American Adoption Congress
The American Adoption Congress (AAC) was created in the late 1970s as an umbrella organization by the search and support, adoption reform groups sprouting up across the United States, Canada and around the world. Initiated by Orphan Voyage founder, Jean Paton, people representing many groups gathered in regions around the US and began planning the incorporation. The first AAC Conference was held in Washington, DC in May 1979.[1] The second was in Anaheim, CA in 1980, and the third at the TWA Training facility outside Kansas City in 1981, where it was reincorporated and gained 501(c)3 tax exempt status.[2] Conferences have been held around the United States annually ever since.
The American Adoption Congress is composed of individuals, families and organizations committed to adoption reform. They represent persons whose lives are touched by adoption or other loss of family continuity. AAC promotes honesty, openness and respect for family connections in adoption, foster care and assisted reproduction. They provide education to members and professional communities about the lifelong process of adoption. AAC also advocates legislation that will grant every individual access to information about his or her family and heritage.
Conference History
| Year | Dates | Location | Theme | Keynotes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | March 30 - Apr 3 | Denver, CO | Trailblazing Change: Moving Mountains Together in Adoption |
Dr. Joyce Maguire Pavao |
| 2015 | March 26 - Apr 29 | Cambridge, MA | Education, Advocate, Legislate |
Bennett Greenspan |
| 2014 | April 9–13 | San Francisco, CA | Building Bridges for Change |
Lisa Marie Rollins |
| 2013 | April 10–14 | Cleveland, OH | Create the Next Wave |
Adam Pertman |
| 2012 | April 26–29 | Denver, CO | Mile High Expectations: Adoption in 2012 |
Clarissa Pinkola Estes |
| 2011 | April 14–17 | Orlando, FL | Many Faces of Adoption |
Ron Nydam |
| 2010 | March 18–21 | Sacramento, CA | Voices of Adoption: Speaking Our Truth, Restoring Our Rights |
Jean Strauss |
| 2009 | April 22–26 | Cleveland, OH | Transforming Families, Connecting Lives |
Darryl McDaniels |
| 2008 | March 26–29 | Portland, OR | Adoption in the Global Community: Redefining Kinship in the 21st Century |
Sharon Roszia |
| 2007 | March 7–10 | Wakefield, MA | Take the Freedom Trail to Truth in Adoption |
Darryl McDaniels |
| 2005 | July 6–10 | Las Vegas, NV | Don’t Gamble with Truth in Adoption |
Fr. Tom Brosnan |
| 2004 | March 31 - Apr. 4 | Kansas City, MO | Back To Our Roots |
Ron Nydam |
| 2003 | April 2–5 | Atlanta, GA | AAC’s Silver Anniversary Conference |
Jaiya John |
| 2002 | April 10–14 | Philadelphia, PA | Let Freedom Ring |
Jett Williams |
| 2001 | April 19–22 | Anaheim, CA | 2001 An Adoption Odyssey |
Penny Callan Partridge & Ron Nydam |
| 2000 | April 13–16 | Nashville, TN | Millennium Victories & Visions: A Celebration of Accomplishments, A Confirmation of Purpose, A Challenge to Continue |
Patricia Martinez |
| 1999 | May 13–16 | McLean, VA | Rights, Responsibilities, Reality Building Blocks for Adoption Reform |
Susan Harris |
| 1998 | April 2–5 | Bellevue, WA | Sounding New Depths, Exploring New Channels |
Betty Jean Lifton |
| 1997 | April 3–5 | Irving, TX | The Train to Open Records |
Betty Jean Lifton |
| 1996 | April 25–28 | Baltimore, MD | Coming of Age |
Annette Baran |
| 1995 | April 10–12 | Las Vegas, NV | Adoption: Laying Our Cards on the Table | |
| 1994 | April 21–24 | New Orleans, LA | Jazzin' It Up in Adoption | |
| 1993 | April 1–3 | Cleveland, OH | New Horizons in Adoption | |
| 1992 | March 19–22 | Philadelphia, PA | We the People Proclaiming Liberty in Adoption | |
| 1991 | April 10–14 | Garden Grove, CA | Sharpening the Focus on Adoption | |
| 1990 | May 24–27 | Chicago, IL | Winds of Change: Adoption in the New Age | |
| 1989 | April 5–9 | New York, NY | Illumination on Adoption | |
| 1988 | April 28 - May 1 | Calgary, Alberta | Adoption Into the 90's | |
| 1987 | May 28–30 | Boston, MA | ||
| 1984 | May 31 - June 3 | Seattle, WA | Educate, Legislate & Emancipate | |
| 1983 | May 19–22 | Columbus, OH | Come Grow With Us | |
| 1982 | June 3–6 | San Antonio, TX | ||
| 1981 | May 28–31 | Overland Park, KS | Open Minds, Open Records | |
| 1980 | May 8–11 | Anaheim, CA | ||
| 1979 | May 4–7 | Washington, DC |