About Teen Club

Its 2008 and Pact is moving forward with lots of exciting activities and a re-created Teen Program. Our Teen Leadership Group, our bi-monthly teen and tween activities and parent discussion group are continued parts of our program. As we continue to support your family and your teen, we are focusing this year on developing your teen's unique voice and providing multiple spaces for positive expression.

Why teens need their own group:
Teens are clear they don't want adults to decide about a group for them and they certainly don't want parents or professionals selecting friends for them. As many of them have demonstrated before, they are more than capable of asserting their independence and autonomy by rejecting the very things adults think might be best for them -- especially if they are forced or pushed rather than given the opportunity to choose for themselves.

Pact is NOT doing a "support group." Instead, we offer teens the opportunity to come to both social and project oriented events where the goals are for them to have a good time with other kids (who they might just happen to find out are living some of the same experiences as they are) and for them to participate in some sort of expressive activity. Can Pact guarantee that each child will have fun or connect with this group? NO. Is pushing attendance just setting up another source of ammunition for them to say, "I told you so," if they don't have a good time? Maybe. Is it worth a try to give them an opportunity to find a group that may feel like a better fit than some of their other activities? WE THINK SO!

As part of the program we offer facilitated discussion opportunities at least twice a year, where teens can talk about their experiences and feelings. These talk-sessions will not be forced on teens who attend but are generally structured within the project work we are doing. There will also be facilitated discussion opportunities available at our Summer Pact Family Camp.

Who Can Join
Siblings may participate if they wish, but Pact's Teen Club is designed with adopted and foster teens of color in mind. We do not encourage your children to bring friends who are not personally touched by adoption or foster care as we are trying to promote connections between children and family members who share the issues of adoption and race in the context of trying to find their own identity. Events will be open to members only, teens will not be given entry if we do not already have their names or a parent, foster parent or guardian does not accompany them. We will distribute a roster for teens who have joined the group.

Copyright ©1998-2008 by Pact, An Adoption Alliance
http://www.pactadopt.org
info@pactadopt.org