Adoption STAR Founder/CEO Michele Fried reflects on National Adoption Month’s history and meaning.
National Adoption Month is THIS month. November. But what is it?
Let’s first start with its history.
In 1976, Governor Michael Dukakis announced an Adoption Week to promote an awareness of children in foster care who need adoptive families.
In 1984, President Reagan proclaimed the first National Adoption Week for that very reason.
In 1995, President Clinton expanded the week to a month in November in an effort to expand awareness of children in foster care in need of a permanent family.
Every November, a Presidential Proclamation is issued to continue to build adoption awareness throughout the nation. Additionally each year, the Children’s Bureau within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services selects an initiative and this year’s National Adoption Month initiative emphasizes the importance of sibling connections for the 102,000 children and youth in foster care waiting for adoptive families.
In an effort to reach their goal to educate more people on the importance of sibling connections, websites such as National Adoption Month website and the AdoptUSKids website are providing resources to help promote and support sibling connections in adoption.
National Adoption Month is a month that also reminds us of the bitter-sweetness adoption is. Waiting children. Grief. Loss. Tears. Memories. Life. Celebration. Broken Connections. New Relationships. Search. Reunion. Happiness. Sadness. Journey. Education. Awareness.
Let us not take away that November is a month to celebrate the families that were created by way of adoption, but rather the families we need to create because of the countless children still without homes. Let us remember that National Adoption Month must also spread awareness of the journey birth parents and adoptees have taken and continue to take and that not all of their stories are celebratory.
National Adoption Month is filled with history and has been created to bring awareness. Some will celebrate. Some will grieve. Wherever you are in the journey, Adoption STAR asks that you continue to spread awareness that there are children in foster care and they need to be remembered.
Adoption STAR has offices in NYS, FL and OH. Here are some websites to introduce you to the many children who are hoping to be adopted in these states:
NYS Waiting Children
FL Waiting Children
OH Waiting Children
Jayson, Joan, Ariana and Shawn are siblings who need a forever family. To be considered as their family, please contact the NYS Office of Children and Family Services.
Jayson is a handsome and charismatic 11 year old youngster. Joan is a charming 10 year old boy. He has a wonderful smile and a warm, friendly personality. Ariana is an exuberant, gregarious, graceful 8 year old girl, with a smile that lights up a room. Shawn is a lovable, energetic 7 year old boy. The children are friendly, energetic and happy. They are a warm, personable and engaging bunch. Of the four, the youngest two, Ariana and Shawn, most enjoy getting attention, especially Shawn. They function well as a group and there is little sibling rivalry. They all get along well, though in a sibling group of four you are bound to have quarrels and disagreements. They enjoy a variety of activities such as: basketball, football, running, dancing and playing video games. They are all doing very well in school. It is very important for them to stay together, they are very deeply attached. They have a bright future ahead of them and they need a caring, energetic and committed family that will shower them with love, affection and attention. They expressed their desire to be adopted and would like the opportunity to join a loving, nurturing and supportive family that will help them be the best they can be.
Steven, Brianna and Tiffany are hoping to find a family together. To be considered as their family, please contact the NYS Office of Children and Family Services.
Steven, born February 2001, Brianna, born March 2004 and Tiffany, born January 2008, are siblings who are to be placed together. Steven, 13, like a typical teenager enjoys playing video games. He is pleasant, polite and sensitive. Steven enjoys the outdoors He attends the sixth grade where he is doing very well. He enjoys school. He is eager to please and responds well to praise. Brianna is a spirited, charming and pleasant 10 year old who is articulate and talkative. She enjoys dressing up and playing with her siblings. She is very sweet and loveable and enjoys story-telling. Brianna attends the second grade where she receives additional assistance in reading and math. Tiffany, 6, is the youngest of three siblings and is pleasant and friendly with a great sense of humor. She loves to help around the house doing chores such as cleaning the kitchen table and sweeping the floors. She is always eager to learn new things. Steven, Brianna and Tiffany need a family who will be devoted to providing a loving, permanent home where they will feel safe and are able to realize their full potential.