Friends of clean adoption reform,

We hope all are well and staying safe as 2021 continues. We were very glad today (5/26) to receive updated information while meeting with the New York State Department of Health on the status of pre-adoption  birth certificate applications! Over 12,000 applications so far!  This includes separate data for the NYS Adoption Information Registry. We were glad to be joined by allied New York Adoptee Rights Coalition (NYARC) for the call. We hope to share further updates for New York City DOH applications soon. Read on for details!

NEW YORK CITY DOH (adoptions within the five boroughs):

Our latest detailed update from 8/19/20 is here (link also below)

https://www.change.org/p/enact-clean-ny-law-of-adoptee-rights/u/27554037

NYC statistics:  Today we reached out to NYC DOH officials and hope to report more soon.  The article (2/18/21), by Michael Fitzgerald, in The Imprint indicates:

“Roughly one-third of the 6,300 records requests received as of late last month have been fulfilled by the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, according to a spokesperson. 

Victoria Merlino, assistant press secretary for the city agency, which holds Farley’s records, stated in an email that their responses have been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Some of the new (and ongoing) information below, from NYS DOH, applies to applications pertaining to adoptions that took place within New York City. Read on!

NEW YORK STATE DOH (adoptions outside the five boroughs):

Again, find the NYS DOH updated details here (link also below)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dmgeikJWvWgJYopoeGj9k-hzkeC29HpU/view?usp=sharing

Added notes (5/26/21):

• As of 5/14/21: 12,293 applications had been received by the NYS DOH, with nearly 100% processed!
• On January 15th, we celebrated the one-year anniversary of our law going into effect!
• Processing time: Efforts have been successful to shorten the 6–8-week processing time to around 6 weeks in most cases.
• VitalChek: Still the quickest method for applying for original / pre-adoption birth certificates
• Direct line descendants:  Applications may take added time to process.
• Fun fact: some applications received by the NYS DOH date to the late 1800s and early 1900s!
• NYS Adoption Information Registry:
  • If you have moved, please be sure to update your address, with the registry, to assist ongoing efforts to make a match.
  • Registration assists the NYS DOH in advising of “authorized agents” to assist applicants born outside of New York State in receiving identifying information that would have appeared on the original, pre-adoption birth record.
• Born outside New York, but adopted within New York:
  • You can choose to apply to NYS DOH if you were adopted either within the five boroughs or outside the five boroughs.
  • As noted above, registration with the NYS Adoption Information Registry assists the NYS DOH in advising of “authorized agents” to assist applicants born outside of New York State in receiving identifying information that would have appeared on the original, pre-adoption birth record.
• New York adoptees born outside the United States:
  • It is best to call VitalChek, via phone, to receive assistance in processing your application. A paper application is also an option.
• New York adoptees living outside the United States:
  • As notarized item(s) are needed to process your application; it is best to call VitalChek, via phone, and confirm steps to submit a paper application.

Contact Tim with outreach updates, questions or news you’d like to share! tmw713@gmail.com

You can also find Tim via the American Adoption Congress.

Adoptee rights are human rights!

Adoptee rights are civil rights!

Adoptee rights are New York rights!

Tim