Adoption Awareness Month Proclaimed

Released on November 1, 2016

Changes Coming January 1 to Birth Registration Information Access

The Government of Saskatchewan has proclaimed November as Adoption Awareness Month to acknowledge and celebrate Saskatchewan’s adoptive families.  The month also serves as a reminder to all adult adoptees and birth parents that access to birth registration information is changing January 1 as new regulations come into effect.

“We wanted to support Saskatchewan’s adult adoptees and birth parents in learning more about their own history, and potentially strengthening their connections to their culture and birth family, if this is something they wish to do,” Social Services Minister Tina Beaudry-Mellor said.  “Adoptees, their adoptive families and their birth families have been asking for this, and that’s why we have taken steps to improve access to birth registration information for those individuals.”

Birth registrations contain information such as the name of listed birth parents, the name of the child at birth and the location of the birth, along with name of the hospital.  The regulatory changes replace the requirement to obtain consent with the option for birth parents and adult adoptees to file a veto or a contact preference.  With almost 37,000 adoptions having occurred in Saskatchewan since 1922, this change may impact many individuals.

“Six out of 10 individuals will be connected by adoption in some way during their lifetime,” Adoption Support Centre of Saskatchewan Interim Executive Director Sylvia Cholodnuik said.  “This month serves as a reminder of how many individuals have a personal connection to adoption and the many ways our organization is here to help.”

The Adoption Support Centre of Saskatchewan has organized a variety of exciting events across the province to celebrate Adoption Awareness Month.

The organization began in the 1980s as a group of adoptive parents providing support to one another.  It has since grown into a province-wide confidential information service that provides referrals, resources and pre- and post-adoption support relating to domestic, international, private, step-parent and adult adoptions.

For more information on Adoption Awareness Month activities in your community, or to access pre- or post-adoption services or support, please visit the Adoption Support Centre of Saskatchewan’s website at http://adoptionsask.org/.

In advance of January 1, 2017, all adult adoptees and birth parents are also encouraged to call 1-800-667-7539 or visit www.saskatchewan.ca/adoptionrecords to learn more about the regulatory changes that improve access to birth registration information.  They can access forms to apply for birth registration information or file a contact preference or veto.

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For more information, contact:

Leya Moore
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-3610
Email: leya.moore@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-519-7835

Sylvia Cholodnuik
Adoption Support Centre of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-665-7272
Email: director@adoptionsask.org