National Adoption Month Statement by Rena Bitter, Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs.

November is National Adoption Month.  The Department of State recognizes the importance of intercountry adoption and is proud of the role we play.  Every child should have the opportunity to grow up in a loving, permanent family.

The Department of State works to make intercountry adoption a viable option for children who need a home when there are no options for permanency in their country of origin.  When the United States became a signatory to the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption in 1994, our government made a commitment to its basic principles.  We continue to adhere to those principles to ensure intercountry adoptions are transparent, safe, ethical, and legal.     

Since the year 2000, U.S. families have adopted over 250,000 children from overseas, many of whom are older, part of sibling groups, or have special needs.  Despite the challenges posed by the COVID pandemic, the Department has helped more than 2,000 children find loving, permanent homes since 2020.

As long as there are children in need of permanent homes, the Bureau of Consular Affairs will continue working to ensure intercountry adoption remains possible.  Happy National Adoption Month!