What is National Adoption Month?
By: Mohammed Ahmad
National Adoption Month is one of the greatest times of the year to celebrate the beauty of adoptions. The month of November celebrates the adoption of children throughout the country. It is a great month to reflect and emphasize the importance of why the adoption process is beneficial. Adoption is one of the greatest blessings you can give a child. Not only has adoption benefited thousands of children, it has also benefited adoptive parents. Many parents have struggled with infertility. Adoption has given them the opportunity to create the family of their dreams. Adoption has also benefited same-sex couples who strive for a family. Throughout the country, there are approximately 400,000 children in foster care. There are also over 100,000 children waiting to find their forever families.
The idea of National Adoption Month was morphed in the state of Massachusetts in 1976. The purpose was to bring attention to adoption services and how critical adoption is for children. Mike Dukakis, the governor of Massachusetts at the time, initiated National Adoption Month. There is an increasing number of children in foster care. Throughout the seventies, this increased exponentially. Dukakis created a national adoption month to bring attention to child adoption. Ensuring a bright future for children is a topic everyone should be interested in. It is important that we are constantly advocating for the care, protection, and sense of belonging of children. There are many reputable adoption agencies in Colorado. One example is Adoption Choices of Colorado. Our mission through this month is to celebrate adoption in many families across America. It celebrates their growth and their commitment to childcare and creating stable home lives. Through this article, we will discuss the benefits of adoption and ways you can celebrate this compelling month.
The Top Benefits of Adoption
Adoption allows parents to create a family. There are many hardships couples may endure, such as infertility. Infertility prevents heterosexual couples from having children. Many couples dream of having children, and adoption gives them the ability to have a child. It may be a tough decision, and couples may take the time to think about the best option. In the end, it is proven to benefit families and provide a home and stable future for a child.
Another benefit of adoption is that it helps same-sex couples create a family. Their options for having children are limited. There are thousands of children in need of homes, and it is hard to believe the controversy surrounding same-sex adoption. It has also been proven that adoption has created stable relationships. You are benefiting both the parents and the adopted child.
The most important benefit is giving a home to a child. Children need homes and loving parents. It creates positive emotional feelings for the children, giving them a sense of belonging and security. Children seek unconditional love and care. The love a parent gives to their child is like no other.
Often, you, the birth mother, maybe forgotten throughout the process, but you are the most critical part. Adoption provides many birth mothers with security and happiness, knowing your child is in a loving home. Birth mothers have endured multiple troubling circumstances, such as an unplanned pregnancy. Choosing to give up your child for adoption is not an easy decision. Knowing that your child is going to a loving home provides a great sense of comfort. As a birth mother, you are not only benefiting yourself and the child. You are helping the adoptive parents as well. Colorado Adoption ensures the comfort of both parties.
Ways to Celebrate National Adoption Month
There are many ways you can celebrate National Adoption Month. One way is to read up on many sources and understand how to give a baby up for adoption. This ensures a great understanding of the adoption process and what you may go through. It helps educate you and adoptive parents about the adoption process in Colorado and what it entails. Adoption agencies in Colorado can provide you with great resources.
Another great way to celebrate National Adoption Month is to share information with your family and friends. You may have other people in your life who are interested in the adoption process. They may also be considering placing their child for adoption. This can also help them understand the process and decide whether it is the best decision.
Donating can also be a beneficial and great way to celebrate. It helps adoption agencies place children in homes and acquire the necessary needs. By donating, you are putting action and support toward the children of America. You are benefiting thousands of children and families. It is great to know where your money is going and that it is directly supporting children who need it.
More Information on National Adoption Month
Volunteer work for adoption agencies or foster care organizations can also be a prime example of celebration. You are committing hard work and your time to benefiting the foster care system and children waiting for homes.
These are all great ways to fully embrace this month. It may give you more clarity as a birth parent considering placing your baby up for adoption. Donate, volunteer, and share these resources with your family and friends. Check out adoption agencies in Colorado today and learn about the profound work we do for children across the country!
Resources:
Published by Statista Research Department, and July 21. “Foster Care in the U.S. – Number of Children 2021.” Statista, 21 July 2023,
Stephanie joined the Adoption Choices family in 2014 as the Child Placement Supervisor. Her love for adoption began in first grade when she made friends with twins adopted from Vietnam. Her heart grew strong over the years for adopted children and ultimately led her to graduate school where she continued her focus to her dream of working in the adoption field. Stephanie earned a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Denver in 2001. Over the past 15 years, Stephanie has worked as a pregnancy counselor and as an adoptive parent counselor for foster care, international adoption and domestic adoption, writing hundreds of home studies for families, and helping build their forever families. Stephanie is married and has three boys ages 12, 9, and 5. Together with her family she enjoys riding bike, playing games, watching her three sons compete in their various sporting and musical activities and go on vacations.
Christy Ikeler, is our Executive Director and Birth Parent Director. Christy has been with Adoption Choices Team for 18 years, since opening the doors in 2002! Christy has a true passion for what she does and her true love is working with and helping each birth parent. Whether she is up all night on the phone talking with them, taking them to doctors appointments, out for their favorite treat, providing counseling or at the hospital during labor and delivery, Christy is very involved every step of the way. She has a contagious laugh and a spunky personality that our birth moms all can bond with and relate to. As an adoptive parent herself, adoption holds a very special place in her heart and she can relate on every level with both birth parents and adoptive parents. In her free time Christy loves spending time with her daughter, gardening, baking and taking vacations with her family. Christy is an excellent leader for our team at Adoption Choices and is truly one of a kind!! As Executive Director, Christy spends time with the staff, birth parents and adoptive families in order to ensure that the agency is running smoothly. She has placed a huge emphasis on community outreach and programs for birth parents. Christy loves the opportunity to lead the agency into a brighter future.
Ms. Mackenzie has built a successful counseling career over the past 20 years, supporting mothers and families, people of all ages and genders, students, community professionals and fellow clinicians. Liv values a diverse professional focus, including the entrepreneurial life of a sole proprietor, the evaluative process of certifying foster/adoptive homes, the insightful and mindful one-on-one one work with enthusiastic clients, and serving as an advocate for underserved populations. Liv is a Licensed Professional Counselor and holds a BA in Pre-Law and Economics from American University, an MA in Counseling from Adams University and a certificate in Human Resource Management from Villanova University. Away from work you will find Liv spending time in nature, biking to the farmer’s market and adventuring with her family.
Catherine A. Madsen, joined the Adoption Choices family as legal counsel in 2013. Catherine is responsible for providing legal guidance to the Agency, training and updating staff on developments in adoption law and legislation, and program development. Catherine
Virginia Frank is an adoption attorney accredited since 1991 with the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. Ms. Frank is a leader in the field of private adoption and has completed over 4,000 adoptions in her career. Ms. Frank has a law degree from Oklahoma City University and a BA in both Political Science and Communications from the University of Oklahoma.
Cassidie has been with Adoption Choices since 2015, she has her bachelors in Interdisciplinary Affairs with concentrations in both Sociology and Business Management. Cassidie has additional training in Victim Advocacy, foster care and has been working in women’s services for over 10 years. Cassidie has always had a heart for adoption and it was her career dream to work in adoption. She started off doing volunteer work for advocacy programs, adoption organizations and worked in High Risk Maternal Fetal Medicine through the University of Colorado Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Colorado. Cassidie is also blessed to have personally experienced an adoption of her own in 2012, completing her family of five! Cassidie loves what she does as a case worker from initial phone calls, meetings, doctor appointments, interaction with the adoptive families to delivery and counseling. Cassidie has a passion for those in need and strives to help make a difference in the lives of the people she meets. She is a firm believer in being kind, compassionate and open minded in all situations. “Unless you’ve walked in their shoes, there’s no place for judgment. A kind word or compliment can go a long way!” The bittersweet moments in adoption reminds Cassidie each and every time, why she loves what she does!