How can an adoptive parent help to get states to open records?

Question

I'm an adoptive parent who fully believes in adoptees having access to their OBC's. But our child was born in and we live in a state that has had open records for decades. So how could i help fight for this since it's a state by state law?

Answer 1

i would watch for answers by laurie, gersh, etc.  they have the info on the open records gathering in new orleans in july.

i'm not nearly as well versed as they are.

we must unite!!!!!!  woot woot!

Answer 2

What I'd do is sometime in May or June, I'd write to my state legislators letting them know that adoptees from across the nation were going to have a booth  at the NCSL in July, and request that they come to the booth to show support. I'd also ask them if they'd be willing to share with the other state legislators in closed or conditional access states how there have been no negative repercussions to OBCs being opened in your state.

Information on the demonstration in July is here:

http://adopteerights.net/nulliusfilius/?...

You can also get information on the numbers for your state from the Evan B. Donaldson report here:

http://www.adoptioninstitute.org/researc...

You'll have to view the full PDF report and scroll down to about page 16 to get the numbers for your state.

Thanks for your support!!

ETA - Ah yes, Kansas, one of the two states where the OBCs have always been available to adoptees if they wanted them. Incredible. Well, good news is you've got your entire state history to draw on. Your state has never sealed records, and your courts aren't being clogged up with harassment suits by cowering fearful mothers against their wayward stalking adoptees, the way legislators in other states are afraid of :)

Answer 3

At one time, no states sealed records from adopted people.  Kansas and Alaska are the two states that never sealed birth records from adopted citizens.  In the past 10 years, four states that started sealing them have fully reopened records to adopted persons.  These are Alabama, Oregon (via a ballot measure,) New Hampshire and most recently Maine.

This summer is the Day for Adoptee Rights in New Orleans.  The legislators from all states will be meeting for the National Conference of State Legislature’s Annual Meeting.  July 22, 2008 will be a one day rally of adoptees and supporter of adoptee rights.  We've got an exhibitor's booth, which will allow us the opportunity to speak one on one with legislators from all states about adoptee rights issues.

You can read more about it here:

http://adopteerights.net/nulliusfilius/

One of the best thing anyone can do is to write one's legilators.  These are the people that have the power to open records.  Let them know that AP's are supporting adoptee rights.  

A GREAT place to learn about adoptee rights, the history of sealed records, how to write to one's legislators and more is at the Website of b*****d Nation.

http://www.b******s.org

b*****d Nation is the largest adoptee rights organization in the US, and is directly behind the success of Measure 58, which reopened records in Oregon.  b*****d Nation also directly led Alabama into reopening records and was a strong force in the reopening of records in both New Hampshire and Maine.  This is the place to really learn about opening records, as b*****d Nation's only goal is equal access rights for all adopted citizens.  From the b*****d Nation Website:

"b*****d Nation is an organization dedicated to the equal treatment and dignity of all adopted citizens. We advocate for equal treatment under the law in the form of equal access to our original birth certificates and adoption decrees. We inform against negative stereotypes of adoption and adopted people. We respect and provide resources for the full spectrum of adoptee experience. All those committed to these goals are invited to join us."

Answer 4

You could start by contacting your local congressman and asking what you would need to do to get a bill under consideration.  Perhaps you could write a well thought out letter with your reasons why adoption records should be open, citing other states that have such laws, or even arrange a meeting with him/her to discuss it.

Answer 5

Look back like a week ago Lori, asked a question about addresses.  Laurie gave the info.  Even though i dont' live in Michigan i was still able to mail my letters off to all the senators supporting OBC laws.

I'll see if i can find it i'll be back.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

I wrote a letter to each person on the list.  I stated i was an aparent in support of the bill.  Good Luck.

Answer 6

Wow, this is great, thank you so much.  It's always wonderful to hear adoptive parents supporting adoptee rights.

I think Laurie and the other answerers gave some greate advice and consistent letter writing to legislators is always good.   I write like every two to three weeks.

And yes. Theresa is right, you are in a good position to prove that the world has not come to an end because adults have access to their own records in Kansas - they've always had open records in Kansas.   And also  you can refute claims that abortion rates will rise because of open records because the stats show that Kansas has lower abortion rates than it's neighboring states, who have sealed records!

The Evan B Dondaldson Institute, headed up by an adoptive parent btw, is a great place to start and communicate with as to the action needed (I think someone already linked the website) and there is lots of interesting reading you can do here

http://www.americanadoptioncongress.org/

Amongst all the misunderstanding and adoptee-bashing, it's so great to see that sometimes, the message gets through.   We all care about Adoptees.  Adoption should be about adoptees.

Thanks

ETA   (and b*****d Nation ROCKS!)

Oh and come to and/or donate to the Adoptee Rights Protest taking place in NOLA in July!

http://adopteerights.net/nulliusfilius/