Proponents of 'Open Adoption' What are you Doing to Unseal the Birth Records of Adoptees?

wynn

In my state legislation was passed granting open records but the governor vetoed it and said that it will be vetoed every time it comes up. The reason stated is that whole (nonsensical?) guarantee of privacy to the first mother.

So what I'm doing is having as many people as I can send letters to our governor and legislators. I email everyone a sample letter and the addresses it should go to. I'm also asking all the adoptive parents I know to bring up this issue with their agencies. When I asked here before about who lobbies against open records, I was told it was adoption agencies. I was thinking that since all their money comes from adoptive parents, if aps say they want open records for their children, it might help.

magic pointe shoes

Right now I am in research mode. California has attempted at least twice, but it may have been three attempts to introduce original birth certificate legislation and have failed because of restrictions made to that legislation. I want to know what happened, who was involved and learn from that as I attempt to go back and try again. I also am researching why California closed the records in the first place, which involves getting my hands on this one woman's graduate thesis.

I think I also need to research who is manipulating the proposed legislation and who's money is influencing that change.

A better informed me makes for a better attempt to change.

Sly

I have written letters for years in support of Opening the Birth Certificates for adult adoptees, but take it a step further and advocate the opening of the Amended Birth Certificates for mothers of loss. We are entitled to equal access.

ETA: I don't support Open Adoption, or actually almost any adoption, and no infant adoption.

mommy2squee

Open adoption is not the same as open records. Open adoption is about ongoing contact with your child's other family- you can have an open adoption, and the records may still be sealed. Ours are. Right now, I have my hands full raising my son- I don't have the energy to be active in the open records movement.

sizesmith

Although it might not be possibleto to unseal records that have been sealed for years, I constantly encourage women who are talking about placing to get information, and educate them on the fact that they have every right to get information on their children. I'm working with a few workers from DHS in the foster care system, and am in the process of working with a senator about passing legislation to have enforceable open adoption, which basically, the contact information between all adults is given, the records open for the child to view later on, and enforceable visitation, as if it were spelled out for a divorcing couple. In cases like that, there would also be the ability to have parents with reasonable and real action to sever ties, if they were dangerous to the child.

Corn is not dog food! No wheat!

I support open adoption, but because I don't know anyone dealing with a "closed" adoption, I do nothing.

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