How can I find out more information about my adopted child's birth family?

If you are interested in finding out more information about your adopted child’s birth family, the best place to start is in Virginia’s adoption law. In Virginia, adoptive parents and adopted children are permitted to gain an understanding of their birth families’ medical and social history through open adoptions. The process to build a connection to the birth family of an adopted child is known as an Adoption Reunion Registry (ARR). The ARR is a confidential database that stores information about the parties involved in the adoption, such as names, dates of birth, and current contact information. The information submitted to the ARR is shared between the birth parents, adopted parents and children in order to facilitate communication and reunion. The ARR has a variety of services to help adoptive families build connections with birth families. This includes providing information about the biological parents, facilitating communication, and possibly leading to a reunion. The ARR also helps to comply with Virginia’s adoption law, which gives adoptive parents access to medical and social history to help them better care for their child. If you would like more information about your adopted child’s birth family, contact the Virginia Department of Social Services. Their website is a great resource to provide more information on Adoption Reunion Registry services and opportunities for support.

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How can I find out more information about my adopted child's birth family?

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