National Adoption Month, 1995

Proclamation 6846 of November 1, 1995

National Adoption Month, 1995

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

For many people across the United States, adoption
provides a means for building and strengthening
families. It places children into loving, permanent
homes where they can flourish and grow up to become
happy, healthy, productive members of our national
community. Adoption also enables adults to experience
the unique joys of parenthood.

As many as 70,000 children in America's foster care
system may need adoptive families in the next few
years--young people of all ages and backgrounds who,
for whatever reason, cannot return to their original
homes. Many, but not all, are children with special
needs. These young people long for the same affection,
security, and stability that most of us take for
granted, yet too many have waited--and will continue to
wait--for years to be adopted.

My Administration has taken important actions to
encourage adoption and to support the wonderful
families that choose to open their hearts and homes to
waiting children. The Multiethnic Placement Act, which
I signed into law in October 1994, helps to facilitate
adoption for all children and families, regardless of
their race or ethnic origin. We will continue to
champion and improve programs that break down barriers
to adoption through aggressive recruitment of families,
financial aid to support placements, and technical
assistance to agencies committed to special needs
adoption.

As we observe National Adoption Month, we celebrate
these achievements and recognize the rewards of
adoption, but we must also remember that much work
remains to be done. Citizens from all communities and
organizations from the public and private sectors must
join together to renew our commitment to finding
permanent homes for each one of America's children.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of
the United States of America, by virtue of the
authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of
the United States, do hereby proclaim November 1995, as
National Adoption Month. I urge the people of the
United States to observe this month with appropriate
activities and programs and to participate in efforts
to find permanent homes for waiting children.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
first day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen
hundred and ninety-five, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and twentieth.