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Adoption Vanguard Award Given to Ardent Adoption Reform Advocate During National Adoption Awareness Month

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For Immediate Release:
​10/21/21

  • Adoption Knowledge Affiliates
  • Group Contact – Ty Cliffel
  • aka@adoptionknowledge.org

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Austin, TX  – Adoption Knowledge Affiliates (AKA) is honored to announce Dawn Scott as the recipient of our Adoption Vanguard Award for 2021.

 Dawn has been an incredible advocate for adoption transparency for over a decade. Serving as an ally to adoptees in their fight for original birth certificate access, Dawn was a founding member of the Texas Adoptee Rights (STAR) Board of Directors, pushing for the passage of HB984 (2015),  SB 329/HB547 (2017), and HB2725 (2019). After her tenure, she continued her advocacy for the passage of HB1386/SB1877 (2021) as a member of the STAR Advisory Board. Dawn has volunteered with AKA in almost every possible capacity. She has served on the AKA Board of Directors in numerous roles, including as AKA President. She has also served as a key member of the AKA conference planning committee, ensuring continuity of process, mission, and scope, while challenging and supporting colleagues to think more creatively about content and marketing. Dawn currently serves as the co-facilitator of two AKA Peer Support Groups – one for adoptive and foster parents and one for individuals with DNA discoveries. Dawn is connected to adoption through her role as an adoptive parent. 

The award will be presented on November 5, 2021, 9:15 am at AKA’s “Elevation: Voices in Adoption & Foster Care” virtual conference, during National Adoption Awareness Month. The virtual event delivers two full days of content with three powerful conference keynotes, Allison Davis Maxon, M.S., LMFT, Stephanie Drenka, and Angela Tucker. Surrounding the three keynotes are dynamic, afternoon presentations and workshops from local, state and national professionals, advocates, experts, and creatives – all connected to adoption and foster care. Evening programming includes a Friday night premiere of Betwixt & Between: A new play by adoptee Maggie Gallant. This event offers professionals CEU earning opportunities. The target audience for the conference is the adoption and foster care community; adjacent communities such as donor conceived individuals and people with DNA discoveries; therapeutic practitioners, social work professionals, and reform advocates. Attendees receive knowledge, skills, support, and networking opportunities.
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About Adoption Knowledge Affiliates
Adoption Knowledge Affiliates (AKA) is a unique non-profit organization, serving Central Texas since 1992. AKA provides support and education to adopted people, birth / first families, prospective and current adoptive and foster parents, and adoption professionals. We offer peer support, search assistance, educational programs, resources, and an annual conference with top-tier adoption professionals. In 2020, we expanded our services to include those with unexpected commercial DNA results. Whether it be due to adoption, donor conception, or other circumstance, we are ready to provide the same level of support as we have for nearly thirty years.
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