National Adoption Awards

Every November, during National Adoption Month, Voice For Adoption honors individuals and organizations that have made a difference for children and families involved with the United States child welfare system.  This year, we’re also pleased to be adding awards for a special family and young adult who have used their voices to champion the needs of these kids. 

In 2021, The five awards which individuals and organizations are eligible for are:

1. The Drenda Lakin Memorial Award honors a state, nonprofit organization, or individual for continuing service to families who achieved permanence through adoption, guardianship, or relational permanence. This award honors an entity or individual whose program provides valuable support and services to families who have achieved permanence for children in the child welfare system through adoption, guardianship, or relational permanence.

2. The Breaking Barriers Adoption Award honors a state, county, tribal child welfare agency, or dedicated individual that has worked to reduce barriers to permanency for children in foster care. Award recipients have demonstrated success in reducing or eliminating geographic barriers to permanency and/or addressing systemic barriers that have created a disproportionate representation of children/youth in foster care, including children of color, older youth, and LGBTQ+ youth.

3. The Family Advocacy Champion Award honors a family that has chosen to use their experiences within the U.S. child welfare system to advocate for and promote permanency, including adoption, guardianship, relational permanence, or reunification in their city, state, or region through legislative testimony, participation on boards or task forces, interaction with the media, or other public outreach.

4. The Using My Story for Positive Change Award honors a youth who has been in the child welfare system, who uses their voice to advocate for and promote changes to practice, policy, or law within their city, state, region, or at the national level to improve the lives of foster youth and promote the connection of every child to safe, loving, and permanent families.

5. The Legislative Champion Award honors members of Congress and their work in a bipartisan manner on behalf of children in foster care and families that help them find permanence. This award is not always awarded annually, depending on Congressional activity and advocacy priorities.

We ask that when you send in a nomination, you also include a summary letter (no more than two pages please) explaining why your nominee should receive one of these awards. We encourage case examples, data and/or achievements made by the nominee to be included in your recommendation letter. We also ask for the nominee's name and contact information.

Know someone you want to nominate? Click here to do so.

The deadline to apply is October 11th, 2021.

Winners of the 2020 National Adoption Month Awards