Every year in November, we celebrate National Adoption Month. This special month is when we spread awareness about adoption and the hundreds of thousands of children waiting for families. This initiative, put forth by the Children's Bureau, seeks to bring awareness to adoption issues, the need for adoptive families, and the value of youth engagement. It's an annual time to reflect on all that adoption entails and celebrate the joy it can bring. It is a time to remember our child's birth family or birth culture and be thankful for the adoptive families who have opened their hearts and homes. For many families, adoption is a bittersweet experience and a joyous time to give thanks for the gift of our child.
Why We Celebrate National Adoption Month
National Adoption Month was established in 1995 by the Children's Bureau, an organization within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The initiative was created “to increase national awareness of adoption issues, bring attention to the need for adoptive families for teens in the U.S. foster care system, and emphasize the value of youth engagement.”
Since its inception, National Adoption Month has raised awareness, increased the number of adoptions from foster care each year, and encouraged more people to consider opening their homes and hearts to children in need. In 2020, over 400,000 children were waiting for their forever families in foster care in the United States. Additionally, it's a time to remember the hundreds of thousands of children waiting for their families.
You can learn more about how to get involved with National Adoption Month here.
How to Celebrate National Adoption Month
There are many ways to celebrate National Adoption Month. Here are some ideas:
Share your story: Share your story of adoption with others to help spread awareness about the joys and challenges of adoption. You can write a blog post, record a podcast episode, or make a video sharing your experience.
Educate yourself and others:
Learn more about adoption by reading books or articles, watching documentaries or movies, or attending events related to adoption. You can also help educate others by sharing what you've learned on social media or starting conversations about adoption with friends and family members.
Support an organization: Many organizations support children in foster care and families who have adopted. Consider making a donation or volunteering your time to one of these organizations.
It's also important to remember that adoption is a bittersweet experience. While it brings joy to those involved, it also comes with sadness and loss. Therefore, it's so important to be respectful of your child's feelings and wishes when deciding whether and how to celebrate National Adoption Month.
How You Can Get Involved
If you're interested in getting involved with National Adoption Month, there are many ways you can do so. First, you can spread the initiative through social media or talking to family and friends. You can also donate your time or money to organizations that support adoptive families or children in foster care. Finally, you can consider becoming a foster or adoptive parent yourself!
Reflection
As we reflect on National Adoption Month, respecting our children's feelings and wishes is important. Some children may want to celebrate their adoptions, while others may not. Therefore, it's important to have an open dialogue with our children about adoption and allow them to express their feelings.
This month is also a time to spread awareness about adoption and the hundreds of thousands of children waiting for families. Every child deserves a safe, supportive, and loving environment to grow, and initiatives like National Adoption Month help bring us one step closer to that goal. So let's take this month to reflect on all that adoption has given us and continue working towards a future where every child has a family.
National Adoption Month is a special time when we can come together to celebrate adoptive families and raise awareness about the hundreds of thousands of children waiting for their forever homes. It's a time to remember our child's birth family or birth culture and reflect on their life pre-adoption. Finally, it is a time to unite as a community and support one another. There are several ways to get involved, so find an activity that speaks to you and join in the fun!
And finally, it's a chance to celebrate all that adoption entails—the good and the bad. Whether you get involved by spreading the word or donating your time or money, every little bit helps make a difference for children in need.
Every child deserves a loving, supportive and safe environment to grow, and initiatives like National Adoption Month help bring us one step closer to that goal. So let's take this month to reflect on all that adoption has given us and continue working towards a future where every child has a family.
