OPINION: Adopting a child is a priceless gift for both children and adoptive parents

“The world may not change if you adopt a child, but for that child the world will change.” — Unknown.

Every year, people around the world and in our own country celebrate the legal adoption of children. National Adoption Week was celebrated last month from Oct. 16-22. This global celebration is an annual event aimed at raising awareness about adoption and highlighting the resultant wonderful formation of families.

National Adoption week serves to encourage more people to consider adoption as a way to build their families.

National Adoption Week first was observed in 1997 in the United Kingdom and since has grown into a worldwide event. The celebratory activities include connecting interested people with others who have created or increased their families through adoption.

In the USA, we will celebrate our own National Adoption Day this year on Saturday, Nov. 23. National Adoption Day is the result of a collective grassroots effort to raise awareness of the children waiting to be adopted from foster care in our country.

During this annual event, it is estimated that more than 400 communities across the country will open their doors on the Saturday before Thanksgiving to finalize adoptions from foster care. This collective effort includes courts, attorneys, adoption professionals and child welfare agencies.

Adoption, generally defined, is when a child is legally and permanently joined with new parents. Fostering a child is when people care for a child while the child’s caseworker endeavors to connect the child’s parents with services and support in order to safely reunite the family. If reunification is not possible, the child then needs an adoptive family.

Although the statistics can vary, in the United States about 5 million Americans are adopted. Of that number, about 4.5 million are children. In terms of people waiting to adopt, there are no precise numbers, but experts agree that the number is between 1 and 2 million couples.

According to the Adoption Network, the average age of a child awaiting adoption is almost 8 years old. Fifty-two percent of children who entered foster care in 2019 were 5 years or older. On any given day, there are about 391,000 children in foster care in the United States. In 2022, almost 214,000 children entered the U.S. foster care system.

Infants reportedly represented over 70% of the total increase. Almost 60% of children in foster care will spend two to five years in the system before being placed through adoption. Almost 11% may have to wait five or more years in foster care before being adopted. And sadly, some are never adopted.

In New Mexico, we have a state law governing adoption aptly called the “Adoption Act.” The purpose of this statute is to “(E)stablish procedures to effect a legal relationship between a parent and adopted child that is identical to that of a parent and biological child.” NMSA Section 32A-5-2.

The New Mexico Adoption Act provides that any child may be adopted by any individual who has been approved by a court as a suitable adoptive parent under the law.

Eligible adoptive parents must be at least 18 years of age and healthy, attend local adoptive parent orientation programs, fill out applications and provide references, submit to background checks, complete a home study with a social worker, have adequate space for an adopted child or children, and be committed to caring for and loving any adopted child.

People in New Mexico who are interested in adopting a child apparently have various avenues through which to navigate this legal process. Private attorneys who specialize in adoption and the Children, Youth & Families Department are probably two of the most logical starting points. People also might consider initially fostering a child to determine whether adoption is right for them.

We all can celebrate National Adoption Day in New Mexico by supporting those on their journey of adoption, educating ourselves about the process, and ultimately helping a family come together.

Adopting a child probably is the most selfless and life-changing gift adults can give a child without a safe and stable forever home. Adoption also is a priceless gift to the adoptive parents, themselves, one which keeps on giving.