November is Adoption Month throughout North America!

History of Adoption Month
(courtesy of NACAC: http://www.nacac.org/adoptalk/adoptionmonth.html)

Formalized, time-specific adoption awareness campaigns originated more than 20 years ago. In May 1976, Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis issued the first state Adoption Week proclamation, and President Ford then officially proclaimed the week in a letter to the North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC) conference held later that year. As years went on, Adoption Week came to be observed during the week of Thanksgiving in November.

In 1986, NACAC helped coordinate a national "Calling Out" event based on an idea from Larry Gellerstein, then president of the Adoptive Parent Committee of New York. That year groups across North America braved late November weather and simultaneously assembled on state and provincial capitol steps to read statements about waiting children, and call out the names of waiting children in their state or province.

In 1990, NACAC decided to expand opportunities for raising awareness, and began advertising Adoption Week as National Adoption Awareness Month (November). The idea has quickly caught on, and Adoption Month has celebrated ever since.

ACC Activities

In honour of National Adoption Month, the Adoption Council of Canada has decided to do the following:

Event:

On November 15, 2008, the ACC is hosting an event: Voices in Adoption. This event brings together everyone touched by adoption, including birth parents, adoptees, and adoptive parents. Details about our event are available here.

Recruitment:

The ACC will launch its recruitment campaign by working with adoption professionals across Canada. Our recruitment tool and new posters are now available for download:

a.    Recruitment Tool (English)
b.    Recruitment Tool (French)
c.    Adoption Posters (English)
d.    Adoption Posters (French)

Post-Adoption:

The ACC aims to improve post-adoption supports by hosting a training seminar in Memramcook, New Brunswick (November 7-9). Additional seminars will be held across Canada from December 2008 to January 2009.

What can you do?

The ACC encourages everyone to raise awareness about adoption and there are many ways to go about this:

·         Inquire about local special events, workshops, information sessions and seminars in your area relating to adoption

·         Expand your knowledge and understanding of adoption. Read a book and search the internet for pertinent adoption-related information. Share your knowledge with your family and your friends.

·         Open a line of communication with someone who has been touched by adoption. Listen and learn about individual and personal experiences.

·         Send an editorial to your local newspaper to inform your community about adoption

·         Support efforts to improve policies and legislation that impacts the adoption community.

Happy Adoption Month from the Adoption Council of Canada!

Note: If you are aware of an adoption-related event in your area, please let us know. You may send your information to Sarah Pedersen, Program Manager: sarah@adoption.ca