Surrey Schools recognizes Adoption and Permanency Awareness Month

This November, Surrey Schools is joining communities across the province in marking Adoption and Permanency Awareness Month by celebrating the many families in Surrey, White Rock and throughout British Columbia who have opened their hearts and homes to children and youth.

Recognized by the province each year, the month honours the many ways families come together through adoption and permanency. It also shines a light on the children and youth who are still waiting for a permanent home and caring, supportive adults to cheer them on.

The Ministry of Children and Family Development is encouraging communities across B.C. to help promote awareness for children and youth who are still waiting for permanent homes.

According to provincial figures last updated in August 2025, 88 children and youth in B.C. were placed in adoption homes in the 12 months ending March 31, 2025 – about 15% of those eligible for adoption. Children are also finding their families sooner: the median wait from permanent status to an adoption placement dropped to 23 months, down from 32 months the year before.

For anyone interested in becoming an adoptive or permanent family, a wide range of resources and supports are available in B.C., including:

• Adopt BC Kids, an online portal that offers information and guidance to British Columbians hoping to adopt a child or youth from foster care, every step of the way through the adoption application;
• The Ways to adopt in British Columbia Website, which explains the different paths to adoption in B.C., including infant adoption, relative and step-parent adoption, and adopting a child or youth from another country;
• belongingnetwork.com (formerly the Adoptive Families Association of BC), which offers information and support for families considering adoption now or in the future; and
• adoption-bc.com, a comprehensive guide to additional adoption resources.

Surrey Schools is proud to help raise awareness about adoption and permanency, celebrate the families who have given children and youth the care and lifelong commitment of a permanent home and honour those who may choose to do so in the future.