National Council For Adoption

Had a fantastic evening at the National Council For Adoption's Hall of Fame reception (hosted at Akin's Hill Office Rooftop!) on Tuesday! Congratulations to all of the honorees. It was wonderful to hear stories of families, advocates and allies, fighting for and providing forever homes for children. And on a personal note, I was thrilled to have a few minutes to visit with Mary Landrieu who was an adoption champion in the Senate, and continues to advocate and inspire. Akin is honored to continue its pro bono work with NCFA on issues including adoption tax credit refundability, addressing unlicensed brokers and seeking policy solutions to facilitate and expedite intra-country adoptions. (We were inducted into the Hall of Fame a few years ago!) #probonomatters #akinprobono #adoptionpolicy

Are you navigating the journey of adoption after infertility? You’re not alone. ARC Fertility in collaboration with the National Council For Adoption invites you to a free online discussion group designed for individuals with a history of infertility who are exploring adoption.? ?? Date: November 21, 2024?? ? Time: 8:00 PM?ET This session is your opportunity to:?? ?? Connect with others who understand your journey.?? ?? Ask questions in a supportive and welcoming environment.?? ?? Share experiences and gain valuable insights.? At ARC Fertility, we’re committed to supporting individuals and families every step of the way on their family-forming journey. Register today to secure your spot: https://lnkd.in/epHCqWen #FamilyForming #InfertilitySupport #AdoptionJourney

? Tonight is Adoption Hall of Fame ? We're excited to celebrate our honorees' achievements. Sen. Bob Casey sums it up nicely when he says, "The more children who are adopted by loving families, the better off our nation is." We're grateful for his service and to everyone who is joining us for a dazzling evening. See you soon! #adoption #AHOF

?? Adoption changed my whole world. Love doesn’t divide; it multiplies. The love that comes from adoption is every bit as strong, fierce, and unconditional as biological love. ?? This picture of my kids at a recent Post Malone concert is a snapshot of the wholeness adoption has brought into our lives. Perhaps this could be the path for your family too. I’ll be honest: starting the adoption journey was scary. Questions flooded my mind—Will I love them as much as my biological children? Will they feel like “mine”? Every fear melted away the moment they joined our family. Adoption didn’t just change their lives; it transformed mine in ways I could never have imagined. ??? November is National Adoption Awareness Month, and I want to take this opportunity to celebrate the beauty of adoption and invite others to share their stories. Whether you: ? Were adopted ?? ? Are a birth mom who showed immense courage and love by entrusting your child to another family ?? ? Are an adoption worker advocating tirelessly for kids and families ?? ? Are an adoptive parent navigating the joys and challenges of the journey ?? ? Are a child, sibling, relative, friend, or anyone else touched by adoption ?? Your story matters. Sharing your experience can inspire, support, and encourage others on their path. Let’s fill this month with stories of love, hope, and connection. ?? If you’ve ever thought about adoption, have questions, or want to hear more about our family’s journey, please DM me. I’d be honored to share and support in any way I can. Another great resource is the National Council For Adoption. I'm deeply grateful for their continued advocacy! Adoption has made my family more beautiful, more joyful, and more complete. Let’s celebrate its transformative power together. ??? #adoption #childadoption #love

?? Register ?? Our “Adopting After Infertility” support group is this week. If you or someone you know is on this journey, please register or share the link with them. Link in comments to sign up ??

? These folks make Adoption Hall of Fame possible ? Honoring the all-stars who make adoption possible isn't something we could do without the support of our Adoption Hall of Fame sponsors. A huge shoutout to our GOLD sponsors... ?? Jockey Being Family ?? Cal & Sally Simmons Thank you for what's sure to be a dazzling night devoted to adoption!?Link in comments to register if you haven't already ?? #adoption #AHOF

??? Media Mention ??? NCFA Education Manager Emily Kwiatkowski is part of the emerging leaders program at Center for Adoption Support and Education and wrote this poignant piece on the importance of mental-health intervention for those who are adopted. As Emily says, “Every adoptee and foster youth deserve that chance to thrive, and without appropriate levels of mental health care, we miss the opportunity to witness our children be angry, be happy, be sad, recognize what they have lost, and ultimately, heal from the pain of their early life experiences.” Link in comments to read the full blog and share with a friend who you think will appreciate this story ?? #adoption #mentalhealth

Debbie Riley,?co-founder and CEO of the Center for Adoption Support and Education, is among our 2024 Adoption Hall of Fame honorees. She and her team have trained over 30,000 mental-health and child-welfare professionals in 43 states and territories and provided clinical services to more than 9,000 clients and their families. ? As Debbie likes to say, "When we invest in the mental health and well-being of adoptees and their families, we create a path for healing, self-discovery, and unlocking their full potential.” "Like" and ?? if you agree with Debbie—that the mental health of those who are adopted is the path toward unlocking a child's full potential. #adoption #AHOF

With it being National Adoption month, I want to bring awareness to organizations like the National Council For Adoption and the incredible work that they do. For me, adoption is personal, as it reshaped the entire course of my life. This photo is the first post-adoption professional photo that was taken of me and my family. ? Adoption goes beyond a mere act of compassion. It’s a profound, life-altering voyage that leaves an indelible mark. While I consider myself fortunate, it's essential to recognize the staggering statistics that often go unnoticed: ?? Over 300,000 children in the U.S. are in foster care. ? ?? Of that U.S. number, over 100,00 children are legally eligible for adoption but still await placement in a permanent home. ? ?? On a global scale, over 17 million children are orphans. I was one of them. ? These numbers fail to encompass the countless others living in institutional settings or on the streets, highlighting the urgent need for action and support. Every child deserves the fundamental rights of family, love, & a place to call home. ??

“This week marks World Adoption Day. Poignantly, it’s also my daughter’s 11th birthday, which she will spend waiting in an institution in China—her sixth such birthday since she was told that our family would soon come for her and finalize her adoption,” writes Aimee Welch, a waiting mother and founder of Hope Leads Home. Link in comments ?? #WorldAdoptionDay #adoption #China