Presidential Documents

68166 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 213 / Thursday, November 4, 2010 / Presidential Documents 

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 


jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with FRD6
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 213 / Thursday, November 4, 2010 / Presidential Documents 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. 

[FR Doc. 2010–28117 

Filed 11–3–10; 11:15 am] 

Billing code 3195–W1–P 


jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with FRD6OB#1.EPS</GPH>