ACCESS CONNETICUT INFORMATONAL FLYER
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News & Upcoming Events
 

There will be sign waving/rally event sponsored by ACCESS CONNECTICUT in support of Senate Bill SB 296,  legislation that would restore the human right for adult adoptees born in Connecticut to obtain their original birth certificates.  The rally will be held on Friday, March 30th, from 8:00 AM -5:00 PM at the corner of Broad St and Farmington Ave. in Hartford, CT

 ACCESS CONNECTICUT is a grassroots effort dedicated to passing legislation that will restore the human right for adult adoptees, born in Connecticut access to their original birth certificate (OBC).  Members of ACCESS CONNECTICUT believe that Connecticut adoptees have been denied the human right that all other residents of Connecticut have – the right to obtain a non-certified copy of their original, unamended birth certificate from vital records.  Adoptees had the right to obtain copies of their OBC until that right was retroactively taken away in 1975.

 Results from a survey performed by the Center for Survey Research & Analysis at the University of Connecticut indicate that more than four in five Connecticut residents (85%) and 82% of Connecticut’s registered voters would support a law that would allow adult adopted children to obtain copies of their original birth certificate.  ACCESS CONNECTICUT believes it’s time for the Connecticut legislature to listen to their constituents and restore the human right for Connecticut born adult adoptees to obtain copies of their original birth certificates.   

 ACCESS CONNECTICUT would like to encourage the Connecticut Judiciary committee to bring SB 296 to a vote and pass this important human rights legislation.  Signs and banners will be provided for everyone.  If you would like to bring or make your own sign for the rally you are welcomed to do so.  If you need transportation to the rally or would like more information contact Paul Schibbelhute at 603-930-2091 or pschibbe@aol.com 

 Thank you,
Paul Schibbelhute

Legislative Advisor
ACCESS CONNECTICUT
pschibbe@aol.com
603-930-2091

  ACCESS CT---It’s the Right Thing to Do---OBCforCT.org

Subject: Rhode Island to Restore Adoptees Rights in 100 Days

 PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, March 24, 2012– The 100 day countdown has begun for Rhode Island  born, adult adoptees 25 years of age or older to obtain a copy of their Original Birth Certificate (OBC) from the Vital Records Office. This comes as the result of Governor Lincoln Chafee signing into law on July 1st 2011, Senate Bill 0478-SUB A, The law will go into effect on July 1st, 2012. Rhode Island became only the seventh state in the U.S. to allow all adult adoptees unfettered access to their original birth certificate along with Alabama, Alaska,  Kansas, New Hampshire, Maine and Oregon. Several other states including Delaware, Illinois and Tennessee also allow adoptees access to their OBC but with some restrictions.

Senate Bill 0478-SUB A, which passed unanimously in both the Rhode Island House and Senate, is legislation that balances the rights of adoptees to receive their OBC while allowing birth parents to indicate their desire for contact by their birth son or daughter. The contact preference option allows birth parents three options for contact with their biological child as follows:

1.     I would like to be contacted.

2.     I do not want to be contacted

3.     I would like to be contacted through an intermediary

 The new law also allows birth parents to provide updated medical information to their biological child by filling out a Birth Parent Medical History Form.

 On March 1st, 2012 the Rhode Island Vital Records Office (RIVRO) update their website providing information for adult adoptees on how they can apply for a white copy of their original birth record and what to expect. Three options will be provided for adult adoptees in obtaining their original birth certificate (OBC) as follows;

1.    Mail in request prior to 7/2/12 and OBC will be mailed back on starting 7/2/12.

2.     Mail in request prior to 7/2/12 and designate "will pick up" at State Office on the request form and OBC       will be available on 7/2/12 or later for pick up.

3.     Come in person on or after 7/2/12.

 The Rhode Island Vital Records Office would like to encourage adoptees to use option one followed by option two - as both would reduce any wait time in the lobby.

 Since September 1st, 2011 the RIVRO has provided information to birth parents on how they can submit Contact Preference Forms with the State Office and/or medical history forms with the Rhode Island Family Court’s Voluntary Adoption Reunion Registry. Birth parents and adoptees can go to the RIVRO website for all forms and procedures at the following link:

http://www.health.ri.gov/records/for/adultadoptees/index.php

 ACCESS RHODE ISLAND is a grassroots effort dedicated to passing legislation allowing adult adoptees born in Rhode Island to access to their original birth certificates (OBC). Since July 1st ACCESS RHODE ISLAND has been supporting the Rhode Island Vital Records Office (RIVRO) to help publicize the passing of this legislation by implementing a local, regional and national campaign to bring awareness to birth mothers and adoptees across the country. If you would like further information about the new law or ACCESS RHODE ISLAND please contact Christine Miller, an adoptee at 401-365-7264 or birches75@yahoo.com. Nancy Horgan, a birth mother at 401-363-6253 or n.horgan@cox.net or Kara Foley, an adoptee at 401-465-0023 or riadoptee@gmail.com or Mary Ann Shallcross Smith, an adoptive parent at 401-727-8982 or Drdaycare@drdaycare.com

 Paul Schibbelhute

Legislative Advisor

ACCESS RHODE ISLAND

pschibbe@aol.com

603-930-2091

OBCforRI.org---It’s the Right Thing to Do---OBCforRI.org

On Saturday, March 24th there will be a sign waiving/rally
event in support of changing SB 296 legislation that would restore the human right for adult adoptees born in Connecticut to obtain their original birth certificates.  The rally will be held from 10:00 AM -12:00 PM.

Please come by and pick up some lawn signs if you can't stay for the rally.  Attached is a graphic of our sign in support of SB 296.  If you want to please make color copies of it if you have access to a color copier. If you do place signs in approved public areas please be responsible and remove the signs after the bill has been voted on.

West Farms Mall
1500 New Britain Ave,
W. Hartford, CT 06110
http://www.shopwestfarms.com/

Thanks,
Paul Schibbelhute

Legislative Advisor
ACCESS CONNECTICUT
pschibbe@aol.com
603-930-2091

 

On July 1st 2011, Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee signed into law Senate Bill 0478 SUB A, legislation that restored the human right for all adult adoptees born in Rhode Island to obtain their original birth certificates (OBC). The signing of SB 0478 SUB A capped a 25 year struggle by advocates in Rhode Island to restore the human right for adoptees to obtain their OBC, a right which was taken away retroactively in 1944

 Senate Bill 0478 SUB A which passed unanimously in both the Rhode Island House and Senate is legislation that balances the rights of adoptees to receive their OBC while allowing birthparents to indicate their desire for contact by their birth son or daughter. The contact preference option allows birth parents three options for contact with their biological child as follows:

·         I would like to be contacted.

·         I do not want to be contacted

·         I would like to be contacted through an intermediary

 The new law also allows birth parents to provide updated medical information to their biological child by filling out a Birth Parent Medical History Form.

 Since July 1st 2011 ACCESS RHODE ISLAND,  ACCESS CONNECTICUT‘s sister organization, has been supporting the Rhode Island Vital Records Office (RIVRO) to help publicize the passing of this legislation by implementing a local regional and national campaign to bring awareness to birth mothers and adoptees across the country.

 Today’s alert is in regard to the Rhode Island Vital Records Office (RIVRO) March 1st, 2012 scheduled website update that will provide information for adult adoptees on how they can apply for a white copy of their original birth record and what to expect. Three options will be provided for adult adoptees in obtaining their original birth certificate (OBC) as follows;

 1. Mail in request prior to 7/2/12 and OBC will be mailed back on starting 7/2/12

2. Mail in request prior to 7/2/12 and designate "will pick up" at State Office on the request form and OBC will be available on 7/2/12 or later for pick up

3. Come in person on or after 7/2/12

 The Rhode Island Vital Records Office would like to encourage adoptees to use option one followed by option two - as both would reduce any wait time in the lobby. 

 Since September 1st, 2011 the RIVRO has provided information to birth parents on how they can submit Contact Preference Forms with the State Office and/or medical history forms with the Rhode Island Family Court’s Voluntary Adoption Reunion Registry. Birth parents and adoptees can go to the RIVRO website for all forms and procedures at the following link:

http://www.health.ri.gov/records/for/adultadoptees/index.php

 Results from a survey performed by the Center for Survey Research & Analysis at the University of Connecticut indicate that more than four in five Connecticut residents (85%) and 82% of Connecticut’s registered voters would support a law that would allow adult adopted children to obtain copies of their original birth certificate. ACCESS CONNECTICUT believes it’s time for the Connecticut legislature to listen to their constituents and restore the human right for Connecticut born adult adoptees to obtain copies of their original birth certificates.

 ACCESS CONNECTICUT supports passing legislation in Connecticut similar to New Hampshire, Maine and Rhode Island that balances the rights of adoptees to receive their OBC while allowing birthparents to indicate their desire for contact by their birth son or daughter. Connecticut retroactively removed that right from its adoptees in 1974

 Paul Schibbelhute

Legislative Advisor

ACCESS CONNECTICUT

pschibbe@aol.com

603-930-2091

On Saturday, December 17th I would like to have one more sign waving/rally event in support of changing Connecticut law to restore the human right for adult adoptees born in Connecticut to obtain their original birth certificates.  The rally will be held from 10:00 AM -12:00 PM at possibly two locations:

 West Farms Mall

1500 New Britain Ave,

W. Hartford, CT 06110

http://www.shopwestfarms.com/

 or

 The Shoppes at Buckland Hills
194 Buckland Hills Drive, Suite 2500
Manchester, Connecticut 06042

http://www.theshoppesatbucklandhills.com/

Once we know how many people will be supporting the event we can determine if we have enough support to have the rally at both locations.  This will be our last event for the year so please come out and show your support.

 Thanks,

Paul Schibbelhute

ACCESS CONNECTICUT

pschibbe@aol.com

603-930-2091

All,

I just wanted to let you know we had another very successful day advocating for adoptees rights. Thanks to everyone who traveled from out of state to support our rally including Nancy Horgan from ACCESS RHODE ISLAND,  Peter Franklin from NJCARE, Joyce Bahr from UNSEALED INITIATIVE in NY.  Victoria Chadwell another adoptee who came from New York to support our rally.  Thanks to Barbara Montgomery, Jane Servadio and especially Marion Conklin who brought sandwiches!!!  We did have another couple come from New Jersey and did a great job. When I get the spelling of their names I'll pass them along to you as well.

 We did have a reporter come from the Greenwich Times and interviewed us and took pictures.  Below are the links to the different newspapers in Connecticut that published the article.  Please go online and check them out. 

 Please go to the comments section of these articles and leave a supporting comment.

 Thanks,

Paul

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Demonstrators-rally-in-Greenwich-for-adoptee-2266197.php#photo-1750829

http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Demonstrators-rally-in-Greenwich-for-adoptee-2266474.php

http://www.greenwichtime.com/news/article/Demonstrators-rally-in-Greenwich-for-adoptee-2266154.php

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