New Haven child placement agency supports adoption reform legislation

Editor's note: This is one in an ongoing series of posts spotlighting support for our continued effort to provide adult adoptees born in Connecticut access to their original birth certificates. The testimony featured in this series was submitted to the state Legislature earlier this year in support of proposed legislation that would have restored the right of adult adoptees adopted before Oct. 1, 1983, to access their original birth certificate. (Post-1983 adoptees had this right restored in 2014.) The letters are published with the authors' permission. Sign up for our newsletter at www.accessconnecticut.org if you want to help us end discrimination against adoptees.

Re: Proposed S.B. 977

'r Kids Family Center Board of Directors and Staff support restoring the right of Adult adoptees to receive a copy of their original birth certificate upon reaching the age of maturity. We believe this right should apply retroactively as well as prospectively.

Our Board and Staff include adult adoptees, adoptive parents, and former foster parents. We believe it's each person's right to know their history. As a CT licensed child placing agency, there are no forms signed by biological parents protecting their right to anonymity.

Therefore we support the effort of CT Council on Adoption and this legislation, on behalf of ALL adoptees.

Randi Rubin Rodriguez, Executive Director

'r Kids Family Center

New Haven