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Every child deserves a loving family.  This month, we honor the great commitment of all families who embrace children through adoption.

Over the last ten years, American families have opened their hearts and homes to more than 200,000 children from other countries.  They have given vulnerable children the opportunity to thrive.  Families who adopt are enriched by the love of their new children, and the heritage they bring from their birth countries.  This November, we celebrate National Adoption Month and join with groups across the nation to recognize these special families.  The State Department is committed to safeguarding the interests of children, birth parents, and adoptive parents worldwide.

Throughout this special month, the State Department will celebrate National Adoption Month 2012 with a number of important events, including:

• On November 8, 2012, the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security will host a Special Citizenship Ceremony recognizing the new U.S. citizenship of twenty adoptive children.  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano and Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Alejandro Mayorkas are scheduled to participate.
  
  
• On November 20, 2012, Special Advisor for Children’s Issues Ambassador Susan Jacobs, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Council on Accreditation, Richard Klarberg and President and Chief Executive Officer of the Child Welfare League of America, Christine James-Brown will come together for an important installment of the public forum series “Conversations with America” to address the challenges of intercountry adoption and the opportunities to improve the process.  The panel will discuss best practices in intercountry adoptions and the role of adoption service provider accreditation in ensuring that adoptions are safe, ethical, and transparent.

Follow @ChildrensIssues on Twitter to learn about how the State Department’s Office of Children’s Issues and Ambassador Susan Jacobs are working this National Adoption Month and all year long to ensure safe, ethical, and transparent intercountry adoptions.