NCFA Press Release - May 12, 2004
For Immediate Release

------------------------------------------------------------

New Hampshire Eliminates Confidentiality in Adoption: Mandatory "Open
Records" Law a Harmful Aberration

ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA, May 12, 2004 - A conflicted New Hampshire
Governor Craig Benson allowed SB335 to become law last night
without his signature. This harmful legislation allows adult
adopted persons unconditional access to identifying birthparent
information, without birthparents' knowledge and against their
wishes, even when they were previously promised confidentiality.
It eliminates confidentiality for all New Hampshire birthparents
- past, present, and future.

"The failure of New Hampshire's legislature and governor to keep
the promises made to birthparents and to preserve and protect
adoption is an egregious violation of trust and common decency,"
said National Council For Adoption (NCFA) President and CEO
Thomas Atwood.

NCFA's statement, "Adoption First Principles," says,
"Birthparents and adult adopted persons who desire to identify
each other and have contact should be able to do so, when both
agree. Otherwise, both should be able to control the release
of their identifying information and whether and when contacts
are to occur." Atwood further observed, "Adoption policy
should not empower one party to adoption to force openness or
contact on another. New Hampshire's new law violates this
basic human right."

Very few states have adopted this one-size-fits-all, mandatory
openness policy. Prior to New Hampshire's policy reversal, 44
(now 43) states allowed birthparents to control whether their
identifying information would be released. Since 2001, at least
11 other states had considered more than 25 pieces of similar
legislation. Not one had been approved.

Many adopted persons are curious about their birthparents, but
the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse reports sources
indicating that 85 to 99 percent of aodpted persons do not
search. Whether they search or not, they know who their "real"
parents are, the ones who raised them. Only a small, vocal
minority demands the absolute right to force themselves on their
birthparents.

"This policy will cause all sorts of harm," continued Atwood.
"It will violate birthparents' privacy, cause emotional
traumas through increased unilaterally imposed contacts
between adopted persons and birthparents, and deny all women
and teens with crisis pregnancies the perfectly valid option
of confidential adoption." The only private option future
women with crisis pregnancies will be allowed to consider in
New Hampshire is abortion.

Advocates of this legislation deceived some legislators with the
disingenuous argument that adopted persons needed the policy, in
order to obtain medical and health information. The truth is that
New Hampshire law, as is the case in all 50 states, already
provided for them to acquire this information while respecting
birthparent privacy. Moreover, the point is moot, because one can
receive far more complete information about one's genetic
predispositions from a DNA test than from medical histories of
biological parents.

With the enactment of this policy, the state of New Hampshire is
no longer neutral on the issue of reunions. According to Atwood,
"This policy sends the false, demeaning, and corrosive messages
that adopted persons cannot be whole unless they 'reunite' with
their birthparents, and that the adoptive family is inadequate to
provide for the adopted person's psychological well-being. These
messages are simply untrue, and undermine a fundamental principle
of adoption - that, through adoption, the adoptive family becomes
the adopted person's true and permanent family."

For more information, contact:

Lee Allen - Office: (703) 535-1919, Mobile (24/7): 301-693-6513,
FAX: 703-535-1901, Email: lallen@infantadopt.org

Click here to view NCFA's "Adoption First Principles.":
http://m1e.net/c?25937420-bwSqZcmLgpy9.%40526703-vtcEPsq42oWyM

Is it possible to *****slap an entire organization? Since they are just
down the road from me, I'll offer to do it for the a.a community.

Linda

Is it possible to *****slap an entire organization? Since they are just
down the road from me, I'll offer to do it for the a.a community.

Linda

"Linda Fortney" <lfortney@dc.umd.edu> wrote in message
news:c806qk$fh6@marple.umd.edu... Is it possible to *****slap an entire organization? Since they are just down the road from me, I'll offer to do it for the a.a community. Linda

Please do, Linda . Their arguments didn't fly in the Sundquist case and they
certainly didn't fly in Oregon. But they keep on keeping on since 99.9% of
politicians and the public know jack about adoption and are willing to take
their word for it. For 2 decades NCFA was the "adoption expert." They
aren't any more .

Marley

"Linda Fortney" <lfortney@dc.umd.edu> wrote in message
news:c806qk$fh6@marple.umd.edu... Is it possible to *****slap an entire organization? Since they are just down the road from me, I'll offer to do it for the a.a community. Linda

Please do, Linda . Their arguments didn't fly in the Sundquist case and they
certainly didn't fly in Oregon. But they keep on keeping on since 99.9% of
politicians and the public know jack about adoption and are willing to take
their word for it. For 2 decades NCFA was the "adoption expert." They
aren't any more .

Marley

>Subject: Re: NCFA'S statement on New Hamsphire open recordsFrom: "Marley Greiner" maddogmarley@worldnet.att.netDate: 5/13/2004 9:44 AM Pacific Daylight TimeMessage-id: <EBNoc.687$hH.10066@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>"Linda Fortney" <lfortney@dc.umd.edu> wrote in messagenews:c806qk$fh6@marple.umd.edu... Is it possible to *****slap an entire organization? Since they are just down the road from me, I'll offer to do it for the a.a community. LindaPlease do, Linda . Their arguments didn't fly in the Sundquist case and theycertainly didn't fly in Oregon. But they keep on keeping on since 99.9% ofpoliticians and the public know jack about adoption and are willing to taketheir word for it. For 2 decades NCFA was the "adoption expert." Theyaren't any more .Marley
Marley
Kathy, born Renee Karyn Racine
Baltimore, Here I come

>Subject: Re: NCFA'S statement on New Hamsphire open recordsFrom: "Marley Greiner" maddogmarley@worldnet.att.netDate: 5/13/2004 9:44 AM Pacific Daylight TimeMessage-id: <EBNoc.687$hH.10066@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>"Linda Fortney" <lfortney@dc.umd.edu> wrote in messagenews:c806qk$fh6@marple.umd.edu... Is it possible to *****slap an entire organization? Since they are just down the road from me, I'll offer to do it for the a.a community. LindaPlease do, Linda . Their arguments didn't fly in the Sundquist case and theycertainly didn't fly in Oregon. But they keep on keeping on since 99.9% ofpoliticians and the public know jack about adoption and are willing to taketheir word for it. For 2 decades NCFA was the "adoption expert." Theyaren't any more .Marley
Marley
Kathy, born Renee Karyn Racine
Baltimore, Here I come

>Subject: Re: NCFA'S statement on New Hamsphire open recordsFrom: "Marley Greiner" maddogmarley@worldnet.att.netDate: 5/13/2004 9:44 AM Pacific Daylight TimeMessage-id: <EBNoc.687$hH.10066@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>"Linda Fortney" <lfortney@dc.umd.edu> wrote in messagenews:c806qk$fh6@marple.umd.edu... Is it possible to *****slap an entire organization? Since they are just down the road from me, I'll offer to do it for the a.a community. LindaPlease do, Linda . Their arguments didn't fly in the Sundquist case and theycertainly didn't fly in Oregon. But they keep on keeping on since 99.9% ofpoliticians and the public know jack about adoption and are willing to taketheir word for it. For 2 decades NCFA was the "adoption expert." Theyaren't any more .Marley

SORRY hit enter too soon.

Marley,

What is the story with AL open records. Someone told me that they passed the
measure, but I hadn't heard anything here that I could recall. My life has been
topsy turvy for the past 2 months, so I may have missed it... Are they opened
in Alabama?

Kathy, born Renee Karyn Racine
Baltimore, Here I come

>Subject: Re: NCFA'S statement on New Hamsphire open recordsFrom: "Marley Greiner" maddogmarley@worldnet.att.netDate: 5/13/2004 9:44 AM Pacific Daylight TimeMessage-id: <EBNoc.687$hH.10066@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>"Linda Fortney" <lfortney@dc.umd.edu> wrote in messagenews:c806qk$fh6@marple.umd.edu... Is it possible to *****slap an entire organization? Since they are just down the road from me, I'll offer to do it for the a.a community. LindaPlease do, Linda . Their arguments didn't fly in the Sundquist case and theycertainly didn't fly in Oregon. But they keep on keeping on since 99.9% ofpoliticians and the public know jack about adoption and are willing to taketheir word for it. For 2 decades NCFA was the "adoption expert." Theyaren't any more .Marley

SORRY hit enter too soon.

Marley,

What is the story with AL open records. Someone told me that they passed the
measure, but I hadn't heard anything here that I could recall. My life has been
topsy turvy for the past 2 months, so I may have missed it... Are they opened
in Alabama?

Kathy, born Renee Karyn Racine
Baltimore, Here I come

"Kathy" <kath99@aol.comhomesafe> wrote in message
news:20040513131327.27424.00000724@mb-m24.aol.com...Subject: Re: NCFA'S statement on New Hamsphire open recordsFrom: "Marley Greiner" maddogmarley@worldnet.att.netDate: 5/13/2004 9:44 AM Pacific Daylight TimeMessage-id: <EBNoc.687$hH.10066@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>"Linda Fortney" <lfortney@dc.umd.edu> wrote in messagenews:c806qk$fh6@marple.umd.edu... Is it possible to *****slap an entire organization? Since they are
just down the road from me, I'll offer to do it for the a.a community. LindaPlease do, Linda . Their arguments didn't fly in the Sundquist case and
theycertainly didn't fly in Oregon. But they keep on keeping on since 99.9%
ofpoliticians and the public know jack about adoption and are willing to
taketheir word for it. For 2 decades NCFA was the "adoption expert." Theyaren't any more .Marley SORRY hit enter too soon. Marley, What is the story with AL open records. Someone told me that they passed
the measure, but I hadn't heard anything here that I could recall. My life has
been topsy turvy for the past 2 months, so I may have missed it... Are they
opened in Alabama? Kathy, born Renee Karyn Racine Baltimore, Here I come

Records were opened in Alabama through Alabama's AWARE and with BN on
August 1, 2000. Not sure how you missed that one! About 3000 adopted
adults have received their records since then. The bill was passed
unanimously in the Senate and almost unanimously in the House.

All the details are at:
http://www.alabama-adoption.org/

Marley

"Kathy" <kath99@aol.comhomesafe> wrote in message
news:20040513131327.27424.00000724@mb-m24.aol.com...Subject: Re: NCFA'S statement on New Hamsphire open recordsFrom: "Marley Greiner" maddogmarley@worldnet.att.netDate: 5/13/2004 9:44 AM Pacific Daylight TimeMessage-id: <EBNoc.687$hH.10066@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>"Linda Fortney" <lfortney@dc.umd.edu> wrote in messagenews:c806qk$fh6@marple.umd.edu... Is it possible to *****slap an entire organization? Since they are
just down the road from me, I'll offer to do it for the a.a community. LindaPlease do, Linda . Their arguments didn't fly in the Sundquist case and
theycertainly didn't fly in Oregon. But they keep on keeping on since 99.9%
ofpoliticians and the public know jack about adoption and are willing to
taketheir word for it. For 2 decades NCFA was the "adoption expert." Theyaren't any more .Marley SORRY hit enter too soon. Marley, What is the story with AL open records. Someone told me that they passed
the measure, but I hadn't heard anything here that I could recall. My life has
been topsy turvy for the past 2 months, so I may have missed it... Are they
opened in Alabama? Kathy, born Renee Karyn Racine Baltimore, Here I come

Records were opened in Alabama through Alabama's AWARE and with BN on
August 1, 2000. Not sure how you missed that one! About 3000 adopted
adults have received their records since then. The bill was passed
unanimously in the Senate and almost unanimously in the House.

All the details are at:
http://www.alabama-adoption.org/

Marley

>Subject: Re: To Marley; was: Re: NCFA'S statement on New Hamsphire openrecordsFrom: "Marley Greiner" maddogmarley@worldnet.att.netDate: 5/13/2004 10:27 AM Pacific Daylight TimeMessage-id: <meOoc.794$hH.12019@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>"Kathy" <kath99@aol.comhomesafe> wrote in messagenews:20040513131327.27424.00000724@mb-m24.aol.com...Subject: Re: NCFA'S statement on New Hamsphire open recordsFrom: "Marley Greiner" maddogmarley@worldnet.att.netDate: 5/13/2004 9:44 AM Pacific Daylight TimeMessage-id: <EBNoc.687$hH.10066@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>"Linda Fortney" <lfortney@dc.umd.edu> wrote in messagenews:c806qk$fh6@marple.umd.edu...>> Is it possible to *****slap an entire organization? Since they arejust> down the road from me, I'll offer to do it for the a.a community.>> LindaPlease do, Linda . Their arguments didn't fly in the Sundquist case andtheycertainly didn't fly in Oregon. But they keep on keeping on since 99.9%ofpoliticians and the public know jack about adoption and are willing totaketheir word for it. For 2 decades NCFA was the "adoption expert." Theyaren't any more .Marley SORRY hit enter too soon. Marley, What is the story with AL open records. Someone told me that they passedthe measure, but I hadn't heard anything here that I could recall. My life hasbeen topsy turvy for the past 2 months, so I may have missed it... Are theyopened in Alabama? Kathy, born Renee Karyn Racine Baltimore, Here I comeRecords were opened in Alabama through Alabama's AWARE and with BN onAugust 1, 2000. Not sure how you missed that one! About 3000 adoptedadults have received their records since then. The bill was passedunanimously in the Senate and almost unanimously in the House.All the details are at:http://www.alabama-adoption.org/Marley
WELL don't I feel like the horses ***. LOL, someone recently said to me they
wish AL would open records, well DUH at least I don't live there, and missed
it.
Kathy, born Renee Karyn Racine
Baltimore, Here I come

>Subject: Re: To Marley; was: Re: NCFA'S statement on New Hamsphire openrecordsFrom: "Marley Greiner" maddogmarley@worldnet.att.netDate: 5/13/2004 10:27 AM Pacific Daylight TimeMessage-id: <meOoc.794$hH.12019@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>"Kathy" <kath99@aol.comhomesafe> wrote in messagenews:20040513131327.27424.00000724@mb-m24.aol.com...Subject: Re: NCFA'S statement on New Hamsphire open recordsFrom: "Marley Greiner" maddogmarley@worldnet.att.netDate: 5/13/2004 9:44 AM Pacific Daylight TimeMessage-id: <EBNoc.687$hH.10066@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>"Linda Fortney" <lfortney@dc.umd.edu> wrote in messagenews:c806qk$fh6@marple.umd.edu...>> Is it possible to *****slap an entire organization? Since they arejust> down the road from me, I'll offer to do it for the a.a community.>> LindaPlease do, Linda . Their arguments didn't fly in the Sundquist case andtheycertainly didn't fly in Oregon. But they keep on keeping on since 99.9%ofpoliticians and the public know jack about adoption and are willing totaketheir word for it. For 2 decades NCFA was the "adoption expert." Theyaren't any more .Marley SORRY hit enter too soon. Marley, What is the story with AL open records. Someone told me that they passedthe measure, but I hadn't heard anything here that I could recall. My life hasbeen topsy turvy for the past 2 months, so I may have missed it... Are theyopened in Alabama? Kathy, born Renee Karyn Racine Baltimore, Here I comeRecords were opened in Alabama through Alabama's AWARE and with BN onAugust 1, 2000. Not sure how you missed that one! About 3000 adoptedadults have received their records since then. The bill was passedunanimously in the Senate and almost unanimously in the House.All the details are at:http://www.alabama-adoption.org/Marley
WELL don't I feel like the horses ***. LOL, someone recently said to me they
wish AL would open records, well DUH at least I don't live there, and missed
it.
Kathy, born Renee Karyn Racine
Baltimore, Here I come

>Subject: Re: NCFA'S statement on New Hamsphire open recordsFrom: lfortney@dc.umd.edu (Linda Fortney)Date: 5/13/04 9:13 AM Pacific Daylight TimeMessage-id: <c806qk$fh6@marple.umd.edu>Is it possible to *****slap an entire organization? Since they are justdown the road from me, I'll offer to do it for the a.a community.Linda

Linda, or someone, would you be so kind as to provide the original link for
this story?

It's not on my server. Thanks.


Kathy

>Subject: Re: NCFA'S statement on New Hamsphire open recordsFrom: lfortney@dc.umd.edu (Linda Fortney)Date: 5/13/04 9:13 AM Pacific Daylight TimeMessage-id: <c806qk$fh6@marple.umd.edu>Is it possible to *****slap an entire organization? Since they are justdown the road from me, I'll offer to do it for the a.a community.Linda

Linda, or someone, would you be so kind as to provide the original link for
this story?

It's not on my server. Thanks.


Kathy

"Kathy" <kath99@aol.comhomesafe> wrote in message
news:20040513133115.27424.00000726@mb-m24.aol.com...Subject: Re: To Marley; was: Re: NCFA'S statement on New Hamsphire openrecordsFrom: "Marley Greiner" maddogmarley@worldnet.att.netDate: 5/13/2004 10:27 AM Pacific Daylight TimeMessage-id: <meOoc.794$hH.12019@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>"Kathy" <kath99@aol.comhomesafe> wrote in messagenews:20040513131327.27424.00000724@mb-m24.aol.com... >Subject: Re: NCFA'S statement on New Hamsphire open records >From: "Marley Greiner" maddogmarley@worldnet.att.net >Date: 5/13/2004 9:44 AM Pacific Daylight Time >Message-id: <EBNoc.687$hH.10066@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net> > > >"Linda Fortney" <lfortney@dc.umd.edu> wrote in message >news:c806qk$fh6@marple.umd.edu... >> >> Is it possible to *****slap an entire organization? Since they arejust >> down the road from me, I'll offer to do it for the a.a community. >> >> Linda > >Please do, Linda . Their arguments didn't fly in the Sundquist case
andthey >certainly didn't fly in Oregon. But they keep on keeping on since
99.9%of >politicians and the public know jack about adoption and are willing totake >their word for it. For 2 decades NCFA was the "adoption expert."
They >aren't any more . > >Marley > SORRY hit enter too soon. Marley, What is the story with AL open records. Someone told me that they
passedthe measure, but I hadn't heard anything here that I could recall. My life
hasbeen topsy turvy for the past 2 months, so I may have missed it... Are theyopened in Alabama? Kathy, born Renee Karyn Racine Baltimore, Here I comeRecords were opened in Alabama through Alabama's AWARE and with BN onAugust 1, 2000. Not sure how you missed that one! About 3000 adoptedadults have received their records since then. The bill was passedunanimously in the Senate and almost unanimously in the House.All the details are at:http://www.alabama-adoption.org/Marley WELL don't I feel like the horses ***. LOL, someone recently said to me
they wish AL would open records, well DUH at least I don't live there, and
missed it. Kathy, born Renee Karyn Racine Baltimore, Here I come

Must have been one of those time were off on a romantic holiday with a
wealthy cabana boy.

Marley

"Kathy" <kath99@aol.comhomesafe> wrote in message
news:20040513133115.27424.00000726@mb-m24.aol.com...Subject: Re: To Marley; was: Re: NCFA'S statement on New Hamsphire openrecordsFrom: "Marley Greiner" maddogmarley@worldnet.att.netDate: 5/13/2004 10:27 AM Pacific Daylight TimeMessage-id: <meOoc.794$hH.12019@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>"Kathy" <kath99@aol.comhomesafe> wrote in messagenews:20040513131327.27424.00000724@mb-m24.aol.com... >Subject: Re: NCFA'S statement on New Hamsphire open records >From: "Marley Greiner" maddogmarley@worldnet.att.net >Date: 5/13/2004 9:44 AM Pacific Daylight Time >Message-id: <EBNoc.687$hH.10066@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net> > > >"Linda Fortney" <lfortney@dc.umd.edu> wrote in message >news:c806qk$fh6@marple.umd.edu... >> >> Is it possible to *****slap an entire organization? Since they arejust >> down the road from me, I'll offer to do it for the a.a community. >> >> Linda > >Please do, Linda . Their arguments didn't fly in the Sundquist case
andthey >certainly didn't fly in Oregon. But they keep on keeping on since
99.9%of >politicians and the public know jack about adoption and are willing totake >their word for it. For 2 decades NCFA was the "adoption expert."
They >aren't any more . > >Marley > SORRY hit enter too soon. Marley, What is the story with AL open records. Someone told me that they
passedthe measure, but I hadn't heard anything here that I could recall. My life
hasbeen topsy turvy for the past 2 months, so I may have missed it... Are theyopened in Alabama? Kathy, born Renee Karyn Racine Baltimore, Here I comeRecords were opened in Alabama through Alabama's AWARE and with BN onAugust 1, 2000. Not sure how you missed that one! About 3000 adoptedadults have received their records since then. The bill was passedunanimously in the Senate and almost unanimously in the House.All the details are at:http://www.alabama-adoption.org/Marley WELL don't I feel like the horses ***. LOL, someone recently said to me
they wish AL would open records, well DUH at least I don't live there, and
missed it. Kathy, born Renee Karyn Racine Baltimore, Here I come

Must have been one of those time were off on a romantic holiday with a
wealthy cabana boy.

Marley