Celebrate Uniting Children with Forever Families on National Adoption Day

Celebrate Uniting Children with Forever Families on National Adoption Day

Each year, the Saturday before Thanksgiving, we recognize National Adoption Day. This year, the day falls on Nov. 20, 2021. National Adoption Day was established in 2000. It arose from the cooperative efforts of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, Alliance for Children’s Rights and Children’s Action Network. Each of the organizations advocate for children’s rights and help foster children find the safe, loving and permanent home they deserve. In recognition of the first National Adoption Day, these organizations worked with lawyers, adoption agencies, social workers/child advocates and the courts to assist with hundreds of adoptions. The first year focused on nine jurisdictions in the United States, but the geographic scope of the day quickly expanded, as did the number of adoptions that take place on this day each year. Over 75,000 adoptions have been finalized to date because of the efforts of those who have participated in National Adoption Day.

Events celebrating National Adoption Day are held in cities nationwide. These events not only bring awareness to the need for adoptions of foster children, but assist adoptive families with paperwork and legal guidance needed to facilitate the adoption, and celebrate the adoptions once completed. Social media posts celebrating adoption and sharing adoption stories, which use the hashtag #nationaladoptionday, are also a part of the recognition of this day.

You can learn more about National Adoption Day, National Adoption Month, or adoption of foster children in the United States on websites dedicated to the day and month, as well as the websites of the organizations that joined together to form National Adoption Day, including The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, The Alliance for Children’s Rights, Children’s Action Network, and the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. Read firsthand stories from some of the children whose lives have been permanently changed for the better through their adoption from the foster system at.

Adoption is an amazing and life-changing experience for both the child and the family. Many people may be curious about adoption but may lack the information of what adoption entails and the amazing benefits and experiences that adoption can involve. National Adoption Day helps to bring awareness to both the importance of, and need for, adoptions, and to help provide more information about adoption for those who are considering adopting and the public. To all the parents and families who have welcomed a new family member through adoption, thank you for helping to give every child the home and love they deserve!