Question:

How Many Adoptive Parents?

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Are actively writing letters to legislators to restore equal rights for adoptees to their own record of birth?

Are their many who don't think it applies to their child because they already have the information? If so would you still help getting the law changed as a matter of principle?

Just wondering

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17 ANSWERS


  1. Hi Heather,

    Yes, i have already emailed everyone at my state capital.  My daughters do have all of their info.  I will continue to fight for adoptees equal rights b/c it does affect my girls.  I want to change all of the negativity associated with adoption.  Of all the issues, this is the one that is most tangible where i can see i'm making a difference.


  2. I am not actively doing anything except obtaining more information regarding my son's international adoption case, first.  I've requested paperwork from the USCIS using the Privacy Act/Freedom of Information Act (Form G-639, http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/g-639.pd... ) and the Return of Original Documents (Form G-884, http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/g-884.pd...  Last check I was number 60 some thousand in a total of some 85 thousand requests.  They work an average of 5 thousand requests per month, so I'll be waiting for a little while longer to see what documents they have that I  didn't get while processing my son's adoption.  ANY INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION PARENTS should do this just in case.  There are other things I'm working on regarding medical information of my son from when he was in foster care...  but it's private and I won't go into details with that issue on line.

    Once I am happy with all I've done for my son, I'd like to further learn about the adoption and foster care system in the USA before I fully understand and can make intelligent decisions on what it is exactly that I think should be done to "fix" the systems.  

    In other words, I know there's problems with both adoptions and foster care; I need more research; I may or may not want to help change anything; but if I find something that I may want to change, I had better have some sort of solution to propose when I submit my list of problems that I think should be fixed.

  3. A few months ago, I wrote to state legislators in Ohio although my children are international adoptees. I wrote saying that I support open adoption records for all adult adoptees. I was spurred by on a thread on SofA. (I have not received a response though. Do they normally respond? This was my first letter to legislators.)

  4. i think everyone should be able to know everything about their birth.

  5. I have always supported open records... There is ONE big point some people fail to even recognize but, I did when I became a mother of children who have an adopted father...

    Fact is that this information NOT only mattered to their father--but, to my children as well... They had rights too....

    I collected signatures for the Voters Initiative on Oregon's ballot opening all birth certificates... While it did take a lot of work and time... Three years ago my adult children were finally blessed with not only the information about their heritage, valuable medical information but--two Married and loving biological grandparents!

    I do my best to support Open Records and reforms that insure both birth parents and adopted people have access and civil rights...

    I frequently, communicate with my Senators and congress on both the state and federal levels about Adoption related issues and do include Open records as a part of my communication.

    But, Thank you Heather as I have been very busy working on Foster Care reform and other matters dealing with Foster Care Adoption and believe that it's been awhile since I mentioned the other areas... Will Do this week.

    As a side note: In Oregon even for Foster Adoption that are closed our children recieved photo copies of their original BC!  GO OREGON!

  6. Prompted by things posted here and Gershom's website, I have written one paper letter and (as a remember) 2 emails to state legislators here in California to support adoptee rights to their OBCs. The letter was to suggest sponsoring a bill to open records. I forwarded the text of that to a local adoption support group so that perhaps someone else would also write -- and as I remember I sent a nagging email to them also.

    I should probably try our state assemblyman again, as our recent election made him a lame duck and he might like something other than a budget mess to fill his last few months -- so thanks for this reminder!

    Gaia, I could be wrong, as it was not me that thumbed, but I'm guessing it was the "MEMEME!!!" part.

  7. I write to our Governor about every couple of months and haven't adopted yet...I think fostering needs to change as well.  But, I think we should all be writing letters / voicing our opinions...cause it looks like that will be the only way things get changed...

  8. Hi Heather,

    Yes, I try to do my part to help change unequal laws.  I've wondered the same thing about the parents and other citizens.  I know some do help & it's greatly appreciated when we run into PAPs and APs who are true advocates for children.  It's a lot of work to get laws changed, and I don't feel it should rest soley upon the shoulders of the adoptees themselves.

    Some APs may feel that because they were able to obtain a copy of their adoptee's original birth certificate to give to them later there is no reason to actively work to change laws.  What they fail to recognize is that there is a big difference between having to rely on one copy obtained through a 3rd party and being able to access his/her own copy the same way everyone else does!  What if the AP's copy is lost or destroyed?  They would not have the same rights all other adult citizens have to access their own record of birth through the state as everyone else does.  It's not about just HAVING the record.  It's about adults having the same rights to access their records that everyone else has whenever they want, without having restrictions placed upon them.  And if someone never wants their record, that's fine too.  The point is they should be able to if they want to.

    What if everyone who did not belong to a certain class of people refused to help because "that's not their problem?"  It was not only women fighting for women's equality.  It was not only Black Americans fighting for racial equality.  The truth is there have always been concerned individuals fighting alongside with the discriminated classes.  Wherever there is inequality, that is EVERYONE'S problem.  A society that continues to treat adopted citizens differently in the eyes of the law should be a concern to everyone who values equal rights for all individuals, not just for the discriminated party.

    Perhaps it feels too big to tackle.  Start small.  If everyone makes one phone call or writes one letter, that will make a significant difference.  If everyone starts up one conversation with someone else and lets them know what's going on that makes a difference too.  If someone is up for making a larger difference, they should know that everyone is welcome to the demonstration in New Orleans this Summer, not just adoptees.  What better way to show support for an adoptee you love than to be able to share that experience and later they will know that you cared enough to stand up for their rights and helped make a difference?  It's history in the making.

    To sum it up, everyone is free to take the initiative to improve things, not just adoptees.  Thanks for asking Heather.  It IS a matter of principle.

    julie j

    reunited adoptee

  9. Heather you are right. I never thought about it because I have always planned to keep that information and offer it to any children that we adopt when they were 18. Thanks for making a good point.

  10. After reading your post, I called each of my State Reps's offices and Senators.  Thanks for the idea.

    I would love to see the rights for adoptees to obtain their records happen.

  11. I have not written to my legislators, mostly because the state that I live in already has open records for adoptees.

    However, when I was living in another state that did not have open records I supported the cause by signing petitions and offered my time/money, unfortunately I was never taken up on that offer.

    I absolutely think they EVERY child should have their information, I know how important it was to my mother.  I only wish I would be able to get that information for my child (I'm adopting from China).  DH and I have already discussed how we would help our child should they want to search.

  12. I am an adoptive parent and I have copies of my children's original birth certificates.  I had no idea all adoptees didn't have this at the time of adoption. Please email me and let me know what the problem is.  I will help if I know how.  Is this dealt with differently in each state?

  13. if you want to change anything, you have to start with your state representative.  Find out what district you are in and contact that representative with an email.

    Follow up in about 5 days with a telephone call.  Persistance is key.  When you do make contact with their office, ask for an appointment to discuss your correspondence and cause.  Contact your children family services department or adoption attorneys and ask for support.

    Bring a copy of the current state law regarding records so that you can show him/her exactly what needs to be changed.  Make sure that you fully understand the current law as well as the changes you want to make.  Do not expect him to come up with the solution - you must do so.  You must also make sure that you address the flip side of the cause.  This is imperative that they see all sides but when you do discuss the 'downside' of your bill, make sure you show him or her the positive.

    Make sure that you are not emotional and start crying, etc.  Keep your voice clear and level.  Explain how it has affected you and the 100s of thousands of other adoptees.

    After your initial meeting, wait 21 days and call back stating that you are following up on your meeting of "such and such date".  Persistance is key.  This is going to take a lot of your time and effort.  Eventually, his or her office will send you a draft copy of their amendment.  This takes awhile because they have to send it to their legislative researchers who will draft this.  Once you get a looksee at the bill, send it back with your comments.  They will then discuss the comments and redraft the bill to include those comments.

    At this point, your representative will send it out to his collegues requesting co-sponsors.  You need to contact the members of your House letting them know this bill seeking co-sponsors will be coming across their desks shortly and explain the need for this bill.  This process takes about 21 days.

    Once your representative has received the co-sponsors, the proposed bill will be submitted to the appropriate children / family committee review and testimony.  You will be invited to speak in front of them.  AGAIN, you must remain calm but voice your concerns as well as the opposing side and address the opposing side's viewpoint.  It doesn't hurt to look up the voting history of each member to see if they're pro-choice, pro-life, pro family, etc.  the more you know about them, the better you can use that to your advantage

    The Committee will then decide if this bill is worthy of going to the Assembly leaders.  They could vote yes to send it on to them and if so, you need to start contacting them and get them off their butts to vote on this.  They are voting to see if it goes to the floor for a full vote.  Again, you must contact the assembly leadership advising them that this bill is coming across their desk and why it is important that they act quickly.

    If they vote to send it to the floor for a full vote, then your work is really cut out for you.  You will need to contact and meet with as many of the reps as possible.  You will begin to sound like a broken record.  This will be the time for amendments, open hearings, etc.

    THEN, if the lower house votes yes on your bill, it will go to the upper house. . . .Repeat step 8 again . ..

    IF the upper house votes yes, then it goes to the governor.  Repeat Step 8 again.

    It's a long process and you have to start before the house even convenes for a new session.  You only have two years to make all this happen.

  14. Our adoption is an open adoption so its really not an issue.  We are in contact with his birth family, we have all the adoption paperwork if he ever wants any of the information, plus most adoption paperwork is filed with the county court where we live.  I don't think adoption is what it was years ago.  Its not hidden like it was 20 years ago.  There are ways now to get the information a lot easier.

  15. Whenever something is posted, I send an email.  I check out Gershom's legislative updates.  Yes, I live in a state where there are open records...but that doesn't mean that I should ignore all the other states!  They have adoptees, too!

    ETA:  Holy freakin...WOW, I got thumbs DOWN for supporting adoptee rights???  Man, I sure hope whoever gave me the thumbs down read this wrong or something.

    ETA2:  Thank you, Spydermomma.  I thought that might be it, but that's kind of irritating.  I was saying MEMEME! as in "I'm doing that!"  Why would that be bad?  Ugh, whatever.  I'll take it down. (BTW, I'm not irritated at you.  I adore you!)

  16. I will admit, I am not actively writing letters at the moment for OBCs but I am involved with working to secure newborn screening for all children, including those in adoptive situations.  Newborn Screening screens for certain genetic disorders.  It saves lives...my son is proof of that.  I have personally focused on children of adoption because of the different states and different countries involved.  Not every country has testing, and not every state has the same testing.  Also many states allow the bio parent to decide if they want newborn screening or not.  Adoptive parents usually don't even know the test exists, and they usually will not know if their child was tested or what the results of the testing was.  APs need to know about the genetic disorder so that they are able to provide the proper medical care for the child, but the child also must know that they are a carrier of these disorders as it can affect their own health as well as that of their own children someday.

  17. I sent a sample letter and the addresses of our state reps to everyone in my email address list who lives in my state, and asked them to pass it on.  If you make it easy for them, they're more likely to do it.  

    Our governor already vetoed the change in law the last time it was approved & was since re-elected, so I don't know what our chances are.  That's why I asked a question awhile back about who it was exactly who was fighting this legislation.

    I already have my kids' information, but I was interested in this before I ever thought I would adopt.  My best friend since high school is an adult adoptee, found her parents, can't get an OBC.

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