The 2024 National Adoption Month campaign website has launched on Child Welfare Information Gateway. This year’s theme, “Honoring Youth: Strengthening Pathways for Lasting Bonds,” emphasizes the importance of uplifting and genuinely listening to the voices of children and youth who are adopted and helping them create lasting connections that embrace and affirm their identity and background. Nearly 109,000 children were waiting to be adopted in 2022, and the average time in care for all children waiting to be adopted was almost 3 years. Of children waiting to be adopted, Black or African American, multiracial, and American Indian/Alaska Native children were overrepresented. Historically, families of color often have challenging relationships with the child welfare system, which include distrust and lost connections to heritage.
This year’s theme highlights the need to honor the experiences and perspectives of youth as they navigate the adoption process. The campaign encourages professionals and families to focus on building supportive, enduring relationships. These connections are vital for helping children feel valued and understood throughout their journey toward a permanent home—and after. Lasting, permanent relationships with families of origin, fictive kin, and communities directly affect well-being and contribute to positive outcomes for all adoption triad members.