Join us in advocating for critical legislation and spreading awareness on the importance of empowering children and teens along their adoption journey for Adoption Month.
November is National Adoption Month and National Adoption Day is Saturday, November 18th. This month, it is vital to raise awareness on the importance of supporting children and youth, especially teens, along their journey towards permanency. Securing life-long connections through adoption is essential for determining the mental well-being, future achievements, and happiness of a child. Thousands of children and teens across Massachusetts need permanent families and the Children’s League wants to empower our Members to advocate for policies that will support children and families along that important journey.
Key Bills on CLM’s Policy Agenda Relevant to Adoption
An Act relative to parentage to promote children's security (S.947 / H.1713)
- Massachusetts’ parentage law is outdated and incomplete, leaving many children vulnerable to separation from their parents and related harms. Passing the Massachusetts Parentage Act will ensure that our state’s legal framework is clear, equitable, and provides legal protection for all families, including LGBTQ+ families.
- Fact sheet
- Current Committee: Joint Committee on the Judiciary
- Sponsors: Senators Julian Cyr, Bruce E. Tarr, Adam Scanlon, and Robyn K. Kennedy; Representatives Sarah K. Peake, Hannah Kane
An Act minimizing trauma to court-involved children and families (S.71 / H.204)
- This bill promotes foster care placements with relatives, promoting sibling and half-sibling connections, and preserves cultural, racial, ethnic, religious, and linguistic identities. By keeping children connected to their communities and living with known relatives, we can reduce their trauma and support healthy attachments.
- CLM’s testimony
- Current Committee: Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities
- Sponsors: Senator Cynthia Stone Creem; Representative Joan Meschino
An Act to eliminate disproportionality and inequities for at risk children (S.120 / H.153)
- This legislation would require all child-serving state agencies to track, analyze, and report on disproportionality and inequity in child services and create corrective action plans with oversight and support from the Office of the Child Advocate. Passing CLM’s disproportionality bill will help us better understand the pathways that lead to adoption so that ALL children find loving forever homes.
- Fact sheet and testimony
- Current Committee: Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities
- Sponsors: Senators Susan L. Moran, Joanne M. Comerford, James B. Eldridge and Mark C. Montigny; Representative Paul J. Donato
Outreach Strategy
Step 1) Legislative Advocacy
Ask your legislators and Committee members to encourage Committee leadership to favorably report these bills out of Committee. Contact info as follows and scripts are below:
- Find your state legislator and their contact info here
- Contact info for members on the Joint Committee on the Judiciary
- Contact info for members on the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities
Step 2) Advocacy via Social Media
- Utilize hashtags #NationalAdoptionMonth, #ChildWelfare, #mapoli
- Aim to schedule 1 - 2 posts per week, accompanied with graphics and resources
- Tag your legislators!
- Thank legislators in your district who have already co-sponsored key bills
- Tag committee members/legislators to report out key bills favorably
- Follow CLM and reshare CLM’s Tweets (@childrensleague) & Facebook posts (@childrensleague)
Scripts for Legislators
The following sample scripts can support your outreach to legislators and staffers when you contact them via phone, email, and/or meetings to advocate for key legislation.
Script: An Act relative to parentage to promote children's security
Contact your legislators and the Judiciary Committee to advocate for this bill
- Find your state legislator and their contact info here
- Contact info for members on the Joint Committee on the Judiciary
| Subject Line (if an email): Please Favorably Report Out Critical Bills Pertaining to National Adoption Month Dear [LEGISLATOR'S NAME], My name is [NAME]. I am a resident of [CITY/TOWN] and I work at [AGENCY/PROGRAM] in [CITY]. November is National Adoption Month and as a member of the Children’s League of Massachusetts, I request that you urge the Joint Committee on the Judiciary to favorably report out the following bill pertaining to adoption: An Act relative to parentage to promote children's security (S.947 / H.1713) - Fact sheet Passing this bill is important because Massachusetts’ parentage law is outdated and incomplete, leaving many children vulnerable to separation from their parents and related harms. Passing the Massachusetts Parentage Act will ensure that our state’s legal framework is clear, equitable, and provides legal protection for all families, including LGBTQ+ families. [INSERT ADDITIONAL PERSONAL/PROFESSIONAL REASONING HERE]. Please reach out to me or the Children’s League of Massachusetts if you have any questions. Thank you for your time and for representing my community. I appreciate your attention to this issue. Sincerely, [YOUR NAME] [CONTACT INFO] To contact the Children's League of Massachusetts, please call (617) 695-1991 or email Sue, the Director of Public Policy, at sue@childrensleague.org. |
Script: An Act minimizing trauma to court-involved children and families and An Act to eliminate disproportionality and inequities for at risk children
Contact your legislators and the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities to advocate for these bills
- Contact info for members on the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities
- Find your state legislator and contact info here
| Subject Line (if an email): Please Favorably Report Out Critical Bills Pertaining to National Adoption Month Dear [LEGISLATOR'S NAME], My name is [NAME]. I am a resident of [CITY/TOWN] and I work at [AGENCY/PROGRAM] in [CITY]. November is National Adoption Month and as a member of the Children’s League of Massachusetts (CLM), I request that you urge the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities to favorably report out the following bills pertaining to adoption: An Act minimizing trauma to court-involved children and families (S.71 / H.204) - CLM’s testimony The passage of this bill is important because it promotes foster care placements with relatives, promoting sibling and half-sibling connections, and preserves cultural, racial, ethnic, religious, and linguistic identities. By keeping children connected to their communities and living with known relatives, we can reduce their trauma and support healthy attachments. An Act to eliminate disproportionality and inequities for at risk children (S.120 / H.153) - Fact sheet and testimony This legislation would require all child-serving state agencies to track, analyze, and report on disproportionality and inequity in child services and create corrective action plans with oversight and support from the Office of the Child Advocate. According to the Department of Children and Families, white children were more likely to be adopted than Black and Hispanic children in FY22, despite the population of these groups being nearly equal in having adoption as a permanency plan. Passing CLM’s disproportionality bill will help us better understand the pathways that lead to adoption so that ALL children find loving forever homes. [INSERT ADDITIONAL PERSONAL/PROFESSIONAL REASONING HERE]. Please reach out to me or the Children’s League of Massachusetts if you have any questions. Thank you for your time and for representing my community. I appreciate your attention to this issue. Sincerely, [YOUR NAME] [CONTACT INFO] To contact the Children's League of Massachusetts, please call (617) 695-1991 or email Sue, the Director of Public Policy, at sue@childrensleague.org. |
Social Media Messaging
Graphics: Find graphics to accompany your Facebook and Twitter posts here.
Sample Messaging:
You can copy/paste the following messaging to any social media platform.
Policy-focused messaging:
- This #NationalAdoptionMonth, we are advocating for legislation that will make a difference in the lives of children & teenagers who are in their permanency planning & adoption journey. As a Member of @childrensleague, we urge the legislature to favorably report out the Massachusetts Parentage Act, an Act Minimizing Trauma to Court-involved Children, & CLM’s Disproportionality Bill. #mapoli Learn more about CLM’s policy agenda here: https://www.childrensleague.org/advocacy/state-advocacy/
- During #NationalAdoptionMonth, we are highlighting An Act minimizing trauma to court-involved children and families. The passage of this bill will help promote foster care placements with relatives & preserve cultural, racial, ethnic, religious, & linguistic identities. #mapoli Learn more: https://www.childrensleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/CLM-Testimony-Minimizing-Trauma-to-Ct-Involved-Children_Final-23-24.pdf
- Massachusetts’ parentage law is outdated & incomplete, which leaves many children vulnerable to separation from their parents & related harms. Passing the Massachusetts Parentage Act will ensure that MA’s legal framework is clear, equitable, & provides legal protection for all families, including LGBTQ+ families. #NationalAdoptionMonth #mapoli Learn more here: https://www.glad.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/MPA-Overview-Jan-2021.pdf
- According to DCF, white children were more likely to be adopted than Black & Hispanic children in FY22, despite the population of these groups being nearly equal in having adoption as a permanency plan. Passing CLM’s disproportionality bill will help us better understand the pathways that lead to adoption so that ALL children find loving forever homes. #NationalAdoptionMonth #mapoli Learn more: https://www.childrensleague.org/clm-urges-the-state-legislature-to-pass-an-act-to-eliminate-disproportionality-inequities-for-at-risk-children/
Resource-focused messaging:
- Youth can develop a strong racial & cultural identity when they have opportunities to connect & engage in their heritage. The following resources provide insights into how some young people have learned more about their identity through the exploration of their roots. #NationalAdoptionMonth #mapoli https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/adoption/nam/engagement/
- In Massachusetts, there are approximately 2,460 children & youth waiting to be adopted, & many have questions about their identity. Take action this November in raising awareness about the importance of incorporating conversations about identity into permanency planning. https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/adoption/nam/
- Only 26% of children in Massachusetts with the goal of adoption at the start of FY22 were successfully adopted during that year. Providing a welcoming & safe space gives youth the confidence to use their voice and express their feelings. Empower youth to lead conversations about their identity & permanency needs with the following resources: #NationalAdoptionMonth #mapoli
https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/adoption/nam/engagement/ - November is #NationalAdoptionMonth! To learn about concrete, realistic, & successful strategies professionals can utilize to connect better with youth, check out the following webinar from @ChildWelfare. #mapoli https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EszEEpL4cAw&t=0s
- This #NationalAdoptionMonth, let’s raise awareness on the importance of permanency planning with children, youth, & teens on their adoption journey, Securing life-long connections through adoptions is essential for determining the mental well-being, future achievements, & happiness of a child. #mapoli Learn more: https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/adoption/nam/youthvoices/
Resources
- Children’s Bureau Adoption Month resources on
- Permanency Planning With Youth
- Engaging Youth
- Relationship-Building Tools
- The 2023 National Adoption Month Webinar, Empowering Youth Finding Points of Connection
- CLM’s website detailing all priority & endorsed legislation
- Find your state legislator here so that you can tag them in your social posts
Member Resources/Events
Attend MARE's National Adoption Month Social Hour
Thursday, November 9 · 5 - 7pm
Join us for a casual evening of drinks, light fare, and stories about life-changing connections. Learn more about MARE's work and how you can build brighter futures for youth in foster care.
Download MARE’s Communications Awareness Toolkit
Utilize this kit to raise your voice in support of adoption from foster care this month.
MARE’s Explore Adoption Webinars
Tuesday 11/7 at 12:00 PM, Thursday 11/16 at 7:00 PM
MARE is hosting regular live webinars for Massachusetts residents about the adoption from foster care process. Join Liz Joyal, Family Support Services Coordinator, for an engaging presentation that will tell you what you need to know about the adoption from foster care process in MA and direct you on next steps to take to move forward in the process.
MARE’s Ninja Warrior Meet & Greet
Sunday, November 12th, 9:00am - 11:30am
The Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) and the DCF Central Region Adoption Collaborative invite you to a Ninja Warrior Meet & Greet! Join us to meet waiting children and sibling groups who are over the age of ten and to speak with their social workers.
Adoption Journeys - Parent Guide to Services
Adoption Journeys, a program of Child & Family Services, Inc., offers post-adoption supports and services to adoptive families throughout the State of Massachusetts.
**If you have any questions, please contact Tasmiah Ahmad, CLM’s Communications & Public Policy Specialist at tasmiah@childrensleague.org.**