Overview

As an adoption agency with a 64-year history, we receive a substantial number of requests for information. We can provide information to birth parents, adoptive families and adult adopted persons as well as facilitate an exchange of information between parties. We are conducting searches and facilitating some reunions with increasing frequency, and are available to discuss options with Barker clients.

Services for Birth Parents

A birth parent may request a written report covering the non-identifying information in the file about the child's family at the time of placement. This information may include the family's lifestyle, personality, religious practice, health, occupation, and family history.

We will also include information regarding communication, if there has been any, from the child or the adoptive parents and the nature of such contacts.

Services for Adoptive Families and Adult Adopted Persons

Adoptive parents and adult adopted persons, 18 or older, may request non-identifying background information that is contained in the files. A summary of non-identifying information in the file may be shared in a written report or prepared by n agency social worker. Depending on the amount of information in the file, this may include medical and genetic information, social histories, circumstances of birth parents at the time of placement, birth history, foster home information, and information related to contact, if any, from the birth family since placement.

Exchange of Information Between Parties

In cases where there are mutual expressions of interest from an adult adopted person and one of the birth parents, the agency will work with both individuals to determine a suitable course of action.

To date, adoption laws in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia prohibit an agency from revealing the identifying information of the inquiring parties.

Search

At times the court will order us to open our files and conduct a search for birth relatives based on a request from either the adult adopted person or a birth parent. This is often a very time-consuming process and requires being responsive to all involved persons. While we make every effort to find the birth relative(s), the results of a search cannot be guaranteed.

Please contact us for additional information or to speak with a staff person in our Family and Post-Adoption Services Department.