HELENA, Mont. Governor Greg Gianforte today joined Montana families and Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) Director Dr. Doug Harrington at the State Capitol to celebrate adoption and proclaim November as Adoption Month in Montana.
"Every child deserves a loving home and a family they can count on," Gov. Gianforte said. "Today, we celebrate Montana’s adoptive families and the love, patience, and commitment they bring to raising their children. We hope their stories inspire other Montanans to consider adoption."
During the ceremony, the governor recognized Helena-area adoptive families and thanked advocates and organizations who help Montana children find permanent, loving homes.
Joining the governor and Director Harrington were adoptive parents April Berns and Meagan Hogue, who shared their personal adoption journeys, and the impact adoption has had on their families. Berns adopted three of her grandchildren, providing them with a loving and stable home. Hogue and her husband, Wesley, have fostered children since 2022 and adopted two children, while helping maintain connections with their children’s biological families.
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"Adoption is more than a legal milestone," Dir. Harrington said. "It is a lifelong commitment to helping a child feel safe, supported and loved. We are grateful to the families we’re celebrating today and to adoptive parents across Montana who show up for their children every day."
Highlighting the state’s commitment to strengthening Montana families, Gov. Gianforte shared the progress made to improve Montana’s child welfare system.
Since the governor took office in 2021, the number of Montana children in foster care has declined by nearly 48 percent, from more than 3,300 to 1,716 today. Additionally, DPHHS has helped facilitate more than 250 adoptions and guardianships in 2026.
To encourage adoption and support Montana families, in 2023, Gov. Gianforte signed into law an adoption tax credit of $5,000, or $7,500 for children adopted within Montana, helping reduce financial barriers for parents looking to adopt. Earlier this year, the governor also announced Montana’s participation in the national A Home for Every Child initiative, a partnership with the federal government to strengthen foster care, expand the availability of foster homes, and prioritize kinship placements.
The governor also encouraged Montanans to consider opening their hearts and homes to children in need of a permanent family, recognizing the children across the state who are still waiting to be adopted.
As part of the celebration, Gov. Gianforte read a proclamation declaring November 2026 as Adoption Month in Montana, recognizing the love and commitment of adoptive families and raising awareness about children still waiting for permanent, loving homes.
