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This article from the UK surveyed 208 adopted people, aged from six to 22 and found that they want more information about their adoptions.
Adopted children want more information about their birth family and why they were adopted, according to a report.
This study also discusses how adoption agencies in the UK are not meeting government standards. It says that one out of every two agencies are failing in some respects. Their research cites high turnover rates among employees and inadequate training or recruitment of trained and experienced staff members. There are concerns that these problems affect the quality of the services that children who are being adopted are receiving.
Sounds as though the British have their share of problems with adoptions just as we do here in the United States. It is interesting to see how other countries handle adoption. One of the most significant differences between the U.S. and many countries, even some less developed, is the lack of access to adoption records in the U.S.
British law allows adoptees to gain access to their adoption records once they reach the age of majority, which is currently age 18. This link discussed the procedures in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland to receive access to your birth records. Forms are available to request birth records, and counselors are offered as well.
From 30 December 2005 an adopted person also has the option of approaching an approved Intermediary Agency about access to birth records as part of facilitating contact with a birth relative.
However, they have experienced a 38% rise in the number of children in care being adopted. They attribute this to wider recruitment of adopters. “Adopters” is the word that the British often use for adoptive parents.
Dr Morgan said adopted children “tell us they need to find out about their birth families so they can get a fuller picture of their backgrounds”.
One child told him: “If you know what happened you can understand your feelings better.”
Jan, wouldn’t it be great if each state codified the info to be made avalible to the adoptive family, and again to the adoptee at 18? The agencies each gather what they wish, classify info as ‘identifying’ as as they wish, and treat any request for additional info as telling a state secret (kind of a pun I guess, the state does it).
At the very least, why not let the adoptee make a request after 18, of the things they would like to know? Confidentiality can still be preserved.
My first adopted son came home at 12, but was adopted at birth by another family. No info from the birth agency, they only give the briefing once, and the other family got it. I petitioned the court. After a three year wait, we recieved a short one page summary. That’s just bunk.
After three years a short one-page summary? That IS absurd!
The need for confidentiality is highly overrated. I do not believe that birth parents have a right to be anonymous. No birth parents I know want anonymity.
In most cases, there is no need for an adoptee to be denied their adoption records.