National Adoption Day
National Adoption Day is celebrated every year in the United States on the Saturday before Thanksgiving . This year, it will be observed on November 18 . The day raises awareness about the thousands of children who are currently in foster care and in need of a home, waiting to be adopted.
On this day, courts complete hundreds of adoptions, and communities celebrate the new families. Since its inception, over 80,000 children have been adopted on National Adoption Day.
2023 marks the 24th National Adoption Day. National Adoption Day is not a public holiday in the United States so everything is open as usual.
World Adoption Day is also celebrated in the same month on November 9 every year.
The Origin and Impact of National Adoption Day
National Adoption Day was established by a coalition of national partners, including Children's Action Network, The Alliance for Children's Rights, and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption in 2000.
In November of that year, the dedicated sponsors of National Adoption Day collaborated with law firms, courts, and foster care agencies in nine jurisdictions across the country. Together, they facilitated the successful completion of hundreds of adoptions from the foster care system, making a positive impact on the lives of countless children in need.
In 2002, the coalition gained the support of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, and thousands of adoptions were completed that year. By 2003 there were already 120 jurisdictions nationwide observing National Adoption Day, and in that year 3100 children were adopted.
By celebrating National Adoption Day on a Saturday, courts reduce their backlogs of processes to deal with, ensuring that children are adopted into their families faster. At the same time, because it falls on the weekend, families get to spend the day celebrating the adoptions with their friends and communities. Currently, National Adoption Day is observed in 400 cities in the United States.
There are currently more than 391,000 children in the system waiting to be adopted from foster care into their forever homes. National Adoption Day raises awareness about the importance of giving these children a home. It is estimated that 5 million Americans are adopted.
How to Make a Difference on National Adoption Day
- If you have the time, consider volunteering for one of the National Adoption Day partner organizations. You can participate in a rally or an adoption fair, distribute some flyers with information, or volunteer at a fundraising event.
- You can also donate money to local organizations that assist with adoption.
- The best way to help is to spread the word about National Adoption Day. There are many online resources that you can share with your family and friends on social media, and hopefully encourage someone to take the leap and consider adopting or fostering a child.
- This is also the perfect day to contact organizations that guide families through the adoption and fostering process if you've been thinking about growing your family.
- If you have adopted children, make sure to embrace and celebrate their unique heritage and culture.
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