ADOPTION RESOURCES & ACCESSING RECORDS 

Adoption Advocacy Rally November 6, 2009

The Ohio Statehouse
 

Representing affected children and families from across the state, a group of adoption advocates have combined forces to sponsor “Filling Family Portraits” to celebrate and promote adoption awareness for waiting children. During the program, hundreds of empty frames will be displayed on the statehouse steps to symbolize those children without permanent family connections.  While close to 3,000 children are waiting for adoptive homes, the state’s biennial budget process battered Ohio’s support of children needing safe, stable, permanent homes.  We urge you help us to fill family portraits and support adoption today.

ADOPTION RESOURCES:

In recent months, PCSAO has been called upon by policy makers to testify on a number of adoption related legislative proposals to explain and provide a breakdown of current resources available to assist Ohio families wishing to become permanent and forever families for children in care waiting for adoption.  PCSAO thanks the General Assembly for the existing financial supports for adoption, we especially appreciate the recent biennial budget investment that increased the state base for ongoing adoption assistance subsidies from $250/month to $300/month – knowing that $300/month does not cover the cost of raising any child, much less a special needs child.

•  Adoption Resources Chart

ADOPTION RECORDS AT ODH:

Responding to recent constituent calls from adoptees seeking guidance on whether they can get information about their birth families or other adoption records, and if so, how do they go about it – PCSAO wanted to make sure you have these links to Adoption Information at the Ohio Department of Health Vital Statistics website. Let’s face it, Ohio’s adoption law can be pretty confusing (even for the seasoned professional), especially related to adoptees accessing identifying information and specific files. In fact, this varies depending on when the adoption occurred (i.e. prior to 1/1/64; between 1/1/64 and 9/18/96; and after 9/18/96).

The main web link is http://www.odh.ohio.gov/vitalstatistics/legalinfo/adoption.aspx, where you will find the following information and additional web links…

Adoption Information:

The Ohio Department of Health houses birth and adoption records of persons born in Ohio and adopted anywhere in the United States. Below is the list of Adoption laws and procedures that are used in Ohio (note: for your convenience, these are active web links below…): 

• Ohio Adoption Registry: http://www.odh.ohio.gov/vitalstatistics/legalinfo/adoptreg.aspx.

• Adoptions Prior to Jan. 1, 1964 – Adoption Records Open to Adopted Person with Proper ID: http://www.odh.ohio.gov/vitalstatistics/legalinfo/adoptpri.aspx.

• Adoptions Between Jan. 1, 1964 and Sept. 18, 1996 – Adoption Records are Sealed and Only Opened by a Court Order (H.B. 84): http://www.odh.ohio.gov/vitalstatistics/legalinfo/adoptfnl.aspx

• Adoptions After Sept. 18, 1996 – Adoption Records are Open to the Adoptive Parents if Adopted Person is between 18-20 Years of Age; and directly to the Adopted Person if age 21+ (H.B. 419): http://www.odh.ohio.gov/vitalstatistics/legalinfo/adoption.aspx.

For more information contact:
Ohio Department of Health
Vital Statistics
P.O. 118
Columbus, Ohio 43216-0118
Telephone: (614) 466-4784