November is the month when the broader community acknowledges the efforts of those whose lives have been impacted by adoption and who facilitate the adoption process. November helps spread awareness and encourages all of us to learn about adoption. National Adoption Month celebrates the families who have grown through adoption. National Adoption Awareness Month also recognizes the journey of the many children who are still waiting for their destined families. It further highlights the thousands of children worldwide in need of adoption, and how easy it is to make a difference even if you cannot adopt.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH
Every year, there are more and more children in need of finding secure safe families. National Adoption Awareness Month sheds light on the process and the positive impacts of adoption.
The State of Massachusetts was the first to promote adoption-related efforts in 1976. Governor Mike Dukakis announced the first week of November as “Adoption Week” to promote awareness of the need for adoptive families for children in the foster care system. The idea slowly grew in popularity and spread throughout the Nation. Following this, in 1984, President Gerald R. Ford made adoption week a National event. As the popularity of this week grew, more States started participating, and adoption week became difficult to fit all the events into a period of seven days. This was when President Bill Clinton extended the week-long event into a whole month, which came to be known as National Adoption Awareness Month, which is celebrated globally.
National Adoption Month is a chance for individuals, families, businesses, organizations, communities, States, and the government to celebrate adoption. Adoption is encouraged as a positive way to grow families and take children out of foster care. Many fundraising drives, recognition dinners, community activities, and awareness campaigns are held all across the Nation to observe National Adoption Awareness Month.
National Adoption Month also includes National Adoption Day, November 20th. This holiday is observed in Courthouses all across the Country, where thousands of adoptions are finalized simultaneously on the Saturday directly after National Adoption Week. Courts are encouraged to deal with the backlog of adoptions on this day. World Adoption Day is also celebrated in this month, on November 9th, and is a global awareness day for this important cause.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH
- There are many events organized being held across the country during National Adoption Month. Attend local events being organized in your Town or City and educate yourself about adoption procedures, laws, and history.
- Help out at your local foster care organizations or a children’s home during your free time. Even your tiniest efforts can make a huge difference in all these children’s lives. You can even mentor a child who is aging out of the foster care system.
- Spread awareness about adoption with your friends and family. Encourage your neighborhoods, communities, Cities, and States to take a stand on adoption. You can even spread the word via Social Media by sharing adoption-positive articles and links.
5 FACTS ABOUT ADOPTION
- One out of every 25 families with children have an adopted child.
- Around 7 million Americans are adopted.
- The time an average child waits for an adoptive family is more than three years.
- The U.S. has more adoption agencies than any other country.
- Americans adopt children globally, although the numbers have declined since 2018.
WHY IS NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH IMPORTANT?
- This month allows us to honor families with adopted children and thus make a difference. They are the reasons why adoption is seen as a positive way to grow a family. They inspire many others, who see how beneficial the process is for all those who are involved.
- All children deserve a safe, loving, and supportive environment to grow. This initiative spreads awareness about adoption and sheds light on the hundreds of thousands of children waiting for families.
- National Adoption Month provides everyone with the opportunity to get involved by encouraging our neighborhoods, communities, cities, and states to take a stand. This month also gives businesses and companies a chance to support adoption.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
