To: Board of Supervisors
From: Marla Stuart, Employment and Human Services Director
Report Title: Proclaim November 2026 as Adoption Awareness Month
Recommendation: Recommendation of the County Administrator
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ADOPT a resolution proclaiming November 2026 as Adoption Awareness Month in Contra Costa County, as recommended by the Employment & Human Services Director.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact for this item.
BACKGROUND:
President Bill Clinton named November as National Adoption Month in 1995. In recent years, the national focus has been on adoption of teens, since teens in foster care wait longer for permanency and are at higher risk of aging out without permanent connections, placing them at risk for negative outcomes.
Children and Family Services (CFS) of the Contra Costa County Employment & Human Services Department (EHSD) protects and strengthens children and families. CFS works with parents, relatives, and community organizations to help ensure children and youth have safe, loving homes. This includes approving adoption and caregiver homes, and connecting to services that support overall family wellbeing. During Fiscal Year 2025-26, CFS completed 45 adoptions in Contra Costa County.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
No recognition of Adoption Awareness Month.
CHILDREN’S IMPACT STATEMENT:
This resolution supports all five of Contra Costa County’s community outcomes of the Children’s Report Card: (1) “Children Ready for and Succeeding in School”; (2) “Children and Youth Healthy and Preparing for Productive Adulthood”; (3) “Families that are Economically Self-Sufficient”; (4) “Families that are Safe, Stable and Nurturing”; and (5) “Communities that are Safe and Provide a High Quality of Life for Children and Families.”
National Adoption Month 2026
Proclamation by Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors
WHEREAS, all children, infants, toddlers, school-aged and older youth, deserve a safe, loving, supportive environment and a place to call home; and
WHEREAS, reunifying children with family is the primary goal when it is safe and in the child’s best interest and, when reunification is not possible, Children and Family Services (CFS) of the Contra Costa County Employment & Human Services Department (EHSD) helps to find caregivers who can offer children and youth permanent homes through adoption; and
WHEREAS, the 2026 National Adoption Month theme, A Home for Every Child, reinforces the shared commitment to reducing time in foster care and strengthening efforts to help children find permanent families; and
WHEREAS, National Adoption Month raises awareness about the importance of finding safe, loving, and permanent families for children in foster care, and cultivating a support network for embracing and affirming their identity, and promoting family, community, and cultural connections; and
WHEREAS, during Fiscal Year 2025-2026, CFS completed 45 adoptions; and
WHEREAS, during Fiscal Year 2025-2026, CFS and community partners provided adoption assistance and post-adoption support to 1,490 families; and
WHEREAS, there are no restrictions on who can adopt based on race, ethnicity, religion, physical ability, income, sexual orientation or expression, gender identity, or marital status; and
WHEREAS, adoption can help secure supportive and nurturing families and homes and can play a role in preventing recurring child abuse and neglect.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors hereby proclaims November 2026 as National Adoption Month in Contra Costa County to celebrate our community’s adoptive families and raise awareness about the number of children and teens who are still waiting for a permanent home.