Catholic Charities in Iowa..HELP?

Question

Has anyone had problems with sealed adoption records in Iowa with Catholic Charities? My mother was adopted at a young age. She was born in 1962. My mother hasn't taken the initiative to search herself but is constantly asking me to search. Adopted parents have given some details, but after contacting Catholic Charities, I have recieved absolutely no response. I don't know where to look or who to talk to. I don't know what to do and didn't know if anyone has any advise or recommendations. Thanks!

Answer 1

Adoption records are only available to the birth parents and to the adopted person IF state law allows it. They will never be available to you.

You can try internet search bulletin boards, but it's often very difficult to get a match.

Having been through a reunion with birth mother and child, I would suggest you proceed with caution. Birth mothers, especially those in the 1950s-1970s, suffered a great deal as they relinquished their children for adoption, and your biological grandmother may not be emotionally prepared at all to meet your mom. If she doesn't want to be found, she will be very, very hard to find -- you might be wise to just let her be.

Answer 2

You have to go to court and ask the court to unseal the records. I was adopted thru catholic charities in illnois and that was what i was told i had to do.

Answer 3

Unless you have a power of attorney authorizing you to request the information in your mother's name Catholic Charities could not legally release that information to you.

Answer 4

I don't know if this will help or not but, if you know where your Mom was born try the newspapers for back then....You also can try running a personal ad in the town you think her Mom lived to see if anyone remembers......Good luck

Her adoptive parents didn't keep anything from when they adopted her?  I have my son's original birth certificate.  his adoption papers.  His grandma's address, aunt's, cousins....I wanted him not to have to search when he was ready.  They also all have our address and when we move or they do we send new address and I send pictures too...

Something somewhere has to have a town, name or something to give you a clue.

Answer 5

I went through Catholic Charities in Toledo, OH to search for my first mom.  Identifying which diocese she was adopted through is essential.

I found some information on the Dubuque Archdiocese website that looks similar to what I found in starting my search.  You can see it here...

http://www.arch.pvt.k12.ia.us/Charities/...

You can do the foot work for this, but you'll need you mom's signatures along the way, I would imagine.  I would call the diocese and find out who to talk to about adoption.  See if you can find out in which diocese she was adopted.  Then you'll need to request non-identifying information.  Call, call, and call again...  I had to pester them for over a month before I finally started getting responses...

Answer 6

How rude of Catholic Charities.  If they are the people who handle the adoption they are obligated to provide your mother with non-identifying information - get back to them about this matter.  If you apply for information via the Iowa Adoption Registry they will have to cough up the information anyway, so they may as well give it to you directly

Contact the Adoption Registry:

The following parties may register: Adult adoptees age 18 or older who were born in Iowa; birth parents of children born in Iowa who have reached age 18 and were adopted; adult birth siblings (age 18 or older) of adult adoptees. All blood-related children of a birth parent must be 18 or older before information is released. Individuals may register by submitting a $25 fee, notarized application, and certified copy of their birth certificate.

Contact:

Iowa Department of Public Health

Bureau of Vital Records

Adoption Registry Program

Lucas State Office Building, 1st Floor

Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075

[phone]

You don't say whether your Mom is registered with other reuinion registries - that's the first thing she should be doing, and get on as many as possible.  These are good ones:

http://www.isrr.net/

http://registry.adoption.com/

Here's some information about Iowa specifically

http://laws.adoption.com/statutes/iowa-l...

Answer 7

Perhaps you and your mother need to direct the letter to the correct diocese.  My understanding is that Catholic Charities is a network of organizations.  Each is attached to its own diocese.  Make sure you have the right diocese first.  Then try calling the Adoption Coordinator there.

The only number I could find was the coordinator in the diocese of Des Moines, Maggie DeWitte, Adoption Coordinator -- 515-237-5016.  Maybe she could give you some direction.

Good luck.