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Recognizing November 2026 as National Adoption Month in the City of Philadelphia
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WHEREAS, National Adoption Month was first designated by President Bill Clinton in 1995. The focus of National Adoption Month is the adoption of children in foster care; and
WHEREAS, November 21, 2026, is designated as National Adoption Day, a special day where courts and adoption organizations around the country come together to finalize and celebrate adoptions from foster care; and
WHEREAS, The Children’s Bureau’s data show that as of September 2025, there were more than 67,000 children waiting to be adopted, and approximately 1 in 3 children waiting were between the ages of 11 and 17. Children waiting for adoption spend an average of three years waiting; and
WHEREAS, 1,709 adoptions from foster care took place in Pennsylvania during Federal Fiscal Year 2025, and, as of September 2025, over 1,800 children in Pennsylvania’s foster care system were waiting to be adopted; and
WHEREAS, As of September 2025, there were 2,421 children in out-of-home care in Philadelphia, a 35 percent decline from September 2022; and
WHEREAS, The Children’s Bureau declared that the National Adoption Month theme is “Honoring Youth: Strengthening Pathways for Lasting Bonds,” prioritizing strong support systems for our most vulnerable children; and
WHEREAS, Creating stable, loving homes for all Philadelphia children is vital, and we thank all foster parents, adoptive parents, support organizations and their workers, and Department of Human Services employees for their commitment and dedication to our young people; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA hereby recognizes November 2026 as National Adoption Month in the City of Philadelphia.
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