Open Adoption Records

The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute Explores Opening Adoption Rec
One of the most hotly debated adoption issue is that of open adoption records and whether adult adoptees should have access to their adoption information. New research from the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute suggests that "yes" adoption records should be made available to adult adoptees, including the ever elusive original birth certificate.

All About Open Adoption Records - Birth Mothers Speak Out
The dangers of when one group speaks out for another. Birth mothers who have placed their children for adoption speak out for open adoption records.

Open Records vs. Birth Mother Protection
One birth mother shares why she feels strongly about the need for open adoption records.

Model Open Adoption Records Legislation
This page contains an example of open records legislation that can be used by open records action groups to propose legislative change. It is non-discriminatory in that it opens records to both adoptees and natural parents, and also recognizes that family includes siblings and grandparents who may also wish to search.

The Charter of Adoptee Rights
This Charter was drafted as a tool for use by the Open Records movement in North America. It can be used to lobby human rights agencies, state governments, etc. to pass as part of their human rights codes, to form the basis of open records legislation (AND the right of adoptees to self-determination).

Open Records: A Motherhood Issue
A natural mother supports opening adoption records. Many arguments given for the opening of adoption records for adoptees as well as birth/first mothers.