My thoughts - this is at least SOME progress and the beginning of a registry to manage connecting people. I’m curious what agencies are to be involved. I wonder how many agency keep records that well. Is placing that on agencies a realistic expectation? Some agencies already have ethical issues to resolve. What about private adoptions through an attorney?
RALEIGH, N.C. - A House judiciary committee has agreed to help adult adoptees or their biological parents in finding out each other’s identities.
But the panel stopped short of an earlier proposal to allow adoptees access to their original birth certificates.
Adoption advocates and birthmothers pushed to eliminate a 1949 law that’s kept adopted children’s original birth certificates sealed, requiring litigation to gain access to records. Those birth certificates identified the biological parents.
Other advocates disagreed, saying the change would possibly discourage adoption and unravel the understanding by some mothers that their identities would remain confidential.
A compromise bill approved today would allow an adoption agency to act as a “confidential intermediary” between an adoptee age 21 or older and a biological parent. With written permission from both sides, the agency could bring about contact between the parent and child or share identifying information.
As I’ve said before, I’m curious to see all the specifics and I’d hope there is a funding attached to the panel’s ruling. Roberta or David, have you heard any more details?
July 22, 2007 at 8:29 am
The bill passed unanimously out of the House JI, House, Senate JII and Senate.
There are still a lot of issues to be worked out. I do have Children’s Home Society of NC’s word that they will work with adoptees and birthparents alike, if it was a private adoption, or an agency who just doesn’t want to act as a CI.
This bill was strictly about ‘reunions’ and those who want just that. It is a ’step forward’ in NC. At least now adult adoptees and birthparents have a choice as to wether they want to ‘meet’ or share information.
It is not the clean perfect bill for a right that we wanted, however we will be going back in 2009 and we will be many steps more forward in getting what we seek then.
Roberta