As my adoption and reunion story continues, I’ve changed some names, places, and dates.
Another compelling reason for states to open their adoption records is so adoptees can work to learn their heritage. Obviously, individuals like me can use their adopted family’s heritage, but of course that’s not authentic. We often miss out on a large piece of ourselves.
As I mentioned before, friends would sometimes try to guess my heritage while I was growing up. One guy swore up and down based on my facial features that I was Polish. I’m sure he would be shocked today to learn that I don’t have one shred of ancestry from Poland!
Not only do adoptees miss out on important history, but future generations will as well. Many of us grew up doing family trees as school assignments in elementary or middle school. An adoptee’s family deserves accurate information.
I was excited to learn about the German heritage on my birth father’s side and my Scottish, Irish, English, and German heritage on my birth mother’s side. No wonder I burn if I’m out in the sun for more than 20 minutes! It felt great to share this information with my sons.
My wonderful friend Mary was not only adopted by her stepfather – she also adopted her own children from Russia. She has done a wonderful job of gathering information about her son and daughter’s heritage and ancestral culture.
“I realize that is extremely important for them to know and I will always encourage them to keep learning more,” she once told me.
According to Carolina Parent, no matter how it fits into family life, learning about their heritage plays a crucial role in helping adoptees develop into emotionally healthy adults.
So how do you go about starting your search for your birth family or a child? If your state has open records, you can research its guidelines online for how to access them like I did with Ohio. Different states have different procedures, but it’s now the easiest first step for people that are looking for their birth family or a child.
This link provides information on what each state allows for adoptees wishing to access their original birth certificates: usbirthcertificates.com/articles/states-with-open-adoption-records.
And I am thrilled to report that my own state, Indiana, opened their records to everyone starting in 2018. This was thanks to a hard-working group called Hoosiers for Equal Access to Records (HEAR.) I am excited for Hoosier adoptees!
Hi Amy, I am also adopted. I like your columns about your journey. I know Ohio opened up adoption records, but i am from the east coast. I wouldn’t look now because i am 55 and my bio mom would be about 73 or 74, if the info my parents got was accurate. I don’t want to bug anyone and cause undo stress. About medical info., being adopted i decided that i am responsible for my own health. It would be nice to know a few things but if an adoptee is worried about inherited diseases, there are tests to take to find out if u are prone to getting a disease. I am wary about opening records as i have personally known an adoption reunion that went bad. I wish they would stop saying that these women were never promised anonymity as the woman i know can actually prove it. She has all of the paperwork from when she placed her baby back in the 70’s. Maybe that does not include the state records but the agency promised in writing that they would never release her information. Just be careful everyone. To birth mothers: u don’t get back your newborn u get an adult with all of the drama that is in this persons life. To adoptees: Same thing, u don’t get a do over, now u will get your bith parents drama on top of your own. Sorry to sound so negative but news people only report the “good reunions” not the bad. Thanks, Molly