[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 213 (Thursday, November 4, 2010)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 68166-68167]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-28117]




                        Presidential Documents 



Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 213 / Thursday, November 4, 2010 / 
Presidential Documents

[[Page 68166]]


                Proclamation 8597 of November 1, 2010

                
National Adoption Month, 2010

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Giving a child a strong foundation--a home, a family to 
                love, and a safe place to grow--is one of life's 
                greatest and most generous gifts. Through adoption, 
                both domestic and international, Americans from across 
                our country have provided secure environments for 
                children who need them, and these families have 
                benefited from the joy an adopted child can bring. 
                Thanks to their nurturing and care, more young people 
                have been able to realize their potential and lead 
                full, happy lives. This year, we celebrate National 
                Adoption Month to recognize adoption as a positive and 
                powerful force in countless American lives, and to 
                encourage the adoption of children from foster care.

                Currently, thousands of children await adoption or are 
                in foster care, looking forward to permanent homes. 
                These children can thrive, reach their full potential, 
                and spread their wings when given the loving and firm 
                foundation of family. Adoptive families come in many 
                forms, and choose to adopt for different reasons: a 
                desire to grow their family when conceiving a child is 
                not possible, an expression of compassion for a child 
                who would otherwise not have a permanent family, or 
                simply because adoption has personally touched their 
                lives. For many Americans, adoption has brought 
                boundless purpose and joy to their lives. We must do 
                all we can to break down barriers to ensure that all 
                qualified caregivers have the ability to serve as 
                adoptive families.

                This year, on November 20, families, adoption 
                advocates, policymakers, judges, and volunteers will 
                celebrate the 11th annual National Adoption Day in 
                communities large and small. National Adoption Day is a 
                day of hope and happiness when courthouses finalize the 
                adoptions of children out of foster care. Last year, 
                Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius 
                was honored to preside over a ceremony celebrating two 
                foster care adoptions as part of my Administration's 
                support for this important day.

                Adoptive families are shining examples of the care and 
                concern that define our great Nation. To support 
                adoption in our communities, my Administration is 
                working with States to support families eager to 
                provide for children in need of a place to call home. 
                The landmark Affordable Care Act increases and improves 
                the Adoption Tax Credit, enabling adoption to be more 
                affordable and accessible. As part of the Adoption 
                Incentives program, States can also receive awards for 
                increasing adoptions and the number of children adopted 
                from foster care. AdoptUsKids, a project of the 
                Department of Health and Human Services, offers 
                technical support to States, territories, and tribes to 
                recruit and retain foster and adoptive families; 
                provides information and assistance to families 
                considering adoption; and supports parents already on 
                that journey. I encourage all Americans to visit 
                AdoptUsKids.org or ChildWelfare.gov/Adoption for 
                information and resources on adoption, including 
                adoption from foster care.

                As we observe National Adoption Month, we honor the 
                loving embrace of adoptive families and the affirming 
                role of adoption in the lives of American families and 
                our country. Let us all commit to supporting our

[[Page 68167]]

                children in any way that we are able--whether opening 
                our hearts and homes through adoption, becoming foster 
                parents to provide quality temporary care to children 
                in crisis, supporting foster and adoptive families in 
                our communities and places of worship, mentoring young 
                people in need of guidance, or donating time to helping 
                children in need. Working together, we can shape a 
                future of hope and promise for all of our Nation's 
                children.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim November 2010 as 
                National Adoption Month. I call upon all Americans to 
                observe this month by answering the call to find homes 
                for every child in America in need of a permanent and 
                caring family, as well as to support the families who 
                care for them.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                first day of November, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
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                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2010-28117
Filed 11-3-10; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3195-W1-P