November is National Adoption Month

by Irene Clements

Raising public awareness of the over 100,000 children living in foster care who are waiting for their very own permanent family is top priority during National Adoption Month. Of course, time is also taken to celebrate and honor those families who adopt children from the foster care system. Special thanks from the National Foster Parent Association to all the foster parents who also choose to adopt the children in their homes or other children from the foster care system.

There are two special days identified during November that relate to November as National Adoption Month. The first is Orphan Sunday recognized in the faith-based community. This November it was November 3. Many churches across the country held special services or awareness functions to help their members become more aware of children who need families in their communities and how they can find out more about the adoption process and the children waiting for adoption.

The second special day is National Adoption Day. This November, that day is November 23. National Adoption Day is always the Saturday before Thanksgiving. National Adoption Day is celebrated in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Guam. You can participate by attending the special adoption ceremony in your local area, by volunteering to help make National Adoption Day special for each child and family finalizing adoptions on that day in your community and, of course, by finalizing an adoption in your own family (at this late date, you will need to do the finalization next year on National Adoption Day).  

Congratulations to everyone who is expanding their family during November and all year long through adoption.

Irene Clements is the president of the National Foster Parent Association and can be reached at iclements@nfpaonline.org.