This year marks the 15th anniversary of National Adoption Day—an initiative started to help move the nearly 10,000 children in U.S. foster care into permanent, loving homes. While it is not run by one advocacy group, it is a collective effort of policymakers, practitioners, and advocates who work together to finalize adoptions that are in the works.
Over the past 14 years, National Adoption Day, which is always held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, has helped move nearly 50,000 kids into a “forever-family.” In 2013, more than 4,000 children were adopted on National Adoption Day. The Dave Thomas Foundation reports, “This year the National Adoption Day Coalition expects 4,500 children in foster care to be adopted.” In Illinois, 251 children have been adopted as part of the 17th Circuit Court’s National Adoption Day celebrations in the past nine years. This year, fifty children are expected to find forever-homes.
The Illinois National Adoption Day celebrations will be held at the 17th Judicial Circuit Court in Rockford. The Day will kick off with a press conference at the Winnebago County Criminal Justice Center at 9 a.m. While cameras are permitted during the press conference, they are not permitted in the courtrooms during actual adoption proceedings.
According to The Huffington Post, any of the children who end up in forever-families on National Adoption Day are those who have been living with foster parents for an extended period of time. Though the outcome is often happy, “it can be a long journey.” Regardless, the event is bound to hold some tear-jerking moments. When one little girl told a crowd during last year’s National Adoption Day that, “adoption is when your auntie becomes your mommy.” There was hardly a dry eye in the room.
If you or someone you know is interested in adoption or participating in National Adoption Day, the most important step is to seek legal counsel. Contact an experienced Glen Ellyn family law attorneytoday.