How Young People Can Make an Impact with Service

The month of November brings Thanksgiving, a time for family, friends, and thankfulness. Many of us go back home to spend the holidays with our families or host a gathering at our home. For thousands of children awaiting adoption, the holidays are a time spent wondering if they will get a permanent family.

November is National Adoption Month and the perfect opportunity to celebrate the families who have adopted, as well as raise awareness for the children that wait. It is a time to examine the foster systems in

place and work on making it easier for children to be adopted.

Within the month of November is another holiday, National Adoption Day, which also observes adoption. On this day, thousands of adoptions are finalized and children are given new homes in time for the holidays. This year, National Adoption Day falls on November 23rd, which is the Saturday before Thanksgiving. More than 40,000 children have been adopted on National Adoption Day, and that number is expected to grow this year.

Children need a loving, nurturing, and consistent environment in which to truly flourish. Thousands simply age out of the system, where they become too old to stay in foster care and are then out on their own. Despite being adults, they do not have long-term care and support networks like children with families. Providing children with care and opportunities gives them a better chance to succeed in life and serve their community.

National Adoption Month is also a time to consider adoption as an option for an unexpected pregnancy. Not everyone has or the means to raise a child, and placing a child for adoption at a trusted adoption agency with birth mother services is a wonderful way to make sure the child, as well as the mother, has an opportunity for a better future.

Volunteering and donating to an adoption agency is another way to celebrate the month. Many adoption agencies are nonprofit and require the support and assistance of those in their community to help

with their daily tasks. Donating money or time helps agencies work towards taking care of children and helping find them good homes.

The number of children adopted in the month of November has steadily increased since National Adoption Month first started, but the number of children in foster care is still too high. Those who work in the adoption field hope that this celebration will raise awareness and help find children new and permanent families in time to sit down for a Thanksgiving meal.

Adopting a child is an important decision that requires careful consideration. Are you contemplating adoption, or are you already planning to adopt a child to expand your family? Do you have any idea about how or where to start? Providence Place will guide you through the adoption process while making sure all your questions are answered. Contact us today to learn more about adoption.