National Adoption Month
A comprehensive guide to understanding the importance, history, celebration, and impact of National Adoption Month.
Overview & Purpose
National Adoption Month raises awareness about children awaiting permanent families and celebrates the families who adopt, while recognizing professionals aiding the adoption process.
Observed each November, National Adoption Month highlights the ongoing need for adoptive families across the country and celebrates the children who find loving homes through adoption. The month aims to spread education about adoption processes, reduce stigma, and promote resources for families navigating adoption.
It also acknowledges the hard work of social workers, advocates, and agencies who support the welfare of children in foster care and the lifelong connections that adoption creates.
History & Evolution
The initiative began as Adoption Week in 1976, grew to National Adoption Week in the 1980s, and was expanded to a month-long observance in 1995 to better address the growing need for adoptive families.
The roots date back to 1976 when Massachusetts' Governor Michael Dukakis launched Adoption Week to promote awareness about children in foster care needing permanent homes.
In 1984, President Ronald Reagan declared National Adoption Week, emphasizing the bravery of birth mothers and promoting adoption of special needs children. The observance became National Adoption Month in 1995 under President Bill Clinton to broaden outreach amid increasing numbers of children in foster care awaiting adoption.
Significant legislative milestones, like the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, reflect the evolving landscape in safeguarding children's welfare and expediting stable adoptive placements.
Adoption Facts & Statistics
Thousands of children await adoption nationwide, with many being teenagers or children with special needs, highlighting the ongoing demand for loving families and systemic improvements.
As of recent data, over 100,000 children legally free for adoption remain in foster care, with about one in five being teenagers nearing adulthood.
In fiscal year 2023, more than 50,000 children were adopted from foster care, reflecting the dedication of adoptive families and agencies, but many children still wait for permanent homes.
Special needs children, older youth, and sibling groups often face the greatest challenges finding adoptive families, underscoring the need for increased awareness and support.
How National Adoption Month Is Celebrated
The month features campaigns, community events, educational activities, and advocacy efforts that uplift adoptees, birth families, and adoptive parents.
Organizations, governments, and communities hold events such as poster contests, adoption fairs, memorial trees, and online campaigns to raise awareness and celebrate adoption stories nationwide.
Families participate by sharing their journeys, creating crafts celebrating adoption, honoring cultural heritage, and hosting movie nights featuring adoption-related films to educate and engage the public.
Advocacy and volunteer efforts during the month help improve pre- and post-adoption support services, ensuring that adoptees and families receive the care they need.
Ways to Support & Participate
Anyone can contribute through volunteering, donating, advocacy, or simply by educating themselves and others to create welcoming communities for adoptive families.
You can volunteer with adoption agencies, mentor adoptees or foster youth, or assist in organizing awareness events and educational programs.
Donations to adoption-related charities support resources like counseling, health services, and education for families and children.
Advocates can speak up for adoption-friendly policies, promote transparency in adoption processes, and amplify the voices of adoptees and birth families.
Businesses can support adoption initiatives by offering resources or recognizing employees who adopt, helping foster a culture of acceptance and support.
Continuing the Commitment
National Adoption Month inspires ongoing action to improve adoption systems, ensure every child finds a loving home, and celebrate the families created through adoption year-round.
While National Adoption Month is an official observance in November, its spirit encourages continuous awareness to address adoption challenges and celebrate successes throughout the year.
The goal is to create communities where adoption is supported openly and inclusively, ensuring that all children have the chance for permanent, nurturing families.
By educating, advocating, volunteering, and celebrating, society moves closer to a future where adoption is recognized as a powerful way to build safe and strong families.