National Adoption Month - Now is your chance to become part of something bigger than yourself.

National Adoption Month 2024 – November 2024

November is National Adoption Month. It is the month when the broader community acknowledges the efforts of those whose lives have been impacted by adoption and who facilitate the process. This month helps spread awareness and encourages all of us to learn about adoption. National Adoption Month celebrates the families who have grown through adoption. It also recognizes the journey of the many children who are still waiting for their destined families. It further highlights the thousands of children worldwide in need of adoption, and how easy it is to make a difference even if you cannot adopt.

History of National Adoption Month

Every year, there are more and more children in need of finding secure and safe families. National Adoption Month sheds light on the process and the positive impacts of adoption.The state of Massachusetts was the first to promote adoption-related efforts in 1976. Governor Mike Dukakis announced the first week of November as “Adoption Week” to promote awareness of the need for adoptive families for children in the foster care system. The idea slowly grew in popularity and spread throughout the nation. Following this, in 1984, President Gerald R. Ford made adoption week a national event. As the popularity of this week grew, more states started participating, and it became difficult to fit all the events into a period of seven days. This was when President Bill Clinton extended the week-long event into a whole month, which came to be known as National Adoption Month, which is celebrated globally.National Adoption Month is a chance for all — individuals, families, businesses, organizations, communities, states, and the government — to celebrate adoption. Adoption is encouraged as a positive way to grow families and take children out of foster care. Many fundraising drives, recognition dinners, community activities, and awareness campaigns are held all across the nation to observe this month.National Adoption Month also includes National Adoption Day, November 20. This day is observed in courthouses all across the country, where thousands of adoptions are finalized simultaneously on the Saturday directly after it. Courts are encouraged to deal with the backlog of adoptions on this day. World Adoption Day is also celebrated in this month, on November 9, and is a global awareness day for this important cause.

National Adoption Month timeline

1851
Adoption of Children Act

Adoption of Children Act passes in the state of Massachusetts.

1948
First Cross-Racial Adoption

The first cross-racial adoption of a black child by white parents takes place in Minnesota.

1970
Highest Number of Adoptions

The number of adoptions peaks in 1970 with an estimated 175,000 annual adoptions.

2017
LGBT Adoptions

Adoption by LGBT individuals or same-sex couples is legal in all fifty states as of June 2017.

National Adoption Month FAQs

How many children are adopted each year in the U.S.?

Approximately 150,000 children are adopted in the U.S. each year, with about a third coming through the foster care system.

How are families found for children awaiting adoption?

Agencies such as the National Children’s Bureau organize partnerships with organizations for awareness campaigns and run a national recruitment campaign to find adoptive parents for children.

When is National Adoption Day in the U.S.?

National Adoption Day is held on November 20 each year in the U.S.

How To Observe National Adoption Month

  1. Attend events in your community

    There are many events organized being held across the country during National Adoption Month. Attend local events being organized in your town or city and educate yourself about adoption procedures, laws, and history.

  2. Volunteer with an adoption organization

    Help out at your local foster care organizations or a children's home during your free time. Even your tiniest efforts can make a huge difference in all these children’s lives. You can even mentor a child who is aging out of the foster care system.

  3. Share information

    Spread awareness about adoption with your friends and family. Encourage your neighborhoods, communities, cities, and states to take a stand on adoption. You can even spread the word via social media by sharing adoption-positive articles and links.

5 Facts About Adoption

  1. Adoption statistic in U.S. families

    One out of every 25 families with children have an adopted child.

  2. Adopted Americans

    Around 7 million Americans are adopted.

  3. Average waiting time for getting adopted

    The time an average child waits for an adoptive family is more than three years.

  4. Adoption agencies in the U.S.

    The U.S. has more adoption agencies than any other country.

  5. International adoptions

    Americans adopt children globally, although the numbers have declined since 2018.

Why Is National Adoption Month Important?

  1. Honor the ones involved in the adoption process

    This month allows us to honor families with adopted children and thus make a difference. They are the reasons why adoption is seen as a positive way to grow a family. They inspire many others, who see how beneficial the process is for all those who are involved.

  2. Recognition for the children

    All children deserve a safe, loving, and supportive environment to grow. This initiative spreads awareness about adoption and sheds light on the hundreds of thousands of children waiting for families.

  3. Encourages people to get involved

    National Adoption Month provides everyone with the opportunity to get involved by encouraging our neighborhoods, communities, cities, and states to take a stand. This month also gives businesses and companies a chance to support adoption.

National Adoption Month dates

Year Date Day
2022 November 1 Tuesday
2023 November 1 Wednesday
2024 November 1 Friday
2025 November 1 Saturday
2026 November 1 Sunday
All Saints' Day
​National Calzone Day
National Vinegar Day
National Men Make Dinner Day
National Brush Day
Karnataka Rajyotsava Day
National Cook For Your Pets Day
National Jersey Friday
National Deep Fried Clams Day
National Cinnamon Day
Extra Mile Day
National Family Literacy Day
Fountain Pen Day
Love Your Lawyer Day
National Author's Day
Prime Meridian Day
World Vegan Day
Haryana Day
International Pet Groomer Appreciation Day
Lakshmi Puja
Puducherry Liberation Day
Antigua Independence Day
Kut
Kannada Rajyothsava
D. Hamilton Jackson Day
Anniversary of the Revolution
Coronation Day of His Majesty the King
Pâté Day
Laxmi Puja
Scented Candle Day
National Biologic Coordinators Day
National Jayden Day
National Mia Day
Calan Gaeaf
All Saints Day (Spain)
GeorgeNotFound's Birthday
Lil Peep's Birthday
Jayden Bartels's Birthday
Natalia Tena's Birthday
Penn Badgley's Birthday
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's Birthday
Paige Hyland's Birthday
Anthony Ramos's Birthday
David Foster's Birthday
Earth Katsamonnat's Birthday
JoJo Fletcher's Birthday
Anthony Kiedis's Birthday
Sada Bettencourt's Birthday
Jenny McCarthy's Birthday
Marc D'Amelio's Birthday
Coco Crisp's Birthday
Gabrielle Bernstein's Birthday
Sunset Safari's Birthday
World Communication Week
National Fig Week
National Medical Cannabis Week
​Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness Month
​Diabetic Eye Disease Month
​National Diabetes Month
​National Epilepsy Awareness Month
​National Family Caregivers Month
National Fun with Fondue Month
​National Impotency Month
National Peanut Butter Lovers Month
National Pepper Month
No Shave November
​PTA Healthy Lifestyles Month
​National Healthy Skin Month
​National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month
​National Novel Writing Month
Banana Pudding Lovers Month
National Prevent a Litter Month
Family Stories Month
Lung Cancer Awareness Month
Gluten Free Diet Awareness Month
Manatee Awareness Month
National Adopt A Senior Pet Month
Military Family Month
National Adoption Month
National Roasting Month
National Family Literacy Month
National Gratitude Month
National Native American Heritage Month
National Entrepreneurship Month
Aviation History Month
Filipino Values Month
National Raisin Bread Month
Adopt a Turkey Month
Stomach Cancer Awareness Month
Bladder Health Month
Library and Information Services Month
National Long-term Care Awareness Month
Traditional and Alternative Health Month
National Consciousness Month for Punctuality and Civility
Philippine Book Development Month
National Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation Month
Worldwide Bereaved Siblings Month
National Children’s Month
National Repair Done Right Month
National Pomegranate Month
Pet Diabetes Month
National Life Writing Month
National Rice Awareness Month
National Marrow Awareness Month
National Inspirational Role Models Month
National Pet Cancer Awareness Month
National Home Care and Hospice Month
National Scholarship Month