Friends of “CLEAN” adoption reform, Progress to report! Last Friday, we were privileged to deliver our growing petition during the New York State Department of Health (DOH) adoptee rights workgroup meeting in snowy Albany. Now, support is rising and we can all keep writing the DOH to call for “clean” adoption reform! WORKGROUP STATUS: • March 2nd Department of Health (DOH) adoptee rights workgroup meeting complete • DOH state policy recommendations will occur by April 30th • Read our full meeting report via the New York Adoptee Rights Coalition (NYARC)! Very important! https://nyadopteerights.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/nyarc-workgroup-report-2018-03-09.pdf WORKGROUP MEETING HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: • The Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys now supports adoptee rights! See the historic resolution! http://www.adoptionattorneys.org/aaaa/academy-info/resolutions • Assemblymember David Weprin dialogue (our first petition recipient way back in April 2016!) • DOH reported receiving emails from you, our supporters! • Productive dialogue with various stakeholders and state officials. • Petition delivery #10! Now 4,300+ supporters! KEEP WRITING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CALL FOR “CLEAN” REFORM! SUGGESTED EMAIL TITLE: Please recommend “clean” adoptee rights legislation SUGGESTED EMAIL CONTENT (add your own story if you choose!) All New York adult adoptees deserve equal access to their own original birth certificates, without conditions or restrictions. The Department of Health workgroup findings must recommend "clean" reform. Let's get it right! Thank you for your consideration. TO IDENTIFY AND COPY A LOCAL DISTRICT NY SENATOR AND ASSEMBLYMEMBER: https://openstates.org/ny/legislators/ Contact Tim with outreach updates or news you’d like to share! tmw713@gmail.com Sign up with the New York Adoptee Rights Coalition (NYARC): Main page: http://nyadopteerights.org/ Sign up: https://nyadopteerights.org/join/?source=Petition PETITION AND COALITION NEXT STEPS INCLUDE: 1. Follow up with DOH and workgroup participants 2. Regroup with Senator Avella (S5169-A / A6821-A) 3. Schedule with Assemblymember Weprin and staff Our New York legislative session is slated to continue until June 20th. We thank you as always for your vital support! Stay tuned for the latest updates and adoptee rights calls to action! Onward in New York! Tim, Doris and Jennifer