National Adoption Awareness Month and National Adoption Day
With the turn of the calendar to November, Arms Wide Adoption Services will join other organizations across the country in recognizing National Adoption Awareness Month, as well as National Adoption Day. National Adoption Awareness Month is a nationwide effort to educate the public and prospective parents on the struggles many adoption eligible children face in finding a family and how they can help, as well as a celebration of adoption success stories.
National Adoption Day is a one day, focused collaboration between policymakers and advocates to facilitate the finalization of adoptions in progress and to honor the many wonderful families who have been created through adoption. In 2017, approximately 5,000 children were adopted on National Adoption Day across the United States. Both events strive to raise awareness of the thousands of children eligible for adoption in the U.S. They are waiting for a permanent home and may continue waiting for months or even years more.
“We at Arms Wide Adoption Services have the unique and privileged perspective to witness firsthand families being fulfilled through adoption,” said Vikki Finley, President and CEO of Arms Wide Adoption Services. “We want to help everyone understand the joy and excitement surrounding adoption and encourage anyone who is interested to take the time to learn a little more.”
History of National Adoption Events
Looking back, the first National Adoption week was proclaimed in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan. In 1995, President Bill Clinton extended the week to the entire month of November. Federal, state, local and private adoption agencies, as well as businesses and nonprofit organizations across the country will lead special events, hold volunteer recruitment, coordinate fundraising and donation efforts, and produce awareness campaigns on the topic of foster care and adoption – highlighting statistics and facts as well as addressing common concerns and myths – all in an effort to encourage more families to consider adoption.
How Arms Wide Adoption Services Is Celebrating
Information Meetings
This month marks many events for Arms Wide Adoption Services. Every Wednesday, the organization will host Information Meetings at its offices off Portwest Drive at 6 p.m. Attending an Information Meeting is the first required step in the process towards becoming an Arms Wide adoptive parent. During the Information Meeting, an Arms Wide Coordinator will walk you through the process of fostering or adopting a child.
All In For Adoption Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament
Arms Wide Adoption Services will also host its largest fundraiser of the year – its 2018 All In For Adoption Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament. Co-Chaired by Steve Kennedy, Will Maxwell, and Michael Tsang, this event has become one of the premier poker tournaments in Houston. Tickets for the November 15th event are still available via the Arms Wide website.
c.HAIR.i.TEE of the Quarter
In addition to these events, Arms Wide Adoption Services is the Charity of the Quarter for c.HAIR.i.TEE®. c.HAIR.i.TEE hand makes hair accessories from recyled tees and donates 100% of the proceeds back to charity. In celebration of National Adoption Month, c.HAIR.i.TEE has selected Arms Wide Adoption Services as this quarter’s charity. All proceeds through the end of the year will benefit Arms Wide Adoption Services’ mission.
Instant Family
Catch us at the November 13th screening of Instant Family at Regal Edwards Marq*E. “When Pete (Mark Wahlberg) and Ellie (Rose Byrne) decide to start a family, they stumble into the world of foster care adoption. They hope to take in one small child but when they meet three siblings, including a rebellious 15-year-old girl (Isabela Moner), they find themselves speeding from zero to three kids overnight. Now, Pete and Ellie must hilariously try to learn the ropes of instant parenthood in the hopes of becoming a family.”
And More!
Throughout the month, Arms Wide Adoption Services will also celebrate families fulfilled by adoption from foster care.
The Stats
According to the National Adoption Day website, more than 117,000 eligible children in the United States are currently awaiting an adoptive family, many of them holding an average three years in foster care before finding a family. On the flip side, some 23,000 children will actually age out of the foster care system each year, becoming legal adults who must face an uncertain future without the support or security of family.
“The matter of children aging out of the system is a real problem,” said Finley. “Statistically, these kids face tremendous odds. They often struggle to complete their educations and may face issues of homelessness and having children who in turn end up in the foster care system. One of our goals is to turn this tide by matching more kids with families who can guide them throughout their lives.”
Join Us
Join us as we celebration National Adoption Month! Share this article with family and friends, attend one of our events, or make a donation. Every little bit helps as we transform the lives of foster care children in need of safe and nurturing adoptive families.