National Adoption Month

“November is National Adoption Month, a time to raise awareness about the adoption of children and youth from foster care. This year’s initiative focuses on building capacity of adoption professionals to recruit and retain parents for the 107,000 children and youth waiting for permanent families in the U.S. foster care system. This year’s theme is: Build Capacity to Make Lasting Change.”

National Adoption Week was first observed in 1984, after a proclamation by President Reagan. In 1995, President Clinton extended this observance to the entire month of November. Each November, there is a Presidential Proclamation to initiate a month of adoption-related events and activities across the country.

  • National Adoption Month — The Child Welfare Information site contains information about National Adoption Month and many usefule resources related to the adoption process.
  • Massachusetts Adoption Exchange — Information and resources for Massachusetts residents interested in adoption, including upcoming events like National Adoption Day on November 18th.
  • Adoption — The Massachusetts Department of Family Services Web site provides information for prospective adoptive parents including: an overview of adoption services, listings of informational meetings and licensed adoption centers, guides for adoptive and foster parents and more.
  • Get Talking! — Resources and advice for adoptive parents on how to talk to your children, their friends and classmates, and others, about adoption — from Adoptive Families Magazine.
  • Talking to Your Kids about Adoption : 11 Tips — Suggestions from the Adoption Mosaic’s blog.

    How to Talk to Kids About Adoption — Recommendations for parents, teachers, coaches and others for talking about adoption with children from Adopting.org