Adopted Teens Bill of Rights

“TEENS IN ACTION”
Atlanta, Georgia
April 4-5, 2003

For the first time in its 25 year history, the annual conference of AAC offered a program for adolescent adoptees. The purpose of the program was to introduce skills to help adopted teens build their self-esteem and self- confidence.  At the conclusion of the program, the teens drafted the following Adopted Teens Bill of Rights.

Adopted teens have the right to:

1. Express our feelings about the adoption experience.
   
   
2. Express and face fears about searching.
   
   
3. Birth parent information before age 18 or 21.
   
   
4. Want to find, communicate, be connected to birth parents.
   
   
5. Know the story of our birth and adoption.
   
   
6. Meet with other adoptees our age regularly.
   
   
7. Access knowledgeable, professional help (counseling and programs, AAC teen training).
   
   
8. Have a voice in adoption laws.
   
   
9. Receive support from our adoptive families for all of the above.