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 M. 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. 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. 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.
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.
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 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 Smolin Rev. 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
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