Every November, adoption agencies and child welfare organizations celebrate National Adoption Month! It’s a month, usually with a specific focus, designed to raise awareness of the need for families to adopt children locally and globally.
In honor of National Adoption Month, MLJ Adoptions is reducing our Adoption Application Fee by $100. Begin your adoption journey today!
Why does National Adoption Month matter?
National Adoption Month sets aside a time for adoption agencies, child welfare organizations and governmental entities to come together in defense of children who live outside of the care of families. It acknowledges that greater advocacy is required on behalf of the millions of orphaned children who live outside the love and protection of a family. Conservative estimates say that there are 160 million worldwide who live without at least one parent; over 110,000 of those children are in the U.S. foster care system. Without a family to care for them, many of these children go without food, clean water and education. Even when their basic needs are met, they still lack one of the most important things: a loving family. Even at a young age, children who live in institutions worldwide, or in the U.S. foster care system, have been abused, neglected or abandoned.
What’s this year’s focus?
This year, Children’s Bureau is focusing its initiative on the need for families to specifically adopt teenagers. The theme is “Teens Need Families No Matter What.” There is a critical need for families to adopt teenagers, who are at risk of entering adulthood without advocates or a safe environment. There are few resources available to children who age out of the foster care system, and very little is done worldwide to assist children with this transition, or support them as adults.
Families interested in adopting a teenager internationally can visit our Waiting Child Photolisting.
How can my family get involved in National Adoption Month?
The biggest way your family can get involved in National Adoption Month is by considering adoption. Set up a free initial information seminar over the phone with MLJ Adoptions, or attend a foster care information meeting locally. There are children waiting for you to say “Yes” to adoption!
Advocacy is also needed for children who live outside of the care of families. Do you know where your elected officials stand on the Adoption Tax Credit, or how they’re advocating for international adoption? This could be a great month to find out. Maybe your church has an orphan care ministry; you could reach out and see if there are tangible ways you can serve families in your church or community.
Adoption is expensive! If bringing another child into your home isn’t something that your family is able to do now, you can donate to MLJ Adoptions! You have the option of donating to the cause of vulnerable children globally, our Special Needs Adoption Fund or a general donation that will be applied to the area with the greatest need.
If you have creative ways to get other families involved in National Adoption Month, we would love to hear them. Whatever you do, just don’t let the overwhelming need prevent you from doing something!
Caitlin Snyder
Caitlin Snyder works as the Director of Marketing and Outreach for MLJ Adoptions. Working in international adoption has given Caitlin the unique opportunity to pursue both a passion to advocate on behalf of vulnerable people and a profession at the same time.
Caitlin Snyder
Caitlin Snyder works as the Director of Marketing and Outreach for MLJ Adoptions. Working in international adoption has given Caitlin the unique opportunity to pursue both a passion to advocate on behalf of vulnerable people and a profession at the same time.