November is National Adoption Month and this year’s theme is Every Conversation Matters. Every Conversation Matters is about engaging youth in permanency plans through open conversations about adoption, asking youth their perspectives, and understanding their journey.
Honoring of adoption began in 1976 when Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis declared an Adoption Week to spread awareness about the necessity of adopting children in foster care. Years later in 1984, President Reagan announced November 19-25th as “National Adoption Week” to celebrate families who have adopted and to encourage more families to accept permanency for children in foster care. Next, in 1995, President Clinton declared November as “National Adoption Month” to expand Reagan’s provisions to the whole month (US Department of Health & Human Services).
Although Adoption Week transformed into National Adoption Month for the month of November, a coalition of four adoption organizations, Foundation for Adoption, Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, Alliance for Children’s Rights, and Children’s Action Network, declared the Saturday before Thanksgiving “National Adoption Day”. National Adoption Day is particularly special because it is the only day of the year courts open on Saturday to finalize adoptions. The coalition chose the Saturday before Thanksgiving so families could celebrate during the holiday season. To partake in National Adoption Day, you can find an event near you here.
In the year 2020, there were approximately 120,000 children waiting to be adopted in the foster care system and currently, there are around 1.5 million children that have been adopted in the US. CWLA created a resource sheet with permanency stories, adoptive parent resources, and fast facts here: CWLA Resource Sheet
