Question re: Foster care adoption and the Original Birth Certificate?

My son was adopted through the Foster care system. The Social Worker gave me a copy of his birth certificate when he was placed with us. Now with everything I am reading about adoption and how it is almost impossible to get the original birth certificate, I am wondering if it is normal for Foster parents to be given a copy of the OBC.

I am very grateful that she gave it to us after reading about how hard it is to get a copy after the adoption is finalized.
Additional Details
I don’t know if Adoptees have access to their OBC in Michigan or not. And I thought maybe the only reason we had a copy was to enroll him in school. At the time he came to live with us, the plan was reunification, not adoption, so having the birth certificate would not be a big deal. Also, it was a relative placement so I can give him some of the details about his family especially on his bio-fathers side of the family.

Gaia Raain

I think it's different state by state. We live in Oregon, and when we are chosen for a child or children to adopt, we will get EVERYTHING the state has on them. Every single piece of paper the state has ever compiled regarding our kids will become ours. But I don't think it's like that in every state. I've heard that in a lot of states, caseworkers lie to AP's to get them to adopt children who might otherwise languish in the foster care system. That wouldn't fly in Oregon, because they wouldn't be able to lie to us - not if we get everything that's ever been written about our kids before adoption. I'm really glad we're going to have all that info, too. I just hope we get pictures and other "memory" stuff from our child's past. That will be up to the foster parents, though.

bailie28

kinda weird they gave you a copy..i was a foster kid and adopted...they didnt have my original...

mom of many

I think its one of the documents a foster parent should have and its needed to register a child in school and perhaps other activities. We got copies of birth certificate, social security cards, and shot records of our foster children.

marlena42000

I don't know, I didn't get on either, but I found my biological Dad and he had all of ours, and gave them to me, When I met them I was so disappointed. They had 6 kids and never raised any of them past the age of 5. I guess I was lucky to find someone that loved me and took me on as their own. I eventually found all my brothers and sisters, now were all close. I feel sorry for all of us adoptees that think we need to find answers and feel like their might have been a good reason, for what they did, only to find out they really didn't give a crap.Sorry to be so negative sometimes I guess their could be a good reason.

KWilbanks

When my daughter was placed in foster care, I was required to give DFCS a copy of the original & they sent off for a certified copy for their records. I think that it is a standard practice.

Mary B

I got one for my foster child when he was placed with me at 15 years old. I also got a copy of his mother death certificate. So maybe not done all the time but it is done. I think the case workers probably give you what they have on the child. Adopting through the foster system is different than private adoptions at birth.

yes you are given it because it assist in placing them in school etc. When they go to the next foster home if there is one she will take it back and give it to the next family. Kids don't have state ids this helps having this info. If you adopt the foster child or if someone else does then it gets changed. the same reason because you are now the parent and you are entitled to make the decisions and you need that a birth certificate to even get a liecense and to show that you are the childs parent and not just some adult. Now if you adopt them i would keep the orginal for them that will help them track down their first family later if you want to

HappyMomAnna

We were also given copies of both of our children's original Birth Certificates... They were included in the State Created LifeBook the children were given at the time they transitioned into our home.

We were also told by Social Secrutiry and the Public School that our "copy" was not an official one that could be used for any purpose that would require the official brith certificate.

It's nice to have them as part of the kids personal history....We however live in a state where they have the right to get their original Birth Certificate at the age of 18 which is nice.

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