This Thanksgiving, we reflect on the many things we feel grateful for and want to share our gratitude. Janet Lucas, a Foster Care Caseworker with Impact, shares her thoughts on her recent experience at National Adoption Day. Check out her inspiring perspective and join us in celebrating the importance of family and connection.
National Adoption Day
“Every day, I find myself filled with a sense of awe and gratitude towards the families I have had the opportunity to work with. The work of a social worker is often full of challenges, frustrations, and complexities. However, National Adoption Day serves as a reminder of the profound difference that love, commitment, and stability can make in the lives of children who need it most.
On November 23, 2024, I was able to attend the adoption hearing of a sibling set of three boys, all under the age of 5. As I sat in the court room, I was reminded of the journey that each child went through to get to this moment. I was reminded of the unique story of every family, stories of hardship, resilience, love, and healing. This day was an acknowledgment of the formation of a new family that was not just “legally” bound together, but formed and bound by something much deeper: a shared commitment to nurture, support, and grow together.
I sat in the courtroom and watched the boys with their chosen parent, realizing adoption means more than legality. Adoption represents love—pure, unconditional love. It creates a family built on choice, commitment, and shared experiences. Adoption shows children, who have faced more than any child ever should, that they belong and hold value. It assures them they are loved for who they are, not defined by their past. Adoption means choosing to give children permanency, safety, and a sense of belonging.
Giving Thanks for Family
This day reminded me of the incredible power of commitment. One woman chose to give children a forever home. A single parent showed up every day, often with no guarantees, to care for children. She cared for kids whose past she didn’t know and whose trauma we can’t fully understand. This day revealed the strength of deep love and unwavering faith. It reminds us that adoption isn’t a one-time event but a lifelong promise.
There are moments in life that are filled with magic. But the most magical moments happen when families have the tools and opportunity to create magic for themselves.
On National Adoption Day, November 23, 2024, I walked into a courtroom with three boys and a foster mom. I walked out with a family.”