Washington D.C., Nov 4, 2018 / 13:30 pm
President Donald Trump issued a presidential proclamation Oct. 31 declaring November 2018 to be "National Adoption Month."
The president called adoption a "life-changing act" and a "blessing for all involved."
In addition to assisting families who seek to adopt, Trump said, "we must also encourage all Americans to recognize that adoption is a powerful way to show women they are not alone in an unexpected pregnancy."
"Adoption affirms the inherent value of human life and signals that every child ‑‑ born or unborn ‑‑ is wanted and loved," read Trump's proclamation.
"Children, regardless of race, sex, age, or disability, deserve a loving embrace into families they can call their own."
National Adoption Month will honor the thousands of families in this country who chose to adopt, said Trump.
Trump also highlighted the plight of the nation's growing foster-care system, and said that he appealed to "families, communities, and houses of worship across our great Nation to help these children find a permanent home."
The president said it was "unfortunate" that many children in the foster system reach the age of 18 without being adopted, and that "these children deserve a permanent family" that will provide them with love and stability.
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Trump's inclusion of "houses of worship" was noteworthy. Currently, there are several cases ongoing in which faith-based foster agencies are suing localities after being denied contracts, or shut out entirely, from the foster-care process due to their religious beliefs.
This is the second year Trump has recognized National Adoption Month. The tradition of presidents promoting adoption began in 1984, when President Ronald Reagan declared one week in November to be "National Adoption Week." In 1995, President Bill Clinton expanded the awareness campaign into a month.
National Adoption Day, a separate event first observed in 2000, is celebrated the Saturday before Thanksgiving. On this day, thousands of children throughout the country who are being adopted from foster care have their adoptions finalized. National Adoption Day also seeks to raise awareness of the more than 100,0000 American children living in the foster care system who are eligible for adoption.
In the United States, the average foster child waits for three years before being adopted. Each year, about 2,000 children age out of the system without being placed in a permanent home.