NY State Access to Birth Records Status and Directory

NEW YORK

For current advocacy activities in New York contact: Joyce Bahr or go to www.unsealedinitiative.org

CURRENT LAW:  Passive registry. Adult adoptees (18) and birth parents can register with the Adoption Information Registry to receive identifying information.  When a match is confirmed, registry will notify the parties and the court where the adoption occurred to request each registrant’s “final consent” to the release of information.  Upon receipt of the final consent, information is released.

The original birth certificate is available only upon order of the court.

http://www.americanadoptioncongress.org/state.php

American Adoption Congress supports state-by-state legislative efforts to obtain access for adult adoptees to their original birth certificates. AAC prefers unrestricted access to this document for all adult adoptees but will accept compromise legislation if, in the opinion of AAC and local supporters, such a compromise is necessary to obtain the greatest access for the greatest number of adopted persons.

Adult Adoptees' Views of Open Adoption

A report compiled by Heart of the Matter Seminars

LEE'S SUMMIT, MISSOURI - 1-28-2013 - Heart of the Matter Seminars announces the release of the data gathered by their survey which captured the voices of 281 adult adoptees.  Because of the amount of interest shown, HOTMS has decided to make the full report public.   

Heart of the Matter Seminars' conducted a survey of 281 adult adoptees on the topic of open adoption.  Since much of the research previously available focused exclusively on birth parent and adoptive parent interviews and surveys, our report is unique and provides compelling statistics for anyone interested in adoption. 

Heart of the Matter provides research based education and practical parenting tools for today's adoptive parents and professionals. Results from the survey will be used in the upcoming course entitled  . . . 

Opening up Open Adoption: What is it and is it right for you?

.  .  . scheduled for release next month

DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY NOW!

HEART OF THE MATTER SEMINARS: Learning from Adult Adoptees

Heart of the Matter presents this week's revealing insight into open adoption as seen by 281 adult adoptees...

4th Sneak Peek!
OPEN ADOPTION: How They Described Challenges in Open Adoption

An interesting glimpse of the data gathered by HOTMS' survey that captured the voices of 281 adult adoptees. 

Complete report scheduled for release later this month!

New course entitled: Opening Up Open Adoption: What is it and is it for you?
Available for parents and professionals early 2013

Did you miss one of the first Sneak Peaks?
Never fear... they are available HERE!

Adult Adoptee Survey Talking Points: Their Perceptions of Benefits of Open Adoption

Heart of the Matter Seminars' co-owners Julie Drew, BA and Katie Prigel Sharp, LMSW conducted a survey of 218 adult adoptees on the topic of open adoption.  A full report, Adult Adoptees' Views on Open Adoption, will be released soon.  This short article  provides a brief summary of one of the key topics in the survey, followed by a series of Talking Points meant to spark further thought and discussion.  Results from our survey will be used in our upcoming online course on open adoption entitled.Opening Up About Adoption: What is it and is it right for you? scheduled for release early 2013!

Learn more about the participants here.

Talking Points

• "Having access to medical information"  was most often reported as "very important".  With medical advances in genetic testing do you think this will become less important over time?

• Does an open adoption always guarantee accurate and complete medical information?

• What does the phrase "knowing where I came from" mean to you?  How is it different than "knowing why I was placed for adoption"?

• With all the focus on identity and adoption, does it surprise you to see that so many adult adoptees reported it as not a benefit or of little importance?

• Do you think some of these would have been more important or less important to these individuals when they were children?

• Do you think there is a connection between identity and self esteem?

• Consider the how evenly distributed the responses are to "having ongoing contact with birth family members".  Why do you think there is such a wide range of responses?  Do you think this speaks to the individual nature of open adoptions?

• Do you think the responses to "knowing who I look like" would be different if we had asked children?  Adoptees who are part of a transracial family?

Learning from Adult Adoptees

An Insider's Guide to Identity and Adoption

An Insider's Guide to Identity and Adoption Real Life Stories. Expert Advice!  Join us on May 22, 2012 for a guided discussion on the impact adoption has on identity formation. A panel of adult adoptees will share personal stories from their childhood and teenage years, reflecting back on how adoption factored into their identity formation. Lead by Dr. Gina Samuels, a researcher, educator and adopted person, the panel will give adopted parents practical insight into how they can best support their children to form a healthy sense of self. Learn more.