Resolution 250991

..Title Recognizing November 2025 as National Adoption Month in the City of Philadelphia. ..Body WHEREAS, National Adoption Month was first designated by President Bill Clinton in 1995.The focus of National Adoption Month is the adoption of children in foster care; and WHEREAS, November 22, 2025, is designated as National Adoption Day, a special day where courts and adoption organizations around the country come together to finalize and celebrate adoptions from foster care; and WHEREAS, The Children's Bureau's data shows that as of September 2022, there were nearly 109,000 children waiting to be adopted, and more than 1 in 5 children waiting were ages 13-17. All children waiting for adoption spend nearly three years waiting; and WHEREAS, The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services data shows 1,692 adoptions took place in Pennsylvania during the FY24 Federal Fiscal Year, and over 11,000 children in Pennsylvania foster care are waiting to be adopted; and WHEREAS, In September 2024, there were 1,291 children in out-of-home care in Philadelphia, a 42% decline since FY21. WHEREAS, The Children's Bureau declared that the 2025 National Adoption Month initiative is "Honoring Youth: Strengthening Pathways for Lasting Bonds," prioritizing strong support systems for our most vulnerable children; and WHEREAS, Creating stable, loving homes for all Philadelphia children is vital, and we thank all foster parents, adoptive parents, support organizations and their workers, and Department of Human Services employees for their commitment and dedication to our young people; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby recognizes November 2025 as National Adoption Month in the City of Philadelphia. ..End