Programs for Birth Families
Counseling and Support Services
Post-Adoption Search and Reunion Programs
Counseling
and Support Services
If
you are a birth relative seeking information about adoption search services in
Illinois, we hope that one of our programs or information found on our site
will be helpful to you.
Unfortunately,
the search process and even the eventual outcome of a search can never be
predicted with certainty. Many of the articles you read or the TV programs you
see make search and reunion seem easy and positive. Sometimes it happens that
way; sometimes it doesn't.
As a
birth parent, you may have thought about searching for your birth child for
many years or this may be your first effort. In either case, you probably will
find yourself remembering, even dreaming about painful experiences that you
confronted prior to, during and following the time that your child was placed
for adoption. During these weeks and months you are may experience feelings and
thoughts which you may have believed you had forgotten, and which are almost
overwhelming in their emotional impact upon you. We want you to know that
remembering and re-experiencing these feelings and thoughts are normal. You are
not "going crazy". You may feel that you cannot proceed without learning
more about what to expect, and that you want to speak with someone who
understands what you are going through.
A
bibliography available on this
site notes books which may be helpful to you. In addition, the Midwest
Adoption Center offers counseling service regarding search issues. Our staff is
experienced and knowledgeable about the life-long issues confronted by birth
relatives and are available to help you. If you live in the Chicago
metropolitan area, you may want to arrange an appointment with a counselor from
MAC. If you live outside the area, there may be counselors or support groups
known to us to whom we can make a referral. If not, we are able to provide
telephone counseling.
We
hope that knowing you do not have to go through the highly emotional experience
of search and possible reunion alone and unsupported will relieve some of your
anxiety.
Fees
for the above services are as follows:
Individual
counseling ..................$80.00
Telephone
counseling ..................$50.00
If
you are interested in this program, please email
or call (847) 298-9096.
Post-Adoption
Search and Reunion Programs
Midwest Adoption Center delivers three separate post-adoption search programs:
IDCFS Post-adoption Search Service
Confidential Intermediary Service of Illinois
Crittenton Centers
While
they are similar in some ways, each is unique. A brief summary of each program
follows.
IDCFS Post-adoption Search Service
The
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services offers post-adoption
service to adoptees, adoptive parents and birth family members seeking
non-identifying information from their adoption files and/or search and reunion
service. The Department has contracted with Midwest Adoption Center to provide
this service pertaining to adoptions handled through any DCFS office throughout
the state.
Individuals
requesting non-identifying information will receive a written summary of the
data found in their files. The definition of non-identifying information for
use in this program can be found in the program description.
Persons
requesting search service will first receive a written summary of
non-identifying information as found in the file. Adoptees and or adoptive
parents may request a search for one biological relative e through this
program. If that relative is found to be deceased, a search for one additional
relative may be initiated. Birth parents may request a search for a minor
child; however contact will be first made with the adoptive parents(s) who must
give consent in writing before contact can be made with the adoptee. If the
birth relative is requesting contact with an adopted person who is and adult,
contact may be made directly with him/her and the consent of the adoptive
parent(s) is not required.
Individuals
who were not adopted but were once in the guardianship of IDCFS may also
request information from files and/or search service through this program.
There
is no fee for this service.
For
detailed information about this program including forms needed to initiate
service, click here.
Confidential
Intermediary Service of Illinois
Illinois law (750 ILCS 50/ 18.3) now provides a way for adoptees,
adoptive parents, birth parents and other birth relatives to connect. A Confidential Intermediary (CI), trained and
certified to provide this service, is appointed by the Court to locate a sought
after relative. When the relative is
located, the CI explains the reason for the contact, describes the options
available and helps facilitate a mutually agreeable outcome. Each person’s privacy and confidentiality is
protected during the process. Click here
for information about Confidential
Intermediary Service of Illinois or call 847-298-9096.
Crittenton
Centers
Crittenton
Centers is pleased to able to respond to adoptees, adoptive parents and birth
family members seeking non-identifying information from their adoption files
and/or search and reunion service.
The
number of requests like yours has been increasing dramatically. In order to
better meet this need, Crittenton Centers has contracted with Midwest Adoption
Center to develop this program and to provide the service you have requested.
The staff of the Center has extensive experience in adoption, with particular
emphasis on post-adoption service. We strongly support the right of adoptees
and birth family members to obtain non-identifying information as well as to
request that the agency initiate confidential contact with biological relatives
in order to effect a reunion if both parties consent. Therefore, we welcome
this opportunity to help meet the needs of individuals and families touched by
adoption.
Forms
may be obtained by contacting Crittenton Centers or MAC. The completed form,
along with your service fee, should be returned to Crittenton Centers.
Crittenton staff will then send your file information to us so that work can
begin.
At
this time there is no waiting list for service and your case can be assigned as
soon as we have received the files from Crittenton. We will be in touch with
you at that time.
For
general information about access to adoption records and adoption search
assistance in Illinois, click here.