National Adoption Month takes place the month of November. During this month, the primary focus is placed on the number of children currently in the foster care system. November is dedicated to celebrating adoption as a way to build families.

This year, November 20, has been designated as National Adoption Day. Courthouses across the nation participate to finalize thousands of adoptions simultaneously! Other activities and observances throughout the month shed light on all of the children who are in need of finding a permanent family.

Here are some ways your family can celebrate National Adoption Month:

  • Draw a picture or write an encouraging note for the people directly involved in the adoption process. This can include the local judge, case workers, and CASA volunteers. These people work on the front lines and behind the scenes to help children in foster care find their permanent families. These special professionals love to receive encouragement from anyone who supports their mission of building families.
  • Share your skills and talents with adoptive families. Get to know these families and how the adoption process works. Ask them how you can be an encouragement to them all year long.
  • Volunteer at local foster care organizations. You can help them sort through their donations and even donate your own items to foster care organizations.
  • Learn about adoption and foster care through resources provided by your public library. Later on in the blog post I’ll supply you with a few books available at the Floyd County Library you can check out.

If you are thinking about adoption or becoming a foster parent, here are a few resources for you to use and research:

According to the most recent Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System, there were nearly 424,000 children in the foster care system in 2019. The average age of a child in foster care is 8.4 years. Most children in the foster care system stay in the system at least two years once they enter into it. They number of males (52%) and females (48%) are fairly evenly split. Even more detailed information can be found in this report supplied by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families,
Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children’s Bureau here: Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System

Books about adoption to check out at the library:

 Adopting Older Children: A Practical Guide to Adopting and Parenting Children Over Age Four

This book highlights the most significant challenges when parenting older adoptees who face mental health, behavioral and educational issues. Included is critical information about developmental concerns, issues related to emerging sense of self, sexual orientation, cultural identity and other special needs that an adoptee may have.

 Just like A Mama

Carol Olivia Clementine wishes her parents did not live so far away, but Mama Rose provides a home, loves her, and cares for her just like a mother would.

 A Crazy Much Love

The love two parents have for their adopted daughter grows so much that it busts down doors and spills out of windows.

There are even more adoption books in our collection, so stop by the library for use of these resources if adoption and foster care is something you have been interested in or thinking about!

Happy November, and Happy Reading!

Ashley Martin, Children’s Librarian