On National Adoption Day courts and communities in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

come together to finalize thousands of adoption of children from

foster care Foster care is a system in which a minor has been placed into a ward, group home ( residential child care community, treatment center, etc.), or private home of a state-certified caregiver, referred to as a "foster parent" or with a family ...

. More than 300 events are held each year on the Saturday before

Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated on various dates in the United States, Canada, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Liberia, and unofficially in countries like Brazil and Philippines. It is also observed in the Netherlander town of Leiden ...

in November, in all 50 US states, the

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and

Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and unincorporated ...

to finalize the adoptions of children in foster care. In total, more than 40,000 children have been adopted from foster care on National Adoption Day.

History

National Adoption Day was started in 2000 by a coalition of national partners, which included The Alliance for Children's Rights, Children's Action Network, Freddie Mac Foundation and Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. In November 2000, National Adoption Day sponsors worked with law firms, state foster care agencies, child advocates, and courts to complete hundreds of foster care adoptions in nine jurisdictions nationwide. In November 2001, 17 jurisdictions participated in National Adoption Day. In 2002, Casey Family Services and the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute joined the National Adoption Day Coalition, helping 34 cities across the country finalize 1,350 adoptions and celebrate adoption. By 2003, courts and community organizations in more than 120 jurisdictions coast to coast finalized the adoptions of 3,100 children and celebrated adoption. In 2004, courts and community organizations finalized the adoptions of more than 3,400 children from foster care in 200 events in 37 states. In 2011, National Adoption Day was celebrated across the U.S., the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico as more than 300 events were held throughout the country to finalize the adoptions of children in foster care, and to celebrate all families who adopt. In total, more than 75,000 children have been adopted from foster care on National Adoption Day. Traditionally, National Adoption Day is celebrated the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

Partners

National Adoption Day is supported by a coalition of non-profit partners: *The Alliance for Children’s Rights *Children’s Action Network *Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute *

Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a nonprofit public charity dedicated to finding permanent homes for children waiting in foster care in the United States and Canada. Created in 1992 by Wendy's Wendy's is an American international f ...

*Freddie Mac Foundation

References

External links

Tips for Observing Adoption Awareness Month
{{Thanksgiving Adoption in the United States November observances Observances based on the date of Thanksgiving (United States) Saturday observances Family member holidays