by Jodi Rice

There are many different reasons why an adult adoptee may be interested in searching for further information regarding his/her birth relatives. Some may simply want medical or birth family history. Others may want to have actual contact with their birth relatives. Whatever the reason may be, there are some general guidelines to follow when searching in Michigan.

There are two types of information available to adult adoptees: non-identifying information and identifying information.

Non-identifying information is anything which can be found in the court records, with the exception of the adoptees' birth name and the names of any birth relatives. The non-identifying information is available to adult adoptees upon request.

Identifying information includes the birth name of the adult adoptee as well as birth relatives, and their last known address. This information is available when a consent has been signed by a birth parent to release any information about him/herself.

The consent to release identifying information statements as well as denial statements by the birth parents are housed within the Adoption Central Registry. This is a file kept in Lansing by the Family Independence Agency. These statements may be forwarded to courts or agencies working with adult adoptees in order to determine whether or not identifying information may be released. If the adoption was finalized before September 12, 1980, indentifying information will be released to the adult adoptee only if a consent to release information was filed by a birth parent. If the adoption was finalized after September 12, 1980, identifying information may be released to the adult adoptee if no denial to release information is found on file.

Once someone has made the decision to search, the first place to contact is the court which finalized the adoption. This would most likely be the probate court of the county where the adoptive parents lived at the time of the adoption. If the agency which handled the adoption is known, it is also helpful to contact them for more information. Some adoption agencies in Michigan have closed and adoption records have been transferred to other adoption agencies. A listing of those agencies has been included.

Once the court or adoption agency has been contacted and the adult adoptee has asked for the non-identifying information, the birth records will be accessed. Some courts or agencies will provide the adoptee with a summary of their birth records. Other courts or agencies may provide the adoptee with the actual records with any identifying information deleted.

If it is identifying information the adult adoptee is requesting and a consent statement is found within the registry, the adoptee will be provided with all identifying information. If no consent statement is found, the adult adoptee may continue in the search by requesting confidential intermediary services. Since January 1, 1995, courts have been required to offer these services. The Confidential Intermediary (CI) will have access to the identifying information found in the birth records and will conduct a search based on the information provided. The court can offer no guarantees that contact will be made but they can promise that the CI will make a reasonable effort to make contact with the birth relative being searched. If and when contact is made, if both parties are in agreement the CI will put the parties in contact with each other. Fees for these services vary from one county to the next so it is best to contact the probate court which finalized the adoption for more information.

Non-identifying information is also available upon request for birth parents of adult adoptees as well as adult brothers and sisters. Identifying information may be released by the adoption agency or court only if the adult adoptee has approved the release of information in writing. The release of information forms for adult adoptees are available at local probate courts and adoption agencies. The form must be filed with the adoption agency which completed the adoption and the court which finalized the adoption.

Search and support groups are available for adoption triad members. Some groups offer assistance in searching or may have other group members who have conducted their own searches who may have helpful hints for beginning searchers. These groups may also be helpful to adoption triad members when it comes to the various issues involved with search and reunion. A listing of the search and support groups in Michigan have been included.

There are also several books that may be helpful to those wishing to conduct their own. A listing of these books has also been included for your reference.

There are many factors to take into consideration when searching for birth family members. It is important to be prepared to find anything while searching for information and to carefully think of the possibilities ahead of time. For more information about birth records or confidential intermediary services, contact the probate court which finalized the adoption or the adoption agency which completed the adoption.

Books That Can Help in Your Search

You, Too, Can Find Anybody
Joseph Culligan, Licensed Private Investigator

The Great American Search Book
Jean A.S. Strauss

Lifeline, The Action Guide To Adoption Search
Virgil L. Klunder

Search: A Handbook For Adoptees And Birth Parents
Jayne Askin

Birth Bond: Reunions Between Birth Parents And Adoptees
Judith Gediman and Linda P. Brown

Search Aftermath And Adjustments
Patricia Sanders and Nancy Sitterly

The Other Mother
Carol Schaefer

Adoption And The Family
Miriam Reitz and Kenneth Watson

Lost And Found
Betty Lifton

Adoption Reunion
Michelle McColm

Blue Book 1994 Birth Parent Connection
The Adoption Networking & Referral Directory. The Blue Book may be purchased for $13.00 plus $1.50 for shipping and handling to:

Blue Book
P.O. Box 230643
Encinitas, California 92023-0643

Closed Adoption Agencies

Catholic Charities
See CSS listing

Coldwater State Public School
Family Independence Agency
Adoption Services
P.O. Box 30037
Lansing, MI 48909
(517) 373-3513

Detroit Baptiste Children's Home
Judson Center
23077 Greenfield Rd.
Suite 107
Southfield, MI 48075
(810) 443-5000

Diversion Services
Family Independence Agency
Adoption Services
P.O. Box 30037
Lansing, MI 48909
(517) 373-3513

Florence Crittenton Home
Family Independence Agency
Adoption Services
P.O. Box 30037
Lansing, MI 48909
(517) 373-3513

House of Providence
Catholic Social Services of Wayne
9851 Hamilton
Detroit MI 48202
(313) 883-2100

Michigan Children's Aid Society
Child & Family Services of MI
P.O. Box 348
Okemos, MI 48805
(517) 349-6226

Protestant Youth Organization of Detroit
Christian Family Services
17105 West 12 Mile Road
Southfield, MI 48076
(313) 557-8390

Rest Cottage Rescue Home of Grand Rapids
Salvation Army/Booth Family Services
1215 E. Fulton
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 459-9468

St. Agnes Foundling Home
Catholic Family Services
1819 Gull Road
Kalamazoo, MI 49001
(616) 381-9800

St. John's Orphan Asylum
St. John's Home
2355 Knapp NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
(616) 361-5227

Salvation Army Evangeline Home & Hospital, Grand Rapids
Mrs. Major Hurula
Salvation Army
Central Territory Headquarters
10 West Algonquin
Des Plaines, IL 60016
(708) 294-2000

Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Detroit
Catholic Social Services of Wayne
9851 Hamilton
Detroit, MI 48202
(313) 883-2100

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Tuition Incentive Program

Did you know that many adopted children, as well as some children in foster care, independent living or relative placements maybe eligible for free college tuition?!

The Tuition Incentive Program (T.I.P.) is best known for its assistance to students from low income families. It's a little known fact that children who are receiving Medicaid from the Family Independence Agency, and/or have received it for two out of the past three years are eligible for T.I.P. benefits. That includes many court and state wards (both permanent and temporary)! The Tuition Incentive Program is part of the Family Independence Agency and served 6,000 students last year.

Phase I of T.I.P. helps cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees for eligible students working towards an associates degree or taking certificate program courses at a T.I.P. participating college or university. It does not cover the cost of books, supplies, travel, room and board or extra tuition for students attending an out-of-district program.. T.I.P. pays up to 100% of current in-district resident tuition rates at participating community colleges and universities; it will pay for a maximum of $45 per credit hour at participating independent, non-profit college/university. The program will only pay for classes taken within the four years following high school graduation or GED completion. It will pay for a maximum of 80 semester or 120 term credits. To remain eligible for reimbursement, a student must meet the academic progress standards of the institution.

Additionally, Phase II of T.I.P. will provide up to $2,000 in tuition benefits ($500 per semester) to qualified students continuing beyond an associates degree or certificate level program at all four year Michigan colleges/universities. To be eligible for Phase II, a student must have received an associates degree or have earned at least 56 (accepted) credits from a participating school.

To qualify, students must apply to T.I.P. before graduation from high school or completion of a GED, and be under the age of 20 at the time of completion of either of these two events. T.I.P. assistance can be applied for any time after a child completes the sixth grade. Additionally, students must be U.S. citizens to be eligible for the program, plan on enrolling in school on at least a half-time basis and be able to produce high school transcripts or proof of GED.

For more information about the T.I.P. program, call 1-800-243-2847.