The American Adoption Congress (AAC) was an international adoption-reform organization created in the late 1970s as an umbrella organization for adoption search, support, and reform groups. Initiated by Orphan Voyage founder Jean Paton, people representing many groups gathered in regions around the United States 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 the AAC was reincorporated and gained 501(c)3 tax exempt status.[2] AAC conferences were held annually around the United States from 1979 until 2020, when the conference, its last, was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The American Adoption Congress represented the interests of individuals who identified as adopted people, birth parents, and adoptive parents, as well as individuals, families, and organizations committed to adoption reform. While it existed, the AAC promoted honesty, openness, and respect for family connections in adoption, foster care, and assisted reproduction, and it provided education to members and professional communities about the lifelong process of adoption. Until 2024, the AAC advocated for state legislation to grant every individual access to information about their family and heritage.[3] [4]
In a letter dated July 25, 2024, AAC President Matt Naylor announced the dissolution of the organization effective in August 2024. According to the letter, "... we will be transferring our remaining assets, after all payables are distributed, to the Adoptees’ Liberty Movement Association (ALMA), in existence since 1971. ALMA has pledged a continuance of legislative advocacy to restore unrestricted access to original birth certificates for all adult adopted persons, a cause the AAC continues to champion."
The AAC formally filed for dissolution with the Missouri Secretary of State on October 1, 2024.[5]
| Year | Dates | Location | Theme | Keynotes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | March 30 - Apr 3 | Denver, CO | Trailblazing Change: Moving Mountains Together in Adoption | Dr. Joyce Maguire Pavao Amanda Transue-Woolston Dr. Amanda Baden Delores Teller Marilyn Mendenhall Waugh Kathleen Nielson Mark Hagland | |
| 2015 | March 26 - Apr 29 | Cambridge, MA | Education, Advocate, Legislate | Bennett Greenspan Rhonda Roorda David SmolinRev. Dr. Nicholas Cooper-Lewter | |
| 2014 | April 9–13 | San Francisco, CA | Building Bridges for Change | Lisa Marie Rollins John Raible Leslie Pate Mackinnon Rickie Solinger Zara Phillips | |
| 2013 | April 10–14 | Cleveland, OH | Create the Next Wave | Adam Pertman Thomas Rector Dominique Moceanu & Jennifer Bricker Gina Samuels Jean Strauss & Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-IL) | |
| 2012 | April 26–29 | Denver, CO | Mile High Expectations: Adoption in 2012 | Clarissa Pinkola Estes Sherrie Eldridge Pekitta Tynes | |
| 2011 | April 14–17 | Orlando, FL | Many Faces of Adoption | Ron Nydam Mary Gauthier Deann Liem Susan Harris O'Conner Rebecca Denton & Lynn Lauber Mary Anne Alton | |
| 2010 | March 18–21 | Sacramento, CA | Voices of Adoption: Speaking Our Truth, Restoring Our Rights | Jean Strauss Deborah Jiang Stein Cathy Lind Hayes Carista Luminare Delores Teller | |
| 2009 | April 22–26 | Cleveland, OH | Transforming Families, Connecting Lives | Darryl McDaniels Sharon Roszia Dorothy Roberts Joe Eszterhas & Suzanne Perryman Jean Strauss Paula Benoit | |
| 2008 | March 26–29 | Portland, OR | Adoption in the Global Community: Redefining Kinship in the 21st Century | Sharon Roszia David Brodzinsky Kevin Campbell Barbara Raymond | |
| 2007 | March 7–10 | Wakefield, MA | Take the Freedom Trail to Truth in Adoption | Darryl McDaniels Sandy Whitehawk Gerald Mallon Ann Fessler | |
| 2005 | July 6–10 | Las Vegas, NV | Don’t Gamble with Truth in Adoption | Fr. Tom Brosnan Adam Pertman Russell Friedman Jean Strauss | |
| 2004 | March 31 - Apr. 4 | Kansas City, MO | Back To Our Roots | Ron Nydam Marcy Axness Alison Larkin | |
| 2003 | April 2–5 | Atlanta, GA | AAC’s Silver Anniversary Conference | Jaiya John Annette Baran Lorraine Dusky | |
| 2002 | April 10–14 | Philadelphia, PA | Let Freedom Ring | Jett Williams Ruth Amerson Betsy Forrest & Pam Hasegawa Betty Jean Lifton Rev. Dwight Wolter Zara Phillips Adam Pertman | |
| 2001 | April 19–22 | Anaheim, CA | 2001 An Adoption Odyssey | Penny Callan Partridge & Ron Nydam Adam Pertman Joyce Maguire Pavao Fr. Tom Brosnan Annette Baran Kris Probasco | |
| 2000 | April 13–16 | Nashville, TN | Millennium Victories & Visions: A Celebration of Accomplishments, A Confirmation of Purpose, A Challenge to Continue | Patricia Martinez Nancy Verrier Joyce Maguire Pavao Caprice East Denny Gladd Fred Greenman Jr. Julie Sandine Robert D. Tuke Annette Baran | |
| 1999 | May 13–16 | McLean, VA | Rights, Responsibilities, Reality Building Blocks for Adoption Reform | Susan Harris Mi Ok Song Bruining Ron Nydam | |
| 1998 | April 2–5 | Bellevue, WA | Sounding New Depths, Exploring New Channels | Betty Jean Lifton Joyce Maguire Pavao Nancy Verrier Carol Schaefer Annette Baran Penny Callan Partridge | |
| 1997 | April 3–5 | Irving, TX | The Train to Open Records | Betty Jean Lifton Joyce Maguire Pavao Nancy Verrier Carol Schaefer Annette Baran Penny Callan Partridge | |
| 1996 | April 25–28 | Baltimore, MD | Coming of Age | Annette Baran Rev. Thomas Brosnan Reuben Pannor Joyce Maguire Pavao Barbara Tremitiere | |
| 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 |