Section 309.190  Adoption Registry

a)         Effective with the establishment of an Adoption Registry under the auspices of the Department of Public Health, the Department of Children and Family Services shall provide information about Adoption Registry services. The address of the Adoption Registry is as follows:

The Adoption Registry

Illinois Department of Public Health

605 W. Jefferson

Springfield, Illinois 62702-6553

(217) 782-6553

b)         The services shall consist of:

1)         providing written notification to the biological parents who wish to surrender a child for purposes of adoption or wish to consent to the adoption of a child by a specified person which describes the Adoption Registry, the process for recording their names with the Adoption Registry, the procedures for sharing identifying information with the child who was surrendered for adoption or given consent to be adopted by a specified person, and the process for changing the decision to share or refuse to share identifying information;

2)         helping the biological parents complete a written statement of intent when a child is voluntarily surrendered for purposes of adoption or given consent to be adopted by a specified person.  The statement shall record:

A)        the biological parents' desire to have identifying information shared with the adopted child at a later date and a method for contacting the biological parents; or

B)        the biological parents desire not to have identifying information revealed; or

C)        that no decision has been reached at this time.

3)         helping the biological parents record their names with the Adoption Registry for the purpose of sharing identifying information with their biological children who were surrendered for adoption or given consent to be adopted by a specified person;

4)         helping the adopted child, when the child has attained the age of 18, but not yet reached his or her 21st birthday, to record his or her name with the Adoption Registry for the purpose of sharing identifying information with his or her biological parents provided the Registry has the written consent of:

A)        both adoptive parents, or

B)        a single adoptive parent with a certified copy of the Judgement of Adoption, or

C)        proof of the death of one adoptive parent and written consent of the surviving adoptive parent, or

D)        consent of the guardian of the adoptee with a certified copy of the Order of Guardianship;

5)         recording specific non-identifying information about the biological parents as required by the Adoption Act [750 ILCS 50/18.4] in the case record.  This information shall be given to the prospective adoptive parents when the child is placed for adoption and to the adopted child, upon request, when the child has attained the age of 18;

6)         providing identifying information to mutually consenting members of the adoption triad when a written request is received by the Department of Children and Family Services.  If there is an Information Exchange Authorization form on file with the Adoption Registry, this form also must permit the exchange of such information; and

7)         other services as authorized by 89 Ill. Adm. Code 302.40 (Department Service Goals).

(Source:  Amended at 23 Ill. Reg. 11098, effective September 16, 1999)