New DCF policy allows adoptees in Vt. access to birth records

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – People adopted in Vermont now have access to see their birth records, that’s thanks to legislation from the last legislative session. Previously, adoptees could only see a non-identifying summary of their adoption.

Since this law went into effect on July 1, the Department of Children and Families says just under 200 people have connected with the adoption registry to get their previously inaccessible records.

“It was like all of the questions were just answered. And it was really lovely.” Jess Proria grew up in the Northeast Kingdom after being adopted. He says he’s spent a lot of time wondering about his biological family, the reason for his adoption, and not knowing his ancestry.

He says his adoptive parents were always supportive in providing him with the information that was accessible, but he also was curious about medical, mental health, and other history that wasn’t available to him.

“With closed adoptions, I felt like we didn’t have the same rights as other people to know stories and to know information. And now it feels there’s just this sense of resolution or groundedness in the whole experience,” said Proria.

Proria says viewing his records was healing. He says he learned a lot about his story, and how challenging the process must have been for his biological mother noting how much care and intention was put into his adoption, something he hopes for other adopted people too.

“It’s really a lot better for adoptees birth parents and adoptive parents as well, just to not have this in the shadows and this is a wonderful thing to have it out in the open.” Arya Radke of the Department for Children and Families says the former laws of closed adoption came from an older way of thinking, noting how today’s best practice is to keep adoption records open. Vermont is now joining at least 14 states with open adoption record laws the last in New England.

“We have contacted about 140 adoptees, indicating to them that disclosure forms have been filed about their adoption, and then they have the option then to find out what’s been disclosed,” said Radke.

The state considers this legislation a win for adopted people in the Green Mountain State. And for folks like Proria, it is.

But Proria encourages adopted people in Vermont to be honest with themselves about what could change once they get to learn more about their story. “Once you open the file, you can’t close it, you know? You can’t unknow things. And as adopted kids, none of us are adopted from ideal situations. And you don’t know, no one will know what’s on the other side. And just to know that you’re in a good place to process that,” said Proria.

Adoptees born in Vermont can now get the original adoptive certificate and identifying information about their birth parents if they signed a nondisclosure form prior to the law.

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