National Adoption Awareness Month
At any given time in the U.S., over 100,000 children in foster care are waiting to be adopted. That is almost one-fourth of the total foster population! To raise awareness of children up for adoption, Foster Love is celebrating National Adoption Awareness Month this November in hopes of bringing more awareness to the adoption community.
A Brief History of National Adoption Month
Boston, Massachusetts began celebrating “Adoption Week” in the late 1970s, but President Ronald Reagan expanded the week nationally later on until eventually, the entire month of November was declared National Adoption Awareness Month (not to be confused with National Adoption Month!). Every year since the 1990s, November is declared National Adoption Awareness Month to encourage awareness and celebration of adoption. Along with this, one Saturday in November is chosen as National Adoption Day. This year, November 18th, 2024, thousands of adoptions will take place to celebrate this month.
Although all adoptions are important, November specifically focuses on adoption from the foster care system. During this month, many families will adopt from foster care, and the celebration of these adoptions also raises awareness of and supports adoptions from foster care.
How can you support National Adoption Awareness Month?
- Do research on foster care in your area. Find out the number of children in foster care in your state, county, and city. How many children are up for adoption in your area? Are there any statistics that stand out to you?
- Find out the adoption process in your state. There are many issues throughout the foster care system, so find out how to change adoption efforts. What is required to adopt in your area? Are there city-specific challenges facing adoption near you? Are there any initiatives that need more support? Are there any foster homes or agencies that can use your services? Check at the county and city level to see how you can help!
- Are you a photographer? Donate your skills to a family who is going through the adoption process and help them preserve their adoption with a beautiful portrait. Visit our Framing Forever Page.
- Donate to Foster Love – Together We Rise. We support foster care throughout the United States. As a nonprofit, Foster Love reinvests 100% of its funds to help children in foster care.
Be an advocate for change
- Change the conversation by being mindful towards foster and adoptive families. Do you find yourself saying “real parent” or “foster kids?” To some, this language can be hurtful and inconsiderate. There are many ways you can change your language to be more respectful to foster families and children who have been adopted. Do you hear other people using this language without realizing it can be hurtful or offensive? Let them know in a respectful way!
- Contact your local government and see if they’re being proactive towards foster and adoption. If there aren’t any notable efforts, start your own! Contact your city officials or state congress members. Many people in office aren’t aware of local issues, so it’s your job to bring awareness.
- Speak out! Dedicate your personal blog or Facebook statuses to foster care during the whole month of November! Advocate in your community and share your efforts with others. Begin an online campaign, an email chain, or go out in public to spread the word!
- Start a fundraiser by visiting fosterlove.com/fundraise. Here you can create a campaign page and raise funds for children in foster care!
Regardless of how you choose to raise awareness, supporting foster adoptions during the month of November is helpful to the community! Foster Love wants to thank ALL adoption supporters and also congratulate all new adoptions in 2024! Congratulations to all the forever families!
Are you adopting in November? Visit fosterlove.com/framing-forever/ to find an adoption photographer in your area!
