According to data from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System for 2020, there were over 117,000 children and youth in the United States waiting to be adopted. 

The theme of this year's National Adoption Month initiative is "Small Steps Open Doors" to emphasize how even small steps to overcome the unique challenges youth waiting to be adopted face can help support their goals of permanency. By taking every opportunity to engage youth in meaningful ways, child welfare professionals can be instrumental in opening doors to permanency that once seemed impossible  to open.

The newly redesigned National Adoption Month 2022 website features resources, tips and tools from Children's Bureau adoption grant recipients to help child welfare professionals cultivate relationships and stare conversations with youth about permanency.