November is National Adoption Month

Adoption is about much more than achieving legal permanency. It's about building connections that provide support and a sense of belonging for young people throughout their lives. Children and youth who have faced difficult or traumatic experiences during childhood especially need stable support systems, as social connections are protective factors that bolster young people as they transition to adulthood and move through life. This year's National Adoption Month theme, "Honoring Youth; Strengthening Pathways for Lasting Bonds," highlights the importance of helping youth identify and nurture those relationships.

As child welfare professionals, it is our responsibility to connect youth with adoptive families that honor them and their background, including their race, culture, and ethnicity. Our agencies need to explore permanency with kin whenever possible while also recruiting diverse adoptive families who reflect the population of children and youth who are legally free for adoption. This work involves providing postadoption services for ongoing support and equipping families with the tools they need to honor and uplift young people.

Lasting bonds should extend beyond connections with adoptive families and bridge the gap between a young person's adoptive family and family of origin. Cultivating connections with kin is a crucial part of honoring a young person's background. Staying in touch with families and communities of origin can promote healthy racial, ethnic, and cultural identity development and increase a young person's sense of belonging. Regardless of whether a young person finds legal permanency with kin, they can find lifelong support through relational permanency.

To identify connections and build a support network, begin by asking young people for their direct input and ensure they know their opinions are valued. Prompts such as, "Who would you ask for a ride somewhere?" or, "Who would you want to attend your graduation?" can help young people who may be unsure or hesitant to identify connections. Because being involved with the child welfare system can be a source of instability for young people in a variety of ways (e.g., living situations, personal situations), young people may benefit from hearing why relationships are important. Lay the foundation of what support can look like and help young people understand that they do not have to go forward alone. These conversations are especially important for older youth who may be exploring permanency as they transition to adulthood.

The National Adoption Month campaign has resources to support your work engaging young people, prioritizing kin-first culture, and celebrating a young person's race, ethnicity, and culture. Explore the page and share it with your network to raise awareness about the importance of lifelong connections among children and youth in care. Together, we can honor youth, enhance their well-being, and prepare them for bright futures.

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