Today is National Adoption Day 2010: What Have we Learned?

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National Adoption Day is a day where courts across the United States finalize adoptions from the public foster care system.  It is often a day (and November the entire month) where adoption in-general is celebrated and promoted.  I am not a fan of this because: (1) adoption encompasses a great deal of individuals, not all who feel celebration is appropriate or fits their experience in adoption; (2) NAAM and National Adoption day is about promoting the needs of children in foster and the focus on their needs is where the attention should lie; and (3) adoption policy is far behind the advancements adoption has made.

This post will be short; I don't have a lot to say (imagine that!) but what I think people could use today to focus on would be:
  • What are the rights and needs of children, mothers, and families?  How can we serve their needs best?
  • You do not need to erase a person's past and issue altered birth documentation to give them a home.  Let's revisit this issue and restore access to adult adoptees.
  • Who do you know that has been impacted in some way by adoption?  Do you make assumptions about them or have you talked to them personally?  Find out what's important to them.  Become an ally.

Photo credit:  Francesco Marino