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Did you know that NOVEMBER is "National Adoption Month" in the United States?

The History of Adoption Month (taken from "NACAC:" North American Council on Adoptable Children) Formalized, time-specific adoption awareness campaigns originated more than 20 years ago. In May 1976, Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis issued the first state Adoption Week proclamation, and President Ford then officially proclaimed the week in a letter to the North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC) conference held later that year. As years went on, Adoption Week came to be observed during the week of Thanksgiving in November.

In 1986, NACAC helped coordinate a national "Calling Out" event based on an idea from Larry Gellerstein, then president of the Adoptive Parent Committee of New York. That year groups across North America braved late November weather and simultaneously assembled on state and provincial capitol steps to read statements about waiting children, and call out the names of waiting children in their state or province.

In 1990, NACAC decided to expand opportunities for raising awareness, and began advertising Adoption Week as National Adoption Awareness Month (November). The idea has quickly caught on, and Adoption Month has celebrated ever since.

In 2005, a Presidential Proclamation of November 19 marked "National Adoption Day" where thousands of children across the United States have their adoption finalized in court!  

CELEBRATE ADOPTION !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As an adoptive family, what can you do to celebrate National Adoption Month?  

-contact your local schools and help them celebrate too!  
-contact your local child care facilities and ask them to celebrate adoption too!
-connect with your employer/HR and start an adoption benefit!
 -start an adoptive family support group in your area!
-plan a community gathering with your local adoptive families support groups!
-write a letter (and send a photo) to your congress person to help encourage their support!
-write a letter to your child's birth/first parents, expressing your emotions!
-write a letter to your child telling them how much you love them!
-work on or look at your child's  Lifebook!
-plan a family outing!
-sponsor an orphan in your child's birth-country
-start an adoption ministry at your church
-have a fundraiser/garage sale/bake-off/silent auction at church... to benefit your child's orphanage/adoption expenses!
-have siblings in the home write about "what adoption means to them"!
-look into culture camps and homeland tours for your family!
-learn something fun about your child's birth-country or birth-culture!
-go out to eat or cook ethnic food!
-make a tradition of having a family photo taken every November... then send it out with Christmas cards!
-write a letter/story to your local newspaper educating about adoption!
-pray for birth/first families, foster families, orphanage caretakers, adoptive families, and orphaned children around the world... that they may celebrate the Blessings of adoption too!

CELEBRATE ADOPTION !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Tendai Masiriri At 12:11:20 PM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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A long awaited study on adoption identity formation was recently published by the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute.  A New York Times article about the study can be found here. A full study summary can be found on the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute website by clicking here.  We encourage every adoptive parent to check out this excellent study.  Also, adoption workers are encouraged to study the findings and consider how best to prepare families for the unique issues of identity formation their adopted child will face.  We greatly appreciate the time and effort spent on this wonderful resource.

Posted by Sara E. Ruiter At 12:59:36 PM Location | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

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On November 20, 2009 the Convention on the Rights of the Child will celebrate its 20^th anniversary advocating for children everywhere. While for some a child having the right to an education and the simplicity of childhood is normal, others still view children as property. This is seen on a wide scale around the world where child labor laws are in place, but not enforced; where children are coerced and manipulated into being agents of war; and where children are tried and convicted as adults. The CRC called upon the human race to step up and take action against the injustices children face. The CRC is a voice for the abused and neglected children around the world. To read further about this, please visit www.unicef.org.

Posted by Sara E. Ruiter At 10:33:08 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)