Every November, the United States observes National Adoption Month to raise awareness about adoption and the children in foster care who need permanent families. In 2026, it takes place from November 1 to 30, with National Adoption Day on Saturday, November 21.At Lifetime Adoption, we celebrate all adoption stories, including foster care adoption, private infant adoption, and the birth parents who make open adoption possible. We’re honored to walk alongside every family and birth parent, and we’re here to support you wherever you are on your journey.
Key dates for 2026
- National Adoption Month: November 1–30, 2026
- National Adoption Day: Saturday, November 21, 2026 (the Saturday before Thanksgiving)
Here at Lifetime Adoption, we celebrate adoption year-round. But November holds a special place in our hearts. It’s the month when the whole country is invited to learn about adoption, honor the families it creates, and take a step to help a child or expectant parent in their community.
Most coverage of National Adoption Month focuses on one path: adopting a child from foster care. That need is real and urgent, and we’ll talk about it below. But adoption has more than one story. This guide looks at the full picture, including how foster care adoption and private infant adoption differ, and why the birth mother’s voice and open adoption are central to modern infant adoption.
Table of Contents
- What is National Adoption Month?
- The History of National Adoption Month
- National Adoption Day: Celebrating Finalization
- Foster Care Adoption vs. Private Infant Adoption: Key Differences
- From Closed to Open Adoption: How Adoption Has Changed
- The Birth Mother Perspective: Why Open Adoption Matters
- What Open Adoption Means for Adoptive Families and Children
- How to Get Involved in National Adoption Month
- National Adoption Month Frequently Asked Questions
- About Lifetime Adoption
What Is National Adoption Month?
National Adoption Month is observed across the country every November to highlight adoption and the need for permanent, loving families. The Children’s Bureau leads the federal campaign, focusing on finding adoptive families for teens in foster care and listening to young people as they plan for their futures. Each year, the Child Welfare Information Gateway provides resources for professionals and families.
Throughout the country, National Adoption Month includes public awareness campaigns, community events, courthouse celebrations, fundraising drives, and recognition dinners. Adoption agencies, churches, schools, and local groups use November to introduce people to adoption and answer questions they may have been hesitant to ask.
The History of National Adoption Month
National Adoption Month started as a single week and expanded over the next twenty years.
- 1976: Massachusetts Governor Mike Dukakis started Adoption Week to spread the word about children in foster care who needed adoptive parents. As the idea spread to other states, President Gerald Ford made the first national Adoption Week proclamation.
- 1984: President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first National Adoption Week, held the week before Thanksgiving. An adoptive father himself, Reagan spoke about children in foster care and children born during crisis pregnancies. He described birth mothers as brave and selfless for choosing adoption, and he encouraged the adoption of children with special needs, which the public rarely discussed at the time.
- 1995: As more and more states embraced the observance, President Bill Clinton extended it to the entire month of November. His administration also worked to break down barriers to transracial adoption and promoted adoption from foster care.
- 2008: President George W. Bush issued the first National Adoption Month proclamation in Spanish.
Since 1995, every president has issued a National Adoption Month proclamation to honor adoptive families, raise awareness, and encourage action for children who need permanent homes.
National Adoption Day: Celebrating Finalizations
National Adoption Day takes place on the Saturday before Thanksgiving during National Adoption Month. It has been recognized since at least 2000, and in 2026 it will be on Saturday, November 21. Around this day, courthouses across the country hold special ceremonies to finalize adoptions, with families celebrating in front of a judge. If you want to see adoption in action, check with your local family court to see if they are hosting an event open to the public.
Foster Care Adoption vs. Private Infant Adoption: Key Differences
National Adoption Month originally focused on children in foster care, and that focus is still important. However, many people are surprised to find out how different the two main adoption paths are. Neither is better; each is designed for different children, situations, and families.| At a glance | Foster care adoption | Private infant adoption |
|---|---|---|
| Children | The average age of a child adopted from foster care is typically around six to eight years old, and many waiting children are teens | More than 99 percent of private domestic infant adoptions involve newborns and infants |
| Starting goal | Reunification with the child's family whenever it is safe and possible | A permanent adoption plan chosen voluntarily by a birth parent |
| Who chooses the family | The child welfare system and the courts; birth parents usually have little say | The expectant mother chooses the family from adoptive family profiles |
| Openness | Usually less contact with birth parents, though it varies case by case | More than 95% of domestic infant adoptions are open |
| Typical wait | Can range from about nine to 18 months, depending on the situation | Wait times vary. A family might be chosen within a few months, or it may take a year or longer |
| Typical cost | The average cost of foster care adoption in the U.S. ranges from $0 to $2,500 | Costs can range from $40,000 and up nationally |
The Need for Foster Care Adoptions
The need in foster care is great. In fiscal year 2025, more than 330,000 children were in the U.S. foster care system. About 46,000 of these children were legally free for adoption and still waiting, with adoption as their main permanency plan. In 2024, 46,935 children were adopted from foster care, a decrease of over 6% from the previous year.
Children eligible for adoption wait nearly three years on average for a family. When children leave foster care, 44% to 47% are reunited with their birth families, 27% are adopted, and around 10% to 11% leave through guardianship.
Many children in foster care have faced loss or hardship early in life. They often need stable, supportive families who are prepared to help them heal from trauma. National Adoption Month reminds us that these children, especially teens, deserve permanent, loving homes.
What Private Infant Adoption Looks Like
In private infant adoption, a birth mother creates an adoption plan during pregnancy or soon after birth. She chooses the family, creates her birth plan, and helps shape how much contact they’ll have after placement. The placement is permanent from the beginning, so the child won’t face the uncertainty of a reunification case.
Since the birth mother makes the choice, adoptive families in this process put a lot of care into their profiles. If you’re hoping to adopt, our guides to the adoption process, adoption financing, and home study preparation are helpful starting points.
Which Path is Right?
The answer depends on the family and, most of all, on the child. If your heart is drawn to an older child or teen, foster care adoption may be the right fit.
If you hope to welcome a newborn and build a relationship with a birth mother, private infant adoption may be the better path. Both give children the stable, nurturing homes they deserve, and both deserve to be celebrated in November.
From Closed to Open Adoption: How Adoption Has Changed
Adoption has changed a lot over the past 50 years. In the past, most adoptions were closed. Birth mothers and adoptive parents did not have contact, and no identifying information was shared. Many children grew up without knowing their birth parents and often struggled with questions about their identity and origins.
These experiences, along with changing attitudes, led to more open adoptions. Today, most birth families prefer some level of contact. Many adoption professionals now offer open arrangements with different levels of contact, and fully closed adoptions are rare. Birth families’ wishes are respected, birth fathers are more involved, and adoptees can access the information they need. Research shows that flexible arrangements that meet everyone’s needs work best.
Closed adoptions still take place and are the right choice for some birth parents and families. However, for most people, the benefits of open adoption are clear.
The Birth Mother Perspective: Why Open Adoption Matters
National Adoption Month is often told from the point of view of adoptive families and children. Birth mothers belong at the center of the story too, since infant adoption starts with their decision.
At Lifetime Adoption, we encourage birth parents to choose how involved they want to be. In an open adoption, a birth mother can:
- Choose the family who will raise her baby
- Create a birth plan that reflects her wishes, including who is with her at the hospital
- Set the level of contact she wants, from letters and photos to calls and visits, and agree on it with the adoptive family
- Watch her child grow and know that he or she is safe, healthy, and loved
These choices may not exist in a closed adoption.
Grief is a normal part of adoption. Many birth mothers feel sadness, denial, or even depression after placement. You can read more about grief and loss in adoption.
At the same time, many birth mothers also feel hope knowing their child has a safe, stable home and a strong foundation for life. Both feelings can exist together. Open adoption can help, since staying in touch with the family means her child’s story is not a mystery.
We honor birth parents during National Adoption Month and throughout the year for the loving choice they make.
If you’re pregnant and considering adoption, we’re here to talk with you about your options and answer your questions. Visit our page for expectant mothers or learn more about how to choose adoptive parents.
What Open Adoption Means for Adoptive Families and Children
Open adoption is known to be beneficial for everyone in the adoption triad: the adoptive family, the child, and the birth parents.
- For adoptive parents: You can connect with birth family members who can answer background and medical history questions you might not be able to answer yourself.
- For the child: Open adoption gives a sense of connection and completeness, and helps answer the “why” questions that might otherwise last for years.
- For the birth mother and father: They have the comfort of knowing their child is growing up safe and loved, by the family they chose.
To see what ongoing contact can look like, read our guide to staying in touch with birth parents after adoption or browse real open adoption stories.
How to Get Involved in National Adoption Month
You don’t have to adopt to make a difference this November. Here are some practical ways to get involved:
- Attend or support a National Adoption Day event. Contact your local family court about celebrations on Saturday, November 21, 2026.
- Share your adoption story. If adoption has touched your life, your story can help reduce stigma and answer questions for someone who needs it. Learn how to spread the word about modern adoption.
- Learn about adoption from foster care. AdoptUSKids is a good starting point for families curious about the process.
- Support a foster or adoptive family. Providing a meal, a few hours of childcare, or a ride to an appointment can make a big difference.
- Use conversations to correct myths. Many people don’t realize that adoption today is often open, or that expectant mothers choose the families.
- If you’re hoping to adopt, take the first step. Start your free adoption application and connect with our team.
National Adoption Month Frequently Asked Questions
When is National Adoption Month in 2026?
National Adoption Month takes place from November 1 to November 30, 2026. National Adoption Day, when courthouses across the country celebrate adoption finalizations, is on Saturday, November 21, 2026. Many agencies and communities hold events and awareness campaigns all month long.
Why is National Adoption Month in November?
It grew out of Adoption Week, which began in Massachusetts in 1976 and became a national observance in 1984, held the week before Thanksgiving. President Bill Clinton expanded it to the full month of November in 1995, and presidents have issued a proclamation every year since.
Is National Adoption Month only about foster care?
The federal campaign highlights children and teens in foster care who need permanent families. However, adoption takes many forms. Many agencies, including Lifetime Adoption, use November to celebrate and educate people about all types of adoption, including private infant and open adoption.
What’s the difference between foster care adoption and private infant adoption?
In foster care adoption, children enter care through the child welfare system, with reunification as the first goal, and most children are older. In private infant adoption, an expectant mother makes a voluntary adoption plan for a newborn and usually chooses the family herself.
What is open adoption?
Open adoption means birth parents and adoptive families share some ongoing contact, like letters, photos, calls, or visits, based on an agreement they make together. The level of openness varies, and Lifetime Adoption encourages birth parents to choose how involved they want to be.
How can I celebrate National Adoption Month?
Attend a National Adoption Day event, share your adoption story, learn about foster care adoption, support a foster or adoptive family, or, if you’re hoping to adopt, start the process with an application. Even starting a conversation can make a difference.
About Lifetime Adoption
Lifetime Adoption has been helping families since 1986. Our mission is to serve women and families of all kinds who are exploring adoption. We take a kind, caring, and compassionate approach, and we love helping people experience the beauty of open adoption.
If you are an expectant mother with an unplanned pregnancy, we’d be happy to talk with you about how we can help. If you are hopeful adoptive parents, contact our experienced team today to learn how we can help make your dream of parenthood come true.
We’d love to connect with you! If you have questions or want to learn more, call or text Lifetime Adoption at 727-493-0933.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on November 4, 2020, and has since been updated.
Founder of Lifetime Adoption, adoptive mom, adoption expert, and Certified Open Adoption Practitioner (C.O.A.P).
Since 1986, adoption expert Mardie Caldwell has been dedicated to bringing couples and birth parents together in order to fulfill their dreams.
“Many years ago, I was also searching for a child to adopt. We didn’t know where or how to get started. Through research, determination, and a prayer, our dream of a family became reality. I started with a plan, a notebook, assistance from a caring adoption consultant and a lot of hard work; this was my family I was building. We had a few heartaches along the way, but the pain of not having children was worse!
Within weeks we had three different birth mothers choose us. We were overwhelmed and delighted. Many unsettling events would take place before our adoption would be finalized, many months later. Little did I know that God was training and aligning me for the adoption work I now do today. It is my goal to share with our families the methods and plans which succeed and do not succeed. I believe adoption should be affordable and can be a wonderful “pregnancy” for the adoptive couple.
I have also been on both sides of infertility with the loss of seven pregnancies and then conceiving by new technology, giving birth to a healthy daughter. I have experienced first-hand the emotional pain of infertility and believe my experience allows me to serve your needs better.
It is my hope that for you, the prospective parents, your desire for a child will be fulfilled soon.”
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