Adoption Resources : Concerned About Privacy?

Concerned About Privacy?

Why privacy?

The right to maintain or waive one’s privacy in adoption is essential to the human rights and personal dignity of adopted persons, birthparents, and adoptive parents. Adoption policy and practice should not empower one party to adoption to receive identifying information or unilaterally impose contacts without the consent of another party.

Search and reunion advocacy is commonplace in the media, but the range of views regarding privacy in adoption is actually as varied and personal as there are parties to adoption. In the context of the media’s fascination with openness in adoption, it is important to remember that the many who prefer privacy cannot discuss their views publicly without sacrificing the very privacy they desire to protect. Birthparents and adult adopted persons who desire to 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.

NCFA supports the use of mutual consent registries as a fair way to facilitate contact between adult adopted persons and birthparents. These registries allow adult adopted persons and birthparents to register their interest in making contact with the other. When both parties have indicated their desire to meet, the state facilitates the process by providing contact information.

Interested in safeguarding the option of privacy? Click here to read NCFA's "Consent vs. Coercion" position paper.

NCFA continues to promote and advocate for laws that allow birthparents to make confidential adoption plans for their children. We are most effective in our efforts when individuals with personal adoption experience actively participate in the political process.

If you would like to assist in our efforts to preserve the option of privacy in adoption, please contact us at ncfa@adoptioncouncil.org. Visit our State Legislative Activity page to read about current privacy legislation.

Are you aware of other legislation that would impact the right to privacy? Let us know!