-including religious communities, educational institutions, family structures, and community organizations-impact an individual’s ability to feel truly seen and affirmed.

Professional Expertise & Research

With a career built on anti-oppressive practice, Dr. McCarty-Caplan bridges the gaps between personal narrative, scientific research, and systemic change. His approach is rooted in the belief that those whose lived experiences have been silenced or unheard hold immeasurable insight into how to improve the health and well-being of themselves, their families and communities.

• Evidence-Based Insights: Dr. McCarty-Caplan leads national research initiatives that utilize both quantitative data and qualitative storytelling to understand the lived experiences of transracial adoptees and those within multi-cultural communities.

• Intersectional Identity: He leads work that examines how adoptee experiences, racialized identities, and community belonging overlap. These efforts uncover the unique challenges and opportunities that arise when adopted individuals live at the crossroads of multiple heritages.

• Institutional Change: He partners with organizations and leaders to build cultures of equity and genuine inclusion for adoptees and their families. While his own roots are in the Jewish world, his work provides a blueprint for any community - secular or religious - seeking to move from surface-level diversity to deep, meaningful belonging.

A Commitment to the Real Story

In the adoption and religious sectors, there is a common tendency to focus on "happy endings" or narratives of benevolence and gratitude. Dr. McCarty-Caplan’s work honors a more honest reality. He acknowledges the loss, the grief, and the systemic barriers that come with adoption, while also celebrating the resilience of those who forge their own identities. He is not merely an observer of these themes; he has lived these experiences. Whether speaking to professionals, coaching a family, or sitting with a fellow adoptee, his goal remains the same: to ensure that all adoptees - regardless of their origin story or where they are in their journey - are supported, seen, heard, and valued.