Anderson's Adoption Reform Blog

Lifetime Secrets and Their Effect on the Adoptee

2013-03-01T21:57:49Z

Lifetime Secrets and Their Effect on the Adoptee
Labels: Adoptee rights, adoptee rights bills, Adoptive families, secrecy in adoption
Excerpt:

Every adopted person's journey is unique, of course, but I know that my story is not atypical. I just cannot understand why, as a culture, we would continue to shackle adopted people to an institution that is governed by such archaic and repressive laws, when the data tells us clearly that most first mothers are open to contact. Those who are not, like my original mother, can simply say no. This is an emotional subject for sure, but all of us affected are adults now-- we do not need outside agents supervising our own, very personal business.

Continue at:
http://nanadays.blogspot.com/2013/03/lifetime-secrets-and-their-effect-on.html

Original Birth Certificate pending legislation HF848

2013-02-22T16:31:29Z

Talking points:

Original birth certificates would be available to ALL MN-Born adult adoptees at age 18.
Adoptee and non-adoptee would have equal access to their own factual birth certificate.
No "permission slips"/Affidavits of Disclosure or Non-disclosure
No waiting periods while state or private agencies search for parental permission
No additional court process needed to override parental denials
No additional fees for adoptees for searching/securing parental permission
No waiting until age 100 when adoption records become public

Additional points:

Laws change. We try to do better when we know better.
At the heart of Adoption is the Best Interest of the Child. Keeping the Original Birth Certificate from the Adult/child is now recognized as not in the best interest of the child/adult.
Every person born in MN has an original birth certificate. They are the subject of that birth certificate.
Everyone should have access to their own personal data - their own birth information.
Treating MN-born Adopted Adults differently than non-adopted MN-born adults with respect to their own original birth certificate is discriminatory.
The closing of records to the the adopted child/adult was done without their legal counsel or a guardian ad litem.
Permission slips/Affidavits of Disclosure or Non-disclosure was a post-adoption system added in the late 1970's granting rights to parents whose parental rights had been terminated.

Minnesota Coalition for Adoption Reform
www.MNAdoptReform.org

Original Birth Certificate for all adoptees

2013-02-14T22:11:02Z

Again this legislative year we in MCAR (Minnesota Coalition for Adoption Reform) are lobbying for a bill that would equal Minnesota adoptees to all other Minnesota citizens--the right to obtain their original birth certificate. Stay tuned.

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2013-02-14T21:08:15Z

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STATES PROPOSING ADOPTION REFORM in 2006

2006-01-28T15:31:53Z

MINNESOTA
SF1005/HF 659 allows adoptees, 19 or older, to get a copy of their OBC (original birth certificate). Birth parents(s) may elect to file a contact preference form, but preference of no cantact does not preclude adoptees from making contact. Birth parents who signed Affidavit of Non-Disclosure (enacted in MN in 1974) still living and abiding by non-release would preclude release of OBC. Siblings as adults would get assistance in finding one another. www.adoptreform.org

]]> Other states proposing legislation are: Connecticut. Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvinia, Utah and the Canadian Provinces of British Columbia, Newfoundland, Labrador, Alberta, Ontario.

States with access to birth records for adoptees are Alabama, Alaska (always open) Delaware, Kansas (always open) New Hamshire, Nebraska, Oregon, South Dakota and Tennessee. For details www.americanadoptioncongress.org

Birthmother's Day

2005-05-18T12:32:08Z

LETTERS

Observing Birth Mother's Day

To the editor:
Birth Mother's Day, May 7, was created in 1990 by a group of
Seattle, Wash., birth mothers who share that day's pain of being
shut out of their child's life. There is the dual pain of their
child's inability to recognize them that day. No cards or flowers
because that birth was promoted as only a momentary event in their
lives, promised to quickly fade away. This silence also gives the
adoptee the message that they too are forgotten by her. Birth mothers
are often forgotten by the adoptive parents who she gave the gift of
life. Today's adoption system has been built on the destruction
of the birth family relationship. But truth cannot be whole without
all its parts. And those parts include birth grandmothers who we, as a
reunited adoptive family, also remember on this day. "Thank
you," my son's maternal birth grandmother wrote. "I admire your
willingness to help your son find his birth mother. I just wish my
husband had lived long enough to meet and get acquainted with this
nice young man. I have enjoyed his visits so much and hope I can have
many more." His paternal grandmother signed her card to us: "With best
wishes from Jon's biological grandmother." Now I work with Minnesota
Coalition for Adoption Reform to help change current adoption laws. To
find out more, contact MCAR at www.adoptreform.org.
EUNICE ANDERSON
Burnsville

Original Birth Certificate

2005-04-06T18:09:03Z

In a perfect world, no adoptee would be denied his/her original Birth Certificate because of an affidavit of non-disclosure signed by the birthmother. But these affidavits are few in the states that have opened up reform, so why should the rights of many Minnesota adoptees be denied because of the denied rights of a few? Each bill has a 2-year cycle and is continued into the next session with its current status (same bill # and co-authors, passing through two hearings), so we will resume at the next legislative session. In the interim, we educate, educate, educate on our strong position and welcome all opposition arguments, like the strong one from Basterette. Thanks.

Why we searched

2004-10-30T12:56:55Z

I need to explain my part in this adoption triad. I am an adoptive mother who helped her three children search for their birth families. I felt this was vital to their adult lives as the need to know your genetics, your birth parents and why you were relinquished never leaves you. Without all this information my chidlren were confused, lost and rebellious. Also, my mother was orphaned at age 2 and I saw her need to know agitate her all her life. I wish I could have helped her learn more about her genetics also. That is why I am working with MCAR (Minnesota Coalition for Adoption Reform) to help others obtain their original birth certificate at age 19. My children have reunited with all their families, so we feel blessed. Any questions? Eunice

Belief Statements

2004-10-26T21:30:31Z

We believe that (1) all adopted persons should have direct access to truthful, identifying information about their birth and origins. (2) Adoption is not a one-time legal event but a lifetime human process for all members of the adoption kinship network. (3) The system of adoption should be focused on the needs of the adopted person who benefits by having genetic information both in childhood and in adulthood.(4) The adopted have a dual family identity that should be recognized and respected. (5) The act of searching for one's origins is not pathological but rather a natural human need in the lifelong quest for identity. (6) Knowledge of the past empowers all humans to make healthy decisions for today and tomorrow. (Brochure)
Any questions?

More Babies for Adoption

2004-10-06T21:28:55Z

Look this up. Very interesting and educational.

U.S. Adoptions Get Easier

Some Domestic Agencies Say They Now Have More Babies Than Applicants
By SUEIN HWANG
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
September 28, 2004; Page D1

]]> It's a problem the nation's adoption agencies haven't seen in 30 years: "We desperately need couples who want to adopt babies in the U.S.," says Sue
Will, maternity-services coordinator at Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, one
of the state's largest social-services agencies.

testing

2004-10-06T01:08:11Z

Testing. I am a member of MCAR (Minnesota Coalition for Adoption Reform) and want all interested in reforming MN adoption laws to know about us. Mainly we advocate that adopted adults at age 19 can get their original birth certificate (OBC). I will post updates regulary on our groups legislative successor failures. TTYL.