Celebrating Families: Honoring Adoption and Family Caregivers in November
Celebrating Families: Honoring Adoption and Family Caregivers in November
November is a special month – a time when to pause & recognize the incredible strength, resilience, and love of families in all their forms. This month, we celebrate National Adoption Month and National Family Caregivers Month—two observances that remind us of the vital role supportive adults play in the lives of children and youth in our community.
National Adoption Month: Creating Forever Families
Each November, National Adoption Month raises awareness about the urgent need for permanent, loving families for children and youth in foster care. At Life Stories, through our CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) program, we see firsthand how life-changing a stable, nurturing home can be. Our CASA volunteers work tirelessly to advocate for the best interests of children involved in the child welfare system, many of whom are waiting for a forever family.
Adoption is more than a legal process—it’s an act of love, commitment, and hope. We honor all the adoptive families in Weld County who have opened their hearts and homes to children in need. We also recognize the youth still waiting and the advocates, caseworkers, and judges who continue to support their journey toward permanency.
Key Statistics About Adoption (key data from the fiscal year 2022 report for the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System)
As of September 30, 2022, there were nearly 109,000 children waiting to be adopted.
More than one in five children waiting for adoption were ages 13–17.
The average time in care for all children waiting to be adopted was 34.9 months, or nearly 3 years.
National Family Caregivers Month: The Unsung Heroes
While adoption is one path to permanency, there are many caregivers who step in during times of crisis—often with little notice—to care for children who cannot remain safely at home. During National Family Caregivers Month, we honor these unsung heroes: grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings, and family friends who become lifelines for children navigating trauma, instability, or loss.
Family caregivers often juggle emotional, financial, and logistical challenges while providing children with safety, comfort, and consistency. As Family Advocates, we walk alongside these caregivers—some of whom are bilingual or come from diverse cultural backgrounds—to help them access resources, understand systems, and find the support they deserve.
Caregiver Action Network™
This November, the Caregiver Action Network™ is dedicating their Plug-In To Care Webinar Series to National Family Caregivers Month. To access this series and receive practical tools, peer insights, and expert advice to help you connect to the resources you need, click on this link and register for All Webinars.
Working Together for Child Well-being
At Life Stories, our mission is to strengthen families and protect children. Whether through advocacy at the Child Advocacy Center, support for CASA volunteers, or direct services for families, we know that safe and healthy childhoods start with caring adults.
This November, we invite you to join us in recognizing the power of permanency, the strength of caregivers, and the resilience of the children we serve. If you’re interested in learning more about how to support children and families in our community—through adoption, volunteering, or simply spreading awareness—please reach out. Together, we can help every child write a new life story.
Sources Linked:
Caregiver Action Network: Resources for Family Caregivers
Respectfully Submitted by Elizavet Carranza Arroyo, Bilingual Forensic Interviewer & Family Advocate