Tomorrow, several states and counties across the United States will finalize adoptions as part of National Adoption Day 2011, the day designated each year to bring awareness and recognition of foster care adoption in the United States (for more information about Adoption Day events in Minnesota click here).
Over the past month, two bills have been introduced to support the adoption of children and youth in foster care into adoptive homes. On Wednesday, November 17, 2011, SR 302, introduced by Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) was passed (the House version, H Res 433 was introduced by Senator Bachmann (R-MN)). Senator Landrieu’s speech about the passage of the resolution is below.
In honor of National Adoption Day, the following is a list of major adoption-related legislation that have had huge impacts on the lives of adoptive families (click on each law for more information):
- 1851 Massachusetts is first state to pass adoption legislation
- 1917 Minnesota is the first state to require an investigation (prelude to an adoption homestudy) prior to the placement of a child in the home for adoption
- 1968 New York is the first state to legislate adoption subsidies for children adopted from foster care
- 1978 Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act
- 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act is passed
- 1980 Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act is passed
- 1988 Child Abuse Prevention, Adoption, and Family Services Act
- 1992 Child Abuse, Domestic Violence, Adoption, and Family Services Program Act
- 1993-1994 Tax deductions for adoptions are legislated through an Omnibus Reconciliation Act (for more information about tax deductions for adoptions, see the North American Council on Adoptable Children’s information page here)
- 1994 The Multi-Ethnic Placement Act is passed (more here)
- 1995 the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) begins implementation
- 1996 The Inter-Ethnic Provisions amends the Multi-Ethnic Placement Act
- 1997 Adoption and Safe Families Act is passed
- 2000 Intercountry Adoption Act is passed
- 2000 Child Citizenship Act is passed
- 2003 Adoption Promotion Act
- 2006 Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act
- 2008 Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act
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