National Adoption Month, 2010

Proclamation 8597 of November 1, 2010

National Adoption Month, 2010

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Giving a child a strong foundation--a home, a family to
love, and a safe place to grow--is one of life's
greatest and most generous gifts. Through adoption,
both domestic and international, Americans from across
our country have provided secure environments for
children who need them, and these families have
benefited from the joy an adopted child can bring.
Thanks to their nurturing and care, more young people
have been able to realize their potential and lead
full, happy lives. This year, we celebrate National
Adoption Month to recognize adoption as a positive and
powerful force in countless American lives, and to
encourage the adoption of children from foster care.

Currently, thousands of children await adoption or are
in foster care, looking forward to permanent homes.
These children can thrive, reach their full potential,
and spread their wings when given the loving and firm
foundation of family. Adoptive families come in many
forms, and choose to adopt for different reasons: a
desire to grow their family when conceiving a child is
not possible, an expression of compassion for a child
who would otherwise not have a permanent family, or
simply because adoption has personally touched their
lives. For many Americans, adoption has brought
boundless purpose and joy to their lives. We must do
all we can to break down barriers to ensure that all
qualified caregivers have the ability to serve as
adoptive families.

This year, on November 20, families, adoption
advocates, policymakers, judges, and volunteers will
celebrate the 11th annual National Adoption Day in
communities large and small. National Adoption Day is a
day of hope and happiness when courthouses finalize the
adoptions of children out of foster care. Last year,
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius
was honored to preside over a ceremony celebrating two
foster care adoptions as part of my Administration's
support for this important day.

Adoptive families are shining examples of the care and
concern that define our great Nation. To support
adoption in our communities, my Administration is
working with States to support families eager to
provide for children in need of a place to call home.
The landmark Affordable Care Act increases and improves
the Adoption Tax Credit, enabling adoption to be more
affordable and accessible. As part of the Adoption
Incentives program, States can also receive awards for
increasing adoptions and the number of children adopted
from foster care. AdoptUsKids, a project of the
Department of Health and Human Services, offers
technical support to States, territories, and tribes to
recruit and retain foster and adoptive families;
provides information and assistance to families
considering adoption; and supports parents already on
that journey. I encourage all Americans to visit
AdoptUsKids.org or ChildWelfare.gov/Adoption for
information and resources on adoption, including
adoption from foster care.

As we observe National Adoption Month, we honor the
loving embrace of adoptive families and the affirming
role of adoption in the lives of American families and
our country. Let us all commit to supporting our

children in any way that we are able--whether opening
our hearts and homes through adoption, becoming foster
parents to provide quality temporary care to children
in crisis, supporting foster and adoptive families in
our communities and places of worship, mentoring young
people in need of guidance, or donating time to helping
children in need. Working together, we can shape a
future of hope and promise for all of our Nation's
children.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim November 2010 as
National Adoption Month. I call upon all Americans to
observe this month by answering the call to find homes
for every child in America in need of a permanent and
caring family, as well as to support the families who
care for them.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
first day of November, in the year of our Lord two
thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.