WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer signed a proclamation Nov. 1 to recognize the month of November as “Navajo Nation Adoption Awareness Month” to stress that there are hundreds of Navajo children who receive foster care services while waiting to be adopted by a loving family.
The proclamation states that there is a critical need to increase awareness regarding the number of Navajo children and teens in need of a permanent home on the Navajo Nation. Many Navajo youths will “age out” of the foster care system before they can find a forever home.
“Every Navajo child deserves a stable, loving, forever family. As Diné, our families are built on the foundation of kinship, compassion, support, and unconditional love, and we have to offer those values to every Navajo child,” Nez said. “We are all family, and we need to be there for children who don’t have parents. Navajo children and youth in foster care deserve every happiness and joy experienced by those not in foster care.
“Our Navajo children are our strength and future, and should be in a home full of love, support, and trust,” Nez continued. “We also extend our appreciation to the Navajo families who opened their homes and hearts to adopt a child on the Navajo Nation. Thank you for making a meaningful and lasting difference in our children’s lives.”
The proclamation further states, “We recognize, and wholeheartedly embrace, the spirit that every child matters. We celebrate the parent(s) who have invited a child-in-need into their hearts and their homes. We express our profound appreciation for all who make adoption possible, including those administrative professionals, caseworkers, and countless others.”
“Many Navajo children are waiting for their forever families. The bond that links a true family is not one of blood, but of kinship, respect, and joy in each other’s life. As we wait for our children to find forever homes, let’s continue to pray for their health, self-esteem, and confidence,” Lizer said.
The proclamation encourages Navajo citizens to observe the month of November with appropriate awareness activities and “go the extra mile” by assisting adoptive families and Navajo children in need of a permanent and caring family.
