Our Guest:
Heidi Bruegel Cox is the Executive Vice President and General Counsel for the Gladney Center in Fort Worth, Texas, and has worked as an attorney in the field of adoption for over 30 years. She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys and serves on the board as secretary for the National Council for Adoption.
As a child advocate, Heidi is active in educating the public and promoting legislative initiatives to protect children and support positive adoption practices, Heidi previously served as a gubernatorial appointee to the Texas Adoption Review Committee which examined the child welfare system, seeking solutions to remove barriers to adoption for children in foster care.
Heidi has also served on the board of the Texas Family Law Council, which supports the efforts of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas. Heidi was inducted into the Adoption Hall of Fame at the National Council for Adoption Annual Gala in Washington, D.C.
Show Notes:
In this episode, we talked about:
- During the 50’s- 90’s adoptions were more closed. Many times women were making an adoption plan to protect her reputation.
- Adoption was very secretive.
- Women have so many options now. Society has become more open and that has impacted the openness of adoption.
- Because of DNA consumer kits, Gladney cannot guarantee a birth mother can have a completely closed adoption.
- Gladney has advocated for many years to help adult adoptees have access to their birth records.
- So far we have not been successful at changing the law but we will keep working to help make this happen for adopted adults. We are advocating for change.
- Gladney can no longer protect birth parent privacy because of DNA consumer kits. DNA gives people access to information and family trees
- We want to give adopted adults access to their birth records. This would give the adopted adult the information they are seeking without having to down a more complicated route.
- Records are only as accurate as the information received.
- DNA has turned up new history for so many people. This is not an adoption issue but rather a DNA issue
- It’s important to remember to take the relationship slow once it has been opened. Don’t share too much too soon.
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