November is National Adoption Awareness Month…

… and National Adoption Day is the Saturday before Thanksgiving–November 21st.  Last year, over 4,000 children were adopted on this day.

What is the purpose of National Adoption Month and National Adoption Day?

– To increase awareness about the number of children–over 125,000–in the foster care system who are still waiting for permanent homes.

– To provide education about the many types and benefits of adoption.

– To call attention to the many misconceptions surrounding adoption. 

– To advocate for adoptees who continue to face restricted access to their biological backgrounds and birth records due to rigid state adoption statutes.

Katie So (Beithon) Dachtler, a Korean adoptee who grew up in North Dakota, advocates for adoption awareness.  In a recent interview, she put into words what so many adoptees feel in their hearts.“ Adoption is as much about pain and loss as about joy and love…. To minimize this is hurtful and detrimental to an Adoptee’s well-being…. The separation of parents and children, even at birth is traumatic.” 

When Alexis Ragan of South Carolina entered the foster care system at 15, she assumed that she was too old to be adopted. However, at the age of 17, her dream of finding a family was realized.  Ultimately, her adoption was delayed for four months due to Covid-19. In the state of South Carolina, there has been a reduced number of adoptions compared to last year due to the pandemic. In many states, judges plan to perform Adoption Day ceremonies over video conferencing.

Adoption agencies use this month to introduce women and families to current adoption thinking and processes. In open adoption, birth parents have the option to select their child’s adoptive family, as well as, taking part in their life going forward. Mardie Cardwell, founder of Lifetime Adoption states, “Many years ago, I was also searching for a child to adopt. We didn’t know where or how to get started. Through research, determination, and a prayer, our dream of a family became reality.”

How did National Adoption Month and National Adoption Day get started? 

In 1976, Massachusetts Governor, Michael Dukakis announced, Adoption Week, to promote awareness of the need for families to adopt foster care children. The movement spread and other states instituted similar programs.

In 1984, President Reagan proclaimed the first National Adoption Week. 

In 1996, President Clinton expanded the awareness week to the entire month of November.

In 1998, President Clinton directed the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop a plan to expand the use of the internet as a tool to find homes for children waiting to be adopted from foster care.

In 2000, a national coalition of partners formed to make National Adoption Awareness Day a reality. Members include the Children’s Action Network, The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, The Alliance for Children’s Rights and the Freddie Mac Foundation, and the Children’s Bureau. Sponsors work with state foster care agencies, law firms, courts and child advocates to complete adoption applications (Sources: childwelfare.gov, Wikipedia, heartbeatinternational.org, nationaltoday.com).

What is the 2020 National Adoption Awareness Month theme?

Engage Youth: Listen and Learn.

It is a well-known fact that teenagers are less likely to be adopted from foster care than younger children. Thus, teens are more likely to age out of foster care without the stability of a family supporting them. One of the goals of the adoption awareness program is to highlight why children need permanence. It helps with their sense well-being and facilitates setting life goals.

How can you help?
Adopt. Volunteer. Plan. Promote. Donate.

•  Organizations that support adoption awareness, such as the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, The Alliance for Children’s Rights, and Children’s Action Network welcome and seek your assistance.

• Use social media to post photos from virtual adoption events and spread the word about how adoption benefits children and families. Use #nationaladoptionday, or tag @DTFA so that the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption can share your posts. 

• If you’re unable to add a child to your own family, consider becoming an advocate for at-risk children through CASA, court-appointed special advocacy programs. Check your local government website to see if there is a program offered in your area. 

• If you are looking for other adoption-related information, you can explore the adoption section on Child Welfare Information Gateway. 

• If you’re interested in adopting from foster care, please visit the resources and national photo listing available from AdoptUSKids.

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