Pritzker Names November Adoption Awareness Month
Illinois courtrooms will hold Adoption Day celebrations and finalize adoptions through November and into December.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Child Care
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Illinois Governor JB Pritzker named November Adoption Awareness Month, joining the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services in honoring adoptive families. Several Illinois courtrooms will hold Adoption Day celebrations and finalize adoptions through November and into December.
Why it matters
Pritzker named November Adoption Awareness Month to raise awareness about youth waiting for permanent, loving homes. Currently, 3,399 Illinois youth have a goal of adoption, making the observance a focus on children still awaiting families across the state.
Illinois saw 2,328 children adopted during fiscal 2026, following nearly 19,300 adoptions over the past decade. The state's Department of Children and Family Services reports 3,399 youth currently have a goal of adoption, and the extraction does not say how many will be placed during the observance.
The players
JB Pritzker
JB Pritzker is the Governor of Illinois, who named November Adoption Awareness Month.
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is the state agency that oversees child welfare, foster care, and adoption programs in Illinois.
The details
Pritzker joined the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services in honoring adoptive families this month. DCFS offers reimbursement for legal fees, a monthly subsidy, and other supports for adoptive families.
Timeline
Adoption Day celebrations were held in Rock Island County on Nov. 5 and in Cook County.
Adoption Day celebrations are planned in Kane and Williamson counties on Nov. 20.
An Adoption Day celebration is planned in Winnebago County on Nov. 21.
An Adoption Day celebration is planned in Madison County on Dec. 18.
Culture Shift
The observance follows Illinois's existing DCFS adoption subsidy and legal-fee reimbursement program, which the state uses to encourage families to adopt children from state care. Public recognition through an awareness month reflects a continuing state effort to move waiting youth into permanent homes.
Families interested in adopting can seek reimbursement for legal fees and a monthly subsidy through DCFS. Attending a county Adoption Day celebration offers a way to see finalized adoptions in person.
The takeaway
Families who want to adopt in Illinois can access legal-fee reimbursement and a monthly subsidy through the state. Checking with DCFS early can clarify which supports apply to a prospective adoptive household.
What happens next
Adoption Day celebrations are scheduled in Kane and Williamson counties on Nov. 20, in Winnebago County on Nov. 21, and in Madison County on Dec. 18.
Further reading
Explore more on child care options and family support programs across Illinois.
More information
Learn about becoming an adoptive parent on the Illinois DCFS information page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Shaw Local.
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