(Publisher’s message: I recently ran a story about a group of athletes who sponsored a family for Christmas while using the word adopt. Below is a response I received from a parent of an adopted child. It’s something that I thought others might find important.)
As a parent of child who was adopted, I would like to bring awareness to the proper use of the word, “Adopt.”
A simple one-word change would be extremely helpful to many families who are part of the adoption community.
When referring to charitable situations, please use Sponsor-a-Family instead of Adopt-a-Family. In families with children who were adopted, we talk about adoption being permanent.
It is confusing for children when “adopt” is used in a temporary manner.
Other campaigns, such as Adopt-a-Highway, could easily be changed to “Sponsor” or “Support.”
A point well made. Thanks to the person who wrote it and to you for sharing it with us.
Thank you for this! You’ve explained it perfectly. My children are adopted and the rampant use of the word “adopt” from pets to highways are indeed troublesome for families with adopted children. “Support”or “sponsor” instead, simple!
At Faith in Action we have worked actively for over 10 years to refer to all such programs as “sponsorship” programs, both for backpacks and for Christmas. It is the goal in this kind of work ot think of our actions as being in accompaniment to struggling families, not in a relationship of dominance. Adoption is a beautiful way that families are built, and we should show respect for families in the adoption community by using the word “sponsorship” for these other activities.