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