Pritzker proclaims Nov. Adoption Awareness Month in Illinois

ILLINOIS (WCIA) — The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) is recognizing adoptive parents during the month of November.

Governor JB Pritzker has proclaimed November "Adoption Awareness Month," in recognition of the thousands of families across Illinois who have adopted over 19,000 children in the past decade.

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"We have all heard the expression about giving our children 'roots' and 'wings' to grow into successful adults," Illinois DCFS Director Heidi Mueller said.

Mueller said that DCFS wants to recognize the important role that adoptive parents play during Adoption Awareness Month.

"We especially want to lift up and thank adoptive parents across Illinois who give children in need roots by ensuring connections to community, including racial, ethnic and cultural identities; and their wings by reminding them that they will always have a safe, supportive and loving family to come home to, no matter what," Mueller said.

Last year, over 2,000 Illinois children were adopted. But, as of Monday, there were still over 18,000 children waiting to be adopted.

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DCFS said that adoption is a lifelong commitment. They offer supports to families in the form of reimbursement for attorney fees and court costs, a monthly subsidy, a medical card and other benefits.

DCFS also said that becoming a foster family first is a good beginning step to understand the needs of a child before making a "life-changing decision."

Courtrooms across Illinois will open their doors to finalize adoptions during a special Adoption Day celebration. The celebrations will be held on Nov. 22 in Chicago and Marion, Nov. 23 in Rockford and Dec. 27 in Edwardsville.