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WHAT IS THE MUTUAL CONSENT VOLUNTARY ADOPTION
REGISTRY?
Each licensed adoption agency in Arkansas is allowed by law to establish an adoption registry. Qualified persons may register to be identified to each other, or to receive non-identifying information about the genetic, health and social history of adoptees placed by their agency. The Registry of the Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of Children and Family Services, is for persons who were involved in an adoption transaction arranged by the State of Arkansas. (The agency has been commonly knon as the "Welfare Department" or "Social Services").
HOW DOES THE REGISTY OF THE DIVISION OF CHILDREN AND FAILY SERVICES WORK?
If you are a qualified person and you want to be identified to your biological
relatives, you must register to do so. In order for identification to take
place the biological relatives must also register their consent to be identified
to you.
When your registration is received, the Registry will search the files to
determine if the other person you want to be identified to have have registered.
You will be informed of the outcome of the search. If they have not, your
registration will be held on file. Each time a new registration coms in, the
files will be searched to determine if there is a match. It may take years
for the relatives you want to be identified to register or they may never
register. However, if it does occur you will be contacted by the Registry.
If you are a qualified person and you want to receive information about the genetic, health and social history of the adoptee, you must also register to request this information. Upon receiving your registration the Registry will search the agency adoption records, or in some cases court records, for informaiton about the background of the adoptee. the information will not identify any biological or adopted relative of the adoptee. If available, the information will be forwarded to you within nenety (90) days.
Please not that registration is a voluntary act and the Registry will not contact eligible persons to ask them to register.
WHO IS QULIFIED TO REGISTER FOR THE DCFS REGISTRY?
The adoption must have been arranged by the Division of Children and Family Services, or a licensed adoption agency which has transferred its Adoption Registry to DCFS.
To register to be identified to your biological relative(s) you must be:
*An adoptee who is at least 21 years old, or
*A Birth Parent of an adopted child, or
*A biological grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin or sibling of an adoptee.
To register to receive a genetic, health and social history of the adoptee
you must be:
*An Adoptee who is at least 18 years old, or
*A Birth Parent of an adopted child, or
*The Adoptive Parents or in the event of their death, the childs guardian,
or
*The Adoptee's spouse as the legal parent of the deceased adoptee's child,
or
*The Guardian of any child of the adoptee.
If you are unsure whether or not adoptive placement ws made by the State of Arknasa, you may register with this Registry. Also, you should contact other licensed agencies regarding registration as well.
HOW DO I REGISTER?
To register to be identified to your biological relative(s) you must complete
and Adoption Reigsitry affidavit/registration form, attend a one hour counseling
session, and pay a fee of $20.00 to the registry. Once registered, if you
have not been identified to your biological relatives within 10 years and
want to continue your registration, you must re-register before the 10 years
expires.
To register to receive a genetic, health and social history of an adoptee you must complete the affidavit/registration form and pay a fee of $5.00 to the registry.
You may register to receive both kinds of information on the same form.
WHERE DO I GET AN AFFIDAVIT FORM?
The DCFS Registry will send you an affidavit/registration form if you mail
a request to the address on this brochure. (At top of this page). We will
send a list of counselors who can help you complete the one hour couseling
requirement. You should not send any money to the Registry until you return
your affidavit/registration form,
OR
You may call the Registry at (501) 682-8462.
Ask for the Adoption Registry; we will send you an affidavit/registration
form and a list of counselors.
Judy Ford, MEd
Registry, Adoption
Telephone (501) 682-5818
Fax (501) 682-8094
E-Mail: Judy.Ford@state.ar.us
P.O.Box 1437
Slot 808
Little Rock AR 72203-1437
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