Initially starting as an awareness week in Massachusetts in 1976, Adoption Awareness went national in 1984. Due to wide public recognition, in 1998, President Bill Clinton extended the weeklong event into National Adoption Awareness Month, which we celebrate every November.
While there are many infertility treatments available such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF), these can be costly and draining physically and emotionally. Even when accessible, the hard truth is that these alternative fertility treatments aren't successful for everyone.
With nearly half a million children in foster care in the United States, adoption can be a wonderful option when conceiving a child naturally or otherwise isn't an option. For some families, it may be the preferred route to building a family.
Either way, in honor of National Adoption Awareness Month, we're sharing resources, facts, and information for anyone interested in exploring adoption or adoption awareness.
How to Support Adoption & Foster Care
Advocate for your employer to offer adoption benefits to employees
Support a family who is in the adoption process or considering adoption – this can be through financial donations, sharing their story, or simply offering words of encouragement
Consider becoming a mentor to a foster child
Volunteer with CASA or GAL
Share the stories of children waiting to be adopted by amplifying through your network and social channels
Share your own adoption story
Communicate and work with your local representatives
Become a positive example for adoption in your community
Statistics on Adoption in the United States
Source: AdoptionNetwork.com
428,000 children are in foster care in the U.S.
135,000 children are adopted in the U.S. each year
There are more males than females in foster care
African American children are disproportionately represented
More than 50% of children available for adoption are six years old or older
More than 60% of children in foster care spend 2-5 years there before being adopted
There are 1.5 million adopted children in the U.S., and nearly 140,000 children are adopted by American families each year
While 1/3 of Americans have considered adoption, only 2% have adopted a child
6 in 10 Americans have had personal experience with adoption
The average age of children waiting for an adoptive family is eight
U.S. citizens completed 19,942 international adoptions in 2007
This number dropped to 9,319 international adoptions in 2011 due to restrictions
Almost 60-70% of domestic adoptions are now open adoptions
Adoption Resources
Considering adopting a child? We can help you navigate the adoption process.