Adopted Teen Empowerment and Mentoring (ATEAM) Program

The Adopted Teen Empowerment and Mentoring Program (ATEAM) is a post-adoption service program designed for adopted teens in 6th – 12th grade. The ATEAM provides teen participants with an opportunity for mutual support and self-expression through group interactions with other adopted teens. Through the group support, the goal is to help youth develop stronger family attachments and enhance their future relationships. Adopted youth and adult mentors come together monthly to understand unique aspects of adoption and to see that their experiences and feelings related to adoption are normal. The program recognizes that in many cases when teens appear happy and well-adjusted in their adoptive families, they may still be dealing with the effects of their early life experiences.

Eligible teen participants are those receiving Adoption Assistance and/or have been in the custody of a state agency and are either in an adoptive placement or a finalized adoption. This program offers a safe, well-supervised environment for adopted teens to have fun with their peers during meetings and retreats. Both public and private colleges and youth facilities host these monthly support meetings across the state of Georgia. Meeting times are generally from 9:30 am – 4:30 pm with one-weekend leadership retreat planned each year.