What is National Adoption Month?

National Adoption Month is a month to encourage others to learn about adoption and to acknowledge the people whose lives have been impacted by adoption. The mission of National Adoption Month is to celebrate the families who have grown through adoption, and to recognize the many children who are still waiting for forever families.

 

Why do we celebrate National Adoption Month?

Overall, we celebrate National Adoption Month to shine a national spotlight light on adoption. More
specifically, we celebrate to:

• Honor families that have grown through adoption.
• Recognize the hundreds of thousands of children waiting in foster care.
• Spread awareness of adoption.
• Advocate for the wellbeing and future of children in foster care.

When did National Adoption Month start?

Every year, more and more children require secure and safe families. National Adoption Month draws
light on the adoption process and its positive effects.

In 1976, Massachusetts was the first state to promote adoption-related actions. Governor Mike Dukakis declared the first week of November “Adoption Week” to raise awareness of the need for adoptive homes for foster children. The concept gradually gained traction and extended across the country. Following this, President Gerald R. Ford declared adoption week a national holiday in 1984. As the week’s popularity expanded, more states began to participate, and it became challenging to fit all of the events into seven days. This was the year that President Bill Clinton expanded the week-long event into a month-long celebration known as National Adoption Month, which is now observed worldwide.

National Adoption Month is a time for everyone to celebrate adoption: individuals, families, businesses, organizations, communities, states, and the government. Adoption is promoted as a beneficial strategy
to strengthen families and keep children out of foster care. To commemorate this month, many fundraising drives, appreciation banquets, community activities, and awareness initiatives are held
around the country.

National Adoption Month concludes on November 20 with National Adoption Day. This day is honored
in courthouses around the country, where thousands of adoptions are finalized on the Saturday
following it. On this day, courts are encouraged to deal with the backlog of adoptions. On November 9,
World Adoption Day is observed as a day of global awareness for this essential topic.