KNOW THY ENEMY

For those that are just now joining the battle for adoptee rights and adoption reform, you must know your enemy. You need to know who you are up against in the battle of adoptee rights in Indiana. You must also look at the money behind these organizations. The money is big.

In a recent editorial in the News Observer out of North Carolina about the Sean Paddock case:

"A bitterly ironic twist to the story is that relatives had cared for Sean and his siblings for a while, taking over for biological parents, and would liked to have continued doing that. But they couldn't support the three along with their own children, burning through their savings. The money to which they were entitled as caregivers was a fraction of what the adoptive parents wound up getting. That is wrong, and it is the first glitch in the system that should be corrected.

It goes without saying, almost, that the state's contracts with the Children's Home Society need to be reviewed. Offering the thousands of dollars agencies can receive under contracts for placing children might be simply be the wrong approach. That kind of incentive, as critics already have noted, could lead to agencies wanting to place kids and keep them in adoptive homes without paying enough attention to warning signs."
I am currently reading a fabulous book that has made me think beyond adoptee rights and adoption reform. It is called Ethics in American Adoption by L. Anne Babb. If you have the chance to read something that literally grabs your attention and keeps it, its this book. I know that many of my fellow reformist have indeed read this book. It got me thinking about the money aspect of this. I had estimated that the infant adoption industry is at 3 billion dollars. I have heard that it is 7.3 billion dollars for international adoption. I went through the Texas foster care system and its agencies. I guessed right on that one. The foster care system is a 5 billion dollar business. This is all per year. It totals to quite a lot of money and motivation to keep everything secret. It puts these adoption agencies and attorneys in very powerful positions over us.

One of the things that I have noticed about Indiana is that there is no accountability to anyone living adoption. A while back, I called and emailed to the Department of Family Services/Child Protective Services. I asked how an adoptive parent is to check out an adoption agency any agency. There was no way to find any complaints on any adoption agency or attorney. I can no longer blame adoptive parents. They have no resources to find out. So I did my best to follow the money.

The adoption industry is unregulated by an federal or state entity. They regulate themselves.

A majority of the adoption records are now owned by Catholic Charities. I bet you didn't know that Catholic Charities doesn't have to report its earnings because it is considered a church. This is the charity that is operated by the church. It is not however a church. It is a charity. I feel that they should report their earnings to the public. I would like to know how they use their funds. They also get tax dollars from the federal government for their services in helping place foster children, family services, and abstinence education. This is tax dollars that can and have been used against adoptees and their families. Tax dollars paid by you and me, the lowly tax payers.

Kirsch and Kirsch are another set of powerful attorneys in Indiana. Because these fellows are attorneys, they have the ear of the legislators. Since they practice adoption, the legislators feel that they are most educated on adoption. We are the ones living adoption. They should not be allowed to help create laws that hurt all of us. They have been caught in two lawsuits against fathers contesting the adoption of their children. In one case, the adopters even backed out. Kirsch and Kirsch rushed to bring in another set of adoptive parents instead of doing the right thing and giving custody of this child to his father.

The NCFA agencies in Indiana are against us. However they really don't have that much power in Indiana. Its Catholic Charities that does. Their member agencies are LDS Family Services, Sunny Ridge Family Center, and Bethany Christian services. Bethany currently is rumored to be shutting down. They were the agency involved in placing a child with an adoptive parent who killed her.

The Indiana Right to Life Movement is afraid that adoptee access to their own OBC will cause more abortions. It has been statistically proven otherwise in the state of Oregon and in six other states.

ACLU is a bunch of attorneys. Many of these attorneys themselves have gone into adoption.

Planned Parenthood is against us because they believe it is violating a woman's right to procreation decisions.

Lets look at the financial incentives provided to the states by the federal government for 2008.

Foster care payments to all the states: $5,211,000,000.
Adoption assistance payment: $2,044,000,000.
Adoption Awareness program: $12,674,000.
Adoption incentives paid to states: $17,820,000
Adoption opportunities program: $26,848,000.

Abstinence program also gets money: $113,400,000.

I have not even included what the state pays from its pockets for adoption/foster care services. It adds up real quick. As shown above, the tax payer is questioning the intentions of adoption agencies entrusted in caring for foster care children and adoptees. I know that Texas has privatized its foster care system. How many other states have followed suit? Keep in mind this does not include the $10,000 tax deduction that adoptive parents receive. This doesn't include the monies that adoptive parents of special needs children receive.

I have also been investigating my own adoption agency, St. Elizabeth Coleman. It is now considered one of the many Catholic Charities in Indianapolis, Indiana. So it no longer has to file a IRS Form 990. This is now considered a church organization. Their confidential intermediary has won the contract for the Child Welfare department for their searches. She charges $1,000 a pop. That is a lot of money. I know with my adoption my adoptive parents and my natural mother paid a fortune to the agency back in 1965. They also got $325.00 dollars from me. Most if not all of my information is false. I have spoken with countless other adoptees from the same home who also have found out that their information was false. We pay to get led around by our noses because this agency considers us incompetent to handle our own affairs. Their CI has told many adoptee that they are incapable of making contact on their own. Many adoptees have found their information has been altered. I wonder by who. Is it the agency itself or is it this CI? I want to know as well as thousands of other adoptees and their families.

I was looking at their fees for adoption, homestudies, and China Updates. Their fees are for the most part reasonable for domestic adoption. They have recently been doing international adoption homestudies. They are also doing foster care placements. They are another charity/church receiving government funds.

Again they are using my tax dollars against me and thousands of other adoptees who are tax paying citizens. It should be considered a conflict of interest with a government entity in denying me my rights to my original birth certificate.

It makes you wonder who we are really protecting the money/adoption industry or families.

DISCONCERNING NEWS

Adoption scares me. Really it scares me. When I began my search, I honestly didn't think about really researching adoption as a political subject. Now I look at it in a whole another light. I have to wonder why the women and men groups are not more concerned. Are we really so concerned with the concept of "free love? Are we really concerned about morality? Does it really matter if women and men have options? I read recently about the Virginia putative father registry. The men responding in it were more concerned with their rights to procreate than being fathers. They viewed it as a way for women to get child support. Oh Lord if it were just that simple! I want to scream at them that its a way to deny you the right to raise your child. We want people to be responsible for sex but we are quick, too quick, to deny them the right to parent their own child. Our society, thanks to the likes of Madonna and Angelina Jolie, has gotten to the point where they think that they are entitled to other people's children. Just look at the Stephanie Bennett Case, Cody O'Dea, Allison Quets, Joshua, Bryn, Jamie Keifer, Rashad Head, Ibaanika, and many others. These are the ones that have made public news. How many do we not hear about? How many men and women are devastated by adoption? I am not even including adoptees. We are the ones that have to live with adoption. We are the ones who have their identity stolen from them.

I haven't touched on this story because it is in the United Kingdom. I hope that we never get to that point. Sadly we are heading that direction thanks to the President's Mental Health Initiative. I had hope that this just couldn't be true. In the state of Illinois, it passed without a hitch. All women of childbearing age will be tested for mental illness. Why would you the casual reader be concerned? They will use that testing against a woman. They will use that testing to take a child from their mother. The National Council for Adoption must be salivating at the thought of that. Its $40,000 per child for them. That would increase adoption a great deal. It would also put more children into the foster care system. This young woman was seeking help and counseling stemming from childhood issues. It is my understanding that she was raped as a child. Her counselors have also written in her behalf. This pediatrician who has never seen this young woman is the one who made the call on this young woman. She will have her baby taken at birth. She is now under court protective order. As with all the other cases, here, here, here, here and here, the family court system has put a gag order on all stories concerning this. Funny thing is that it still leaks out. These newspapers have heard from literally hundreds if not thousands.

This is what the National Council for Adoption would love to happen here. The National Council for Adoption is connected to the Heritage Foundation and Patrick Fagan. I have written about them in the past. It is now that I realize that this group means business. Patrick Fagan blames women for divorce, rape, domestic violence and their own poverty. I read recently that a pastor blamed slavery for the lack of fatherhood in the African American people. It really made sense. In slavery, black people were bought and sold. Slavery had separated families. It never gave fathers a chance to be a father or to learn how to be a father. I see adoption doing the same thing to other fathers as well as African American men. You see back in the baby scoop era, women were totally blamed for their pregnancies. Anglo American women were considered feeble minded, neurotic, mentally unstable, and causing their own pregnancies in order to strike back at their parents. African American women were blamed for their poverty of their race. Both groups of women were considered breeders for the infertile adopters wanting children. The only way that these women could be redeemed was to give their children up for adoption. Interestingly enough, adoption is a predominately white phenomena.

All through the NCFA website, you can find reference to how single women are responsible for the poverty of their children. How single women could help their children become successful by putting them up for adoption. Their CEO, Tom Atwood, is very connected to the Heritage Foundation. He worked for them for eleven years. He also worked for Bethany Adoption Services. Single women will be targeted with this type of legislation in place in Illinois. They will be declared incompetent as they were in the baby scoop era in order to gain their children. They will sell their children to the highest bidder. Are we as a society willing to go back? With groups like this in power, we must make a change and we must be willing to take a stand.

As a mother I do not want my daughters targeted. I want to help my daughters make their decision. In many of the stories previously mentioned, these people didn't have a good support system or they had unscrupulous people working against them. In fact I don't want any woman, man or child targeted for their ability to produce product for a market of entitled people.

Oh and on a side note, they are trolling our blogs and forums. I too thought what would they be interested in with little old me. I have had Holt International, Bethany, and even a troll at the Department of Energy. You ask why they would be interested in us. I found this little memo from the NCFA. The Department of Energy must answer to the Committee of Energy and Commerce. This committee regulates consumer affairs. We all know that adoption is a consumer based business.

STEVEN LITZ: INDIANA SURROGACY MAKES BIG BUCKS

In the Indy Star, a series of articles came out about surrogacy. It showed the very sticky complications of it. This surrogate pregnancy was started by a 60 year old gay man with a bird and bird poop on his shoulder. Those were the claims that upset hospital workers. I don't care if someone is gay nor do I care about his bird or its health issues. I have animals so I do understand. Its the 60 year old part that I don't understand. He also drove the twins back by himself to New Jersey. Yes there is a lot of ewww in this story.

Steven Litz and his company procured the eggs from the woman and had them inseminated by a combination of donor sperm and the 60 year old's sperm. It ended up that the donor sperm took. So the man had to adopt the twins. The case was pushed through very quickly. Now his company states that there has not been any complaints against him. He has also not had a woman change her mind about keeping the children. This is all of course on his website. Funny thing is I found this little bit of information. So does this man lie? I think so. He is just another sleezy attorney looking to make a buck off women and children. Of course that case too was concerning 60 plus couple. Makes you really wonder about his ethics on for sides.

Its funny an Indiana State Senator sponsored a bill to put an end to this kind of legal bull. In both good and bad respects, it did not pass. She did this in response to the above mentioned case.

My question is when will the adoption industry quit having control over Indiana? When will they start listening to the adoptees born in their state? When will they listen to the natural parents?

WHAT I GOT FROM THE AGENCY

Okay I have posted this twice on my blog. I will post it here. This was done in January of 2006. So its been quite a while. I have put many of my feelings well into perspective. I won't lie. I was angry and hurt. Again, I don't know if this is even true. I don't know without a doubt that she was contacted. I don't know what promises were made to her on my behalf. So keep all of this in mind when reading this. If this is true, I am no longer angry but hurt yes. It is always that way with an adoptee. I no longer have expectations from anyone in this thing. The only thing that I want is that adoption agencies, the state, and the attorneys to stay the heck out of my relationships with my family members.


This was written down by Catrina, my adoption search specialist. She spoke to her and I didn't.She's been raised by another family all of her life.I always wondered if I would get a call like this some day.I have a family and they don't know.Its not a lack of concern. What I did was the best thing I could do.There's no reason to tear my family apart. I don't think its selfish of me.I have to think about my family.My husband knows but my kids don't. But we have never talked about it over the years.I just don't think its a good idea. She's old enough now and mature enough to deal with this. She has her own family. She has a good family.As much as my curiosity is peaked, this would be too disruptive. I don't want to have to tell my kids.This girl already has parents.My youngest son is an athlete and a medical student. He was a valedictorian. Both my boys are extremely intelligent.I'm glad she is doing well. I think I did the right thing.I always wonder, I always think about her. It is not a lack of concern. But i have to balance that with concern for my kids and how this would affect them. My husband would have a fit.She has a family. Biology is just an accident. I don't think this is a good idea.I guess I could talk to my husband about this. No, I'm not doing this. I am not going to open all of this up.MEDICAL:Her dad died at age 82 from pneumonia.Her mom is still alive but suffers from kidney failure as a result of her arthritis medicine. She also has high blood pressure.Birthmother has high cholesterol and takes meds for it. She began taking the meds in 1999.Her sibs and her children are all in good health.HER CALL BACK TO THE AGENCY:Birthmom called again. She said:How confidential is all of this. Is she going to come knocking on my door?This is just too painful. This was 40 years ago, excuse me!Its too late. I thought about getting her letter but it is just too painful.It was painful to begin with. It took me 3-4 years to get my life straightened back out. It was not a fun experience. I don't want to revisit it.I'm sad in a way. I am not being calloused.It would be too difficult to bring her into my life. It would be too painful to my family. They might accept it but why even go through all of that?It would bring a lot of grief.I never heard from the father ever again. He never paid any of my expenses. He took advantage of me and then walked away. I was a big fool. I know he wanted to raise the baby but that would have never worked out. He lived in the same town as my parents. I think he is probably dead. I tried looking for him once and couldn't find him. He must be dead.My parents were always concerned with their public image, not their private one.My dad was a terrible man. He was selfish and evil and did things I can't even talk about. My husband doesn't even want our sons to know what he did. He was physically abusive and other things.My mom was a mouse around my dad. My mom believed every word he said and he never had anything good to say about any of us.I have only been able to put all of that behind me since my dad died and now this has dredged all of this new stuff up.I do her housework, yard work, and get her to the doctors. We have to go to the cemetery 6 times a year. I choke on it, but I go. She lives alone. My brothers want her to be able to stay out of a nursing home as long as possible.I'm deciding I am not going to do this and I won't change my mind. Curiosity is not good enough reason to tear my family apart. What would be the point of me getting that letter except to make me cry.I did the right thing. I couldn't take care of a baby and my folks would not help me.I can't think of any more medical information for her. There are no genetic disorders. My mom has osteoporosis, but I don't. But, I exercise and eat right to stay healthy. I am allergic to cats and seafood.Tell her I am sorry. I am glad she's fine but I can't do this.I should hang up, I'm rambling.My biggest concern right now is can I keep this out of my life. How can I be sure she won't hire a private investigator and show up some day. I don't want to tell the boys. I know they are her half brothers but I am not going to tell them. I haven't told my husband that you called. I am not going to. I don't need to turn their lives upside down. I could give them a choice but they don't need to have this choice. They don't need to know every mistake their mother has made. They think I am this good person.I just wanted to make sure that this would stay private. I don't want to have to sit my husband down and say this girl has found me.It is a comfort to know she is okay.There wasn't anything else I could do. My parents kicked all of us out of the house at one time or another. I was on a real downer back then. I don't know what I was thinking. I dropped out of college.I have a lot of baggage and I don't want to deal with it. My dad did horrible things. That I can't talk about. I don't want to dredge this all up. Since dad has been dead I have shut the door on it. I have been a nervous wreck since you called me.

I know this is a hard read for many people, adoptees, natural parents, and adoptive parents. I want it understood that I met someone whose lack of reunion had the same kind of story line and same wording. So I don't know if any of this is truthful.

ANNE

Its been a year and half since I attempted to have you contacted. I wonder now if you were even contacted. I even wonder if my birthday is the correct one. I have spoken with two other women. One of which was there at the same time. She had a son the day before I was born. She saw no one else there. So many questions, so few answers.

I hope you don't get upset but I refuse to celebrate my birthday any longer until I have the truth. Its even hard for me to celebrate Mother's day. When neither you nor my adoptive mom will celebrate your part in me, how can I truly recognize my own motherhood? I guess in time I will. I am just not ready for it yet. Sadly my adoptive mom can't remember the day that she picked me up. So we are fussing over which day to pick.

I honestly feel that any calling should have come from me or you. It should not have had a CI in the middle of it. So many unknowns with agendas of their own. I want you to know that I fight for you and me. I fight for a safer environment for the both of us. It irritates me no end that our society will not even today allow young women the choice of raising their own children. I don't want my daughters to ever go through what you went through. So I do this for my daughters, their children, and everyone else's children.

I spoke with a woman who was there a year and half after you. I know how you were treated. It just about killed me to know that. I had heard it from others but I was always told that Coleman was above the rest. I guess they weren't. I wonder if they weren't worse. Sadly I was read the counseling sessions with your father. I don't know if this is true. I had a friend, Addie, who helped me. She feels most of the information is a lie.

I know you read my other blog. I can feel it when you are there sometimes. I know that this is a hard month for you too. When you decide to come bursting out of that closet, know that I have a support group in place for you. Women who are just like you are all willing to be there for you. They are all over this country. They will help you through this just as I will. Know that I do love you. Know that there is really nothing to forgive. You were young and in love. I know and understand that. We will take this one step at a time. Just you and me. We CAN do this. Just check the links. They will get you to me. If you can avoid using the agency, please do so. They might charge you money as they did me.

CONFIDENTIAL INTERMEDIARIES

As you have realized upon contacting a CI in the state of Indiana, its expensive depending upon the agency that was used. I used Katrina Carlisle from St. Elizabeth Coleman. At the time, I thought that she was good. She may very well be. I don't think in my case that she followed through.

There are some things that you should know about Katrina:

• She is an adoptive mother. Although many natural mothers would disagree, if any adoptive parent is going to contact my natural mother, I would rather it be my adoptive mother. She made contact with my brother-in-law's mother. A month later, she contacted my sister. My mother does understand about loss.
• She is also the former director of the Coleman Adoption Agency
• She has also written the Dummy's Guide to Adoption.

This is important information to have. After having done so much research into adoption, I have come to realize that the natural mothers don't want to be contacted by the very person who advocated the taking of their child, the director. I also wasn't told that I was in foster care for a few weeks. I was told that I could not have another CI look at my case file. I was also told that I could not have my natural father contacted. None of this is true. There are other confidential intermediaries that will contact both parents that you can get access to through the courts. Catholic Charities runs the agency now. They do have a separate agenda. After being told so many lies, I don't know if any of my information is true.

Confidential Intermediaries are a buyer beware in the state of Indiana. There is no regulation of them what so ever. If you use an agency CI, again there is a whole nother agenda that they do answer to. The court appointed CI still answers to the judge not to you. You will have to pay court costs plus the expenses of the CI.

WHEN YOU ARE SEARCHING IN INDIANA

Okay here is some good solid advice while you are searching in Indiana. Know the rules of the game. Don't ever mention that you are an adoptee/natural mother searching. That closes everything down for you. I also want you to know the laws of this state.

What the Indiana Vital Statistics says about our information.

It is extremely important when working in the field of adoption to maintain an excellent record-keeping
system. This is especially so in view of laws that permit and promote the possibility of birth parents,
adoptees and pre-adoptive siblings locating each other.
720.1 Case Records
The COFC must maintain adoption case records indefinitely on each child for whom adoption
services are provided and on each adoptive applicant from the time of application for service
through adoption finalization or termination of agency service. The adoption record is to
include:
(1) the child’s social history, including the child’s placement history and identifying
information about the child’s birth family;
(2) the petition for adoption;
(3) the court summary for adoption;
(4) the adoptive family preparation;
(5) any medical/psychological reports from consultants or other persons;
(6) the Indiana Adoption Medical History Report;
(7) the date of the adoptive placement;
(8) reports of placement and supervision;
(9) the record of information given to the adoptive parents about the child and the child’s
family; and
(10) all legal and other documents; i.e., the adoption decree, birth certificate, social security
cards, etc.
720.2 Confidentiality
All papers, records and information pertaining to an adoption, whether part of:
(1) the permanent record of the court;
(2) a file in the State Department of Health, Division of Vital Records;
(3) a file in Central Office or a county office of family and children (COFC);
(4) a file in any licensed child placing agency, or
(5) a file maintained by any health care provider as defined in IC 31-9-2-52,
are confidential and may be disclosed only in accordance with IC 31-19-19 (Confidentiality
Requirements for Adoption History and Other Adoption Records) and IC 31-19-25 (Release of
Identifying Information for Adoptions…; Requests for Information Concerning Pre-Adoptive
Siblings).
720.3 Indiana Adoption History Program
On July 1, 1988, legislation creating the Indiana Adoption History Program became effective.
See Appendix AAA for a copy of the flyer entitled “Indiana Adoption History Program”. The
forms used to implement this program can be found in the appendix to this section as well.
Medical history reports filed with the State Registrar had been available to provide medical
information for adoptees since 1986. Public Law (PL) 171-1988 established guidelines under
which confidential files and records may now be opened to release not only medical information
but also non-identifying or identifying information relative to the parties of an adoption.
Information under this program is confidential as described under subsection 720.3. The
Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) administers the Indiana Adoption History Program
through the State Registrar of Vital Records.
720.31 Types of Information Available for Release
The following is an enumeration of the types of information that can be released if
those persons eligible to receive it follow the appropriate procedures:
720.311 Medical History
Medical history is a comprehensive medical report of the adoptee and the
adoptee's birth parents for all adoptions finalized after 6/30/93, as
described in IC 31-19-17-4. The Medical History Report includes:
(1) neonatal, psychological, physiological, and medical care history on
forms prescribed by the State Registrar (A copy of this report shall
be sent to the person identified as the State Registrar and to the
adoptive parent.); and
(2) any medical information voluntarily transmitted to the Registrar.
720.312 Non-Identifying Information
In accordance with IC 31-19-23-1, non-identifying information can be
released by:
(1) the state registrar;
(2) the division of family and children;
(3) a county office of family and children;
(4) a licensed child placing agency;
(5) a professional health care provider as defined in IC 34-6-2-117;
(6) the attorney who arranged the adoption; and
(7) a court.
Non-identifying information includes:
(1) any information not including medical history that concerns an
“interested party” to an adoption as defined in subsection 720.321;
and
(2) any information which does not identify a birth parent, an adoptive
parent or an adoptee.
Non-identifying information may include, but is not limited to general
biographical sketches regarding the following:
(1) Birth/biological parent(s)
(2) Grandparent(s), if known
(3) Sibling(s), if applicable
These sketches could include the following, but are not limited to:
(1) color of eyes and hair, complexion, body stature, personality,
educational achievements, religious affiliation,
nationality/ethnicity, occupation, avocation, talents, likes and
dislikes, fears, favorite hobbies or sports, favorite table games,
colors, etc.;
(2) general location of where the birth parents were born; i. e., the
quadrant of Indiana or other state (North, South, East, West);
(3) number, sex and age of siblings, at placement, if applicable;
(4) status of sibling(s), if known:
(a) living, deceased, married, single, divorced, established
family member with children, etc.;
(b) adoptive status of sibling(s) and, if adopted, whether they
were placed together with a single person or family.
The COFC or licensed child placing agency is to use discretion in the
amount of non-identifying information released to *qualified persons, as
defined in IC 31-18-19-2(a) when such a step could lead to the
identification of persons associated with the adoption. The attorney for
the COFC is to be consulted for assistance in making decisions
concerning whether certain information should be released.
720.313 Identifying Information
In accordance with IC 31-9-2-54, identifying information includes:
(1) any name or address that a party to an adoption has used or is
using;
(2) the original birth certificate;
(3) any other information, except the medical history, that may identify
a person as a party to an adoption or as a birth parent, adoptive
parent or an adoptee.
720.32 Persons Who Can File the Adoption History Registration Form or Receive
Information
The following delineates what persons are qualified to transfer information to or
receive information from the Adoption History Registry:
720.321 Medical Information
Any person may voluntarily transmit medical information to the State
Registrar for inclusion in the Medical History. The transmission of such
information must be submitted on State Form 13342/State Department of
Health 06-074 Indiana Adoption Medical History Registry which includes
an affirmation by the person completing the form that the information is
true or the person believes it is true. A copy of ISDH 06-074 and a copy
of the confidential form containing the aforementioned affirmation may
be found in Appendices BBB and CCC respectively in this section. These
forms are available
* See Glossary for definition of term.
from the Forms Distribution Center and can be ordered in the usual
manner. See Appendix DDD “Medical History Definitions/Examples”
for additional information regarding completing the Medical History
Report. See Appendix EEE for a copy of SF 47261 Medical Information
for Adopted Persons flyer.
The State Registrar shall release a copy of the Medical History to an
interested person, which is defined as:
(1) an adoptee,
(2) a birth parent,
(3) an adoptive parent,
(4) a relative of a birth parent,
(5) a relative of an adoptive parent,
(6) the DFC or the COFC,
(7) an adoption agency (a licensed child placing agency), or
(8) a court.
In addition, the State Registrar may release a copy of the Indiana Medical
History Report to any person who satisfies the Registrar that the person
has a legitimate need for the information. Any category of information
not prescribed by the Indiana Medical History Report shall not be released
under IC 31-19-19-4.
720.322 Non-identifying and Identifying Information
In accordance with IC 31-19-18-2, non-identifying and identifying
information may be received or transmitted for inclusion with the
adoption history by the following persons:
(1) An adoptee who is an adult (age 21) or over; or if the adoptee is
deceased, the adoptee’s spouse or relative (parent, children, brother,
or sister), providing this relationship existed at the time of the
adoptee's death.
(2) A birth parent; or, if the birth parent is deceased, the birth parent’s
spouse or relative (parent, children, brother, or sister) providing this
relationship existed at the time of the birth parent's death.
(3) An adoptive parent.
(4) A pre-adoptive sibling
720.33 Registering on the Adoption History Registry
These registration forms must be filed with the State Registrar of Vital Records
(Indiana Adoption History Registry), the state or county office of family and
children, child placing agencies, health care providers or courts. However, COFCs
are encouraged to instruct applicant(s) to forward the forms and other required
identification, documentation and changes directly to the State Registrar of Vital
Records.
Different forms are used to register to receive medical, non-identifying and
identifying information as follows:
720.331 Filing for the Release of Non-Identifying Information:
The pink “Non-identifying Information: Adoption History Registration
Form” is used to file for the release of non-identifying information. See
subsection 720.312 for the definition of non-identifying information. A
copy of this form is in Appendix FFF to this section.
720.332 Filing for the Release of Identifying Information:
The blue “Identifying Information: Adoption History Registration Form”
is used to file written consents for or restrictions on the release of
identifying information relating to any adoption. See subsection 720.313
for the definition of identifying information. See Appendix GGG for a
copy of the form.
720.333 Completing the Indiana Adoption History Registration Form
Either Adoption History Registration Form may be filed by mail or in
person. The forms submitted must be originals with original written
signatures. The form must be typed or printed clearly using black ink
only. In addition, the following is required:
(1) Personal Identification: Original photo/signature identification is
required if a form is filed personally. If a form is mailed in, a copy
of photo/signature identification is required. A driver's license,
State identification, Social Security card with original signatures or
any legal identification containing the applicant's original signature
is acceptable.
(2) Documentation of relationship to adoptee: This may be required. A
birth certificate, affidavit, court adoption records, a notarized
statement from the agency handling the adoption or baptismal
records serves the purpose.
(3) An affirmation of truthfulness: The person submitting the form
must affirm that the information transmitted is true or that the
person believes it to be true and that the person is a person
described under subsection 720.32.
Original forms presented for filing to agencies other than the Indiana
Adoption History Registry located at the Indiana State Department of
Health (ISDH) are to be photocopied by the receiving agency. The
photocopies must be indexed and stored for future reference, and the
original document and a photocopy of the personal identification item(s)
used are immediately forwarded to the Indiana Adoption History Registry,
Section B499; 2 North Meridian Street; Indianapolis, IN 46204. The
COFC must keep a photocopy of the personal identification as well.
No person or agency can accept a photocopy of a completed Adoption
History Registration Form unless the original document has been initially
filed with and the copies have been made by and received from the
Indiana Adoption History Registry. Copies will be sent to specific
agencies when this action is requested by the person filing with the
Registry, and these documents will be certified by the State Registrar of
Vital Records.
720.34 Entities Required to Release Adoption History
The following is an enumeration of the persons/agencies required to release
adoption history information to persons qualified to receive it:
720.341 Non-Identifying Information
In accordance with IC 31-19-23-1, the following entities are required to
release non-identifying information that relates to any adoption to any of
the persons listed in 720.32 upon request:
(1) State Registrar
(2) DFC Central Office
(3) County office of family and children
(4) Licensed child placing agency
(5) A professional health care provider
(6) The attorney who arranged the adoption
(7) A court
720.342 Identifying Information
In accordance with IC 31-19-22-2, the following entities are required to
release identifying information:
(1) State Registrar
(2) DFC Central Office
(3) County office of family and children
(4) Licensed child placing agency
(5) A professional health care provider
(6) A court
Only individuals qualified to receive the information can receive it, and
these persons must request it themselves. See subsection 720.32. The
release of identifying information requires the consent of both the adult
adoptee and the birth parent. An exception to this requirement is made if
an affidavit is provided to the agency releasing information stating that the
adult adoptee or both birth parents are deceased.
The initial release of adoption history identifying information relating to
any adoption by any person or agency requires the written authorization
of the State Registrar of Vital Records. This authorization will be mailed
from the Indiana State Department of Health using the U.S. Postal
Service.
720.35 Adding to/Modifying Filed Forms
See subsection 720.32 for an enumeration of persons who can file additional
information or modify information already filed.
720.351 Medical History Forms
Any person can add or modify medical information. See subsection
720.321 for details regarding this process.
720.352 Non-identifying/Identifying Information
It is the responsibility of the person completing the Indiana Adoption
History Registration Form to advise the receiving agency of any future
changes to the information filed. This includes changes to the filer’s
address and telephone number and the desired modifications to the
consents or restrictions selected. The request to add to or modify the
information must be made in writing. The COFC is to instruct the person
providing the changes to mail them directly to the Indiana State
Department of Health (ISDH), Indiana Adoption History Registry; 2
North Meridian Street; Indianapolis, IN 46204. The COFC must keep a
photocopy of the changes. IC 31-19-18-2 also authorizes the State
Registrar to accept and file additional information for qualified persons.
720.36 Costs
No fee can be charged for the filing of Indiana Adoption History Registry forms.
The only cost that can be required is a reasonable fee made by a child placing
agency or health care provider for the actual expenses incurred in the preparation of
information to be released when this action is authorized. COFCs cannot charge a
fee for the filing of these forms.

This is how the Indiana Legislature views us in Indiana:

Release of medical history; supplementation 31-19-20-1 Sec. 1. The state registrar: (1) shall release a copy of the medical history to any interested person; (2) may release a copy of the medical history to any person who satisfies the registrar that the person has a legitimate need; and (3) shall supplement the medical history with medical information received from any person.As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11.
IC 31-19-20-2Request for additional medical history information 31-19-20-2 Sec. 2. (a) Whenever the state registrar receives an inquiry for medical history information from an adoptee or adoptive parent and the state registrar reasonably believes that the medical history information available under section 1 of this chapter is incomplete, the state registrar shall request further medical history information concerning the adoptee from: (1) the hospital where the adoptee was born; and (2) the: (A) licensed child placing agency; (B) county office of family and children; and (C) attorney; that arranged the adoptee's adoptive placement. (b) A hospital, a licensed child placing agency, a county office of family and children, or an attorney that receives a request for medical information under subsection (a) shall release medical history information concerning the adoptee to the state registrar. (c) The state registrar shall release any additional medical history information received under subsection (b) to the adoptee or adoptive parent.As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.197-1997, SEC.26.
IC 31-19-20-3Fees; disposition 31-19-20-3 Sec. 3. (a) The state department of health may charge a reasonable fee for the state registrar's search for further medical history information under section 2(a) of this chapter or death certificates. (b) Fees collected under this section shall be deposited in the adoption history fund established by IC 31-19-18-6 and must be used for the automation of adoption history information and death certificates and for improved service delivery.As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11.
IC 31-19-20-4Release of medical records by provider 31-19-20-4 Sec. 4. IC 31-19-19, this chapter, and IC 31-19-21 through IC 31-19-24 do not restrict a provider (as defined in IC 16-18-2-295) from releasing medical records to an attorney or agency arranging an adoption if the provider receives the appropriate authorization under IC 16-39-1.As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11.
Any public employee who knowingly transmits false information or discloses any confidential information relating to an adoption is subject to discharge under IC 31-19-19-5.
720.4 Procedures for Obtaining Adoption History Information Not Available from the State Registrar
In accordance with IC 31-19-22-7, an adoptee or a birth parent who submits a written consent
for release of identifying information may request the attorney, child placing agency (LCPA) or
county office of family and children (COFC) to contact the adoptee or birth parent whose
consent is necessary before identifying information can be released. Also, any interested
person, as defined in 720.321 above, who has a need to obtain medical non-identifying or
identifying information not contained in the Adoption History Registry information through the
State Registrar and not forthcoming from the sources noted above may file a petition with any
court with probate jurisdiction in Indiana for the desired information. The petition must contain,
to the best of the petitioner’s knowledge, the following:
(1) The full name and address of the petitioner.
(2) The adoptee's full name, sex, date of birth and if known, the place of birth and the nature
of the medical information being sought; current address, county of adoption proceeding,
name and address of the agency that placed the adoptee; the full name and current
address of the adopting parents, if any; date of adoption proceedings, full name and
current address of the birth parent.
(3) An affirmation:
(a) by an attending physician, if medical information is sought, that indicates:
(i) the nature of the illness;
(ii) the belief that the illness is hereditary or congenital; or
(iii) the necessity for obtaining/sharing the information for the diagnosis or
treatment of any person; or
(b) by the petitioner, if medical, non-identifying or identifying information is sought,
as to why the release of the information may be beneficial to the welfare of the
adoptee or birth parent; and
(c) that the information sought is not available through the State Registrar.
(4) A statement by the petitioner agreeing to pay a reasonable fee for the services of a
confidential intermediary, if one is appointed, and reasonable fees and actual expenses of
an attorney, child placing agency or health care professional requested to search records
and release information.
(5) A description of the information sought. (IC 31-19-24-1)
Upon the filing of such a petition, the court shall establish that the State Registrar has been
served with notice of the petitioner's request for disclosure of information and has been afforded
opportunity to respond to the petitioner. (IC 31-19-24-2)
720.41 Confidential Intermediary
If the above requirements have been met, the court may appoint a confidential
intermediary after consultation with the State Registrar or the State Registrar's
designee. The court shall provide the confidential intermediary with an order
authorizing a search of all necessary records maintained by:
(1) the Division of Public Health Statistics;
(2) the Central Office or the county offices of family and children;
(3) any licensed child placing agency; or
(4) any health care provider as defined in IC 34-6-2-117.
The confidential intermediary shall be instructed by the court to act as quickly as
possible. The confidential intermediary shall:
(1) make complete and reasonable efforts to locate the information specified in
the order;
(2) attempt to locate any person specified in the order to obtain the information;
(3) adhere to any limitations set by the court to prevent the search from causing
harm to a birth parent or adoptee;
(4) inform the person contacted of the medical or other need; and
(5) obtain the needed information.
All communications under this procedure are confidential and shall be made by a
personal contact by the confidential intermediary. Any person contacted by the
confidential intermediary may file, through the confidential intermediary, a consent
or non-consent to disclosure of the medical information sought. In the event of a
non-consent, the confidential intermediary shall report to the court the reason given,
if any, for non-consent. If a person does not agree to release the information
through the confidential intermediary, the court may order the release of the
information after considering information as to the person’s refusal to release the
information. If information is released to the confidential intermediary, the information shall be filed with the court in a manner that protects the identity and location of the person releasing the information and the confidentiality of the information obtained. The court is then required to review the information and may order its release to the petitioner to the extent that the court considers just based upon a medical emergency or good cause shown. If an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury exists, the court may conduct the above proceedings without written pleadings. Any confidential intermediary discharging responsibilities in good faith as outlined above is immune from any liability, civil or criminal, that might result. (IC 31-19-24-12)

720.42 Hearings
All hearings held in these proceedings shall be held in closed court without
admittance of any person other than:
(1) essential court officers;
(2) the parties to the hearing;
(3) witnesses;
(4) counsel;
(5) persons who have not previously consented to the adoption but who are
required to consent; and
(6) representatives of the agencies present to perform their official duties

Notice to registrar and opportunity to respond; appointment of guardian ad litem or court appointed special advocate

31-19-24-2 Sec. 2.

Upon the filing of a petition under section 1 of this chapter, the court shall:

(1) establish that the state registrar:

(A) has been served with notice of the petitioner's request for disclosure of information; and

(B) has been afforded the opportunity to respond to the petitioner's request for disclosure of information; and

(2) appoint a confidential intermediary after consultation with the state registrar or the state registrar's designee if the:

(A) requirements of subdivision

(1) are complied with; and

(B) petitioner has shown:

(i) an emergency medical need; or

(ii) good cause relating to the welfare of the adoptee or the birth parent.A confidential intermediary appointed under subdivision

(2) may be any person who the court reasonably believes is competent to carry out the responsibilities described in section 3 of this chapter and meets the qualifications under section 14 of this chapter.As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.

This is what Coleman says that they can do for us. I find it interesting.

The law in no way restricts contacting the natural father in this. The natural father can register on the Adoption History Registry. It is my understanding that since Coleman is a private agency, they can contact who they want and when they want. They are not under the same direction to use the law as a public sector adoption agency would be.

Adoptions
Adoption history Registry
The Indiana State Department of Health has established an adoption history registry for adult adoptees and birth parents. This registry is considered a mutual consent registry, meaning that if both parties agree to exchange identifying information, the exchange will be made.
The way it works is an adoptee or birthmother files a form (known as the blue form) with the registry agreeing to the release of their information. When the state receives the form they process the information to see if the other party in the adoption has also registered. If so, a “match” is made and it is determined that both parties have agreed to the exchange. They will send the adoptee the name, address and phone number of the birth mother. The state will send the birthmother the name, address and phone number of the adoptee. It is up to the two parties to make contact with each other.
The adoption history registry is a free service. Adoptees must be at least 21 years old to receive identifying information. Birth fathers are not allowed to use the registry unless they were legally married to the birth mother when the child was born, or they legally established paternity for the child. This registry is just for adoptions that took place in Indiana.
We partner with the State of Indiana for this process. Forms can be found at http://www.in.gov/isdh/bdcertifs/adoption.htm.
If both parties have not registered to exchange information, the adoptee or the birth parent can contact their adoption agency to request a search for the other party. Most agencies charge a fee for their searches.

They do charge $325.00 to search for natural mothers. It is my understanding that they now charge natural mothers $200.00 to search for their children lost to adoption. Next important information on their CI, Katrina Carlisle.

ADDITION OF LINKS

Gradually I am adding links to this page. I will also be adding pictures of the maternity home at different times in its illustrious career. I will also be adding links to the adoption laws of Indiana. I will also show that it is subject to interpretation. Private adoption agencies like St. Elizabeth Coleman is not subject to the very same laws as the public sector of adoption. I hope to add others from Indiana to write on this blog. Currently we will have one natural mother from Coleman and a few other adoptees. Listen to our voices. We will no longer be quiet about adoption. We want to make changes to the law. We hope that you will join us.

WELCOME TO OUR WEBSITE

I will introduce myself. My name is Amy. I was born in Indianapolis Indiana in 1965. I was adopted from the Suemma Coleman Home for Unwed Mothers. I began this roadtrip about two years ago. I have been inactively searching for about ten years. I began my search with St. Elizabeth Coleman in January 2004. I was working on the floor when I got the call that she supposedly refused contact. I began to search feverishly. It very nearly ran me and my family into the ground. I realized that I had to let it go. At this point I began to get more politically involved. It was a better way for me to redirect my anger at the system.

It was about six months ago that I realized that this agency was just as bad as all the rest. I was raised believing this agency was above the rest. Sadly this isn't true. I met a natural mother from that maternity home. I now know how my own natural mother was treated during her stay at the maternity home. It just angers me beyond belief. I feel that the State of Indiana and all the former maternity homes owe her, me and all our family members an apology.

I have been writing the state legislature of Indiana. I have become actively involved in several organizations that believe in an adoptee right to access. As we all write on this, we will provide information, our thoughts, our feelings and things we see needing change. You will see links to other blogs and webistes providing solid quality information.