Mutual Consent Voluntary Adoption Registry
FAQ
|
| . |
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 Arkansas Mutual Consent
Voluntary Adoption Registry (MCVAR) is operated by the Arkansas Department of Human
Services, Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS). (This agency has previously
been known as the "Welfare Department" or "Social Services".)
If you are
a qualified person and you want to be identified to your birth relatives, you must
register to do so. In order for identification to take place the birth relatives must also
register their consent to be identified to you.
When your registration is received, the Registry Coordinator will search the files to
determine if the other persons you want to be identified to 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 comes 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 a match does occur you will be contacted
by the Registry Coordinator.
Please note
that registration is a voluntary act and the Registry Coordinator will not contact
eligible persons to ask them to register.
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 Coordinator will search the agency adoption
records for information about the background of the adoptee. The information will not
identify any birth or adopted relative of the adoptee. If available, a comprehensive
report will be forwarded to you.
Any
qualified person may choose to remove his or her name from the
registry at any time by filing a notarized affidavit with the
registry.
Who is
Qualified to Register?
The
adoption must have been arranged by the Division of Children and Family Services or an
Arkansas licensed adoption agency which has transferred its Adoption Registry to DCFS.
To register
to be identified to your birth relative(s) you must be:
An
adult adoptee who
is at least 18 years old, or
A birth parent
of an adopted child, or
A birth
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
-
In
the event of death of the adoptee, the adoptee's children, the
adoptee's widow or widower, or the guardian of any child of
the adoptee, or
-
The adoptive
parents, or in the event of their death, the child’s guardian, or The legal guardian
of any child of the adoptee, or
-
Any
child welfare agency having custody of the adoptee.
If you are not
sure that your adoption was arranged by the state of Arkansas, you may register. Also, you
may contact other licensed adoption agencies regarding registration.
To register
to be identified to your birth relative(s) you must complete an Affidavit/ Registration
form, attend a one hour counseling session, and pay a fee of $20.00. The minimum one hour
of counseling must be provided by an Adoption Specialist who is employed with DCFS, if you
live in Arkansas; the Registry Coordinator will provide you with a list of Adoption
Specialists. If you live in another state, counseling must be provided by a social worker
employed by a licensed agency in your state.
Any
affidavits filed and sealed adoption records shall be retained
for ninety-nine (99) years following the date of registration or
finalization.
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.
You may
register to receive both services on the same form.
How do I
get Affidavit form?
The DCFS
Registry Coordinator will send you an Affidavit/Registration form if you submit a written
request to the address at the bottom of this page. You should not send any money to the
Registry Coordinator until you return your notarized Affidavit/Registration form.
You may
call the Registry Coordinator at (501) 682-8462. Ask to speak to the Adoption Registry
Coordinator. You may also email the Registry Coordinator here.
Mail
Correspondence to:
Arkansas Department of Human Services
Division of Children and Family Services
Mutual Consent Voluntary Adoption Registry
PO Box 1437, Slot S565
Little Rock, AR 72203-1437
|
|