News Release Archive
NEWS RELEASE (CNS983) -->> COMMUNITY SERVICES--NEW ADOPTION INFORMATION ACT COMMUNITY SERVICES--NEW ADOPTION INFORMATION ACT ----------------------------------------------------------------- Nova Scotia's new Adoption Information Act balances the need for adoptees and their birth families to learn about each other while maintaining everyone's right to privacy, said Community Services Minister John MacEachern. The act, which will implement a new search service for people seeking birth children, siblings or parents separated by adoption becomes effective Jan. 1, 1997 with applications being accepted Jan. 2. Once a request is made, trained social workers conduct the search and ask for the consent of the person before any identifying information is released. Mr. MacEachern said the act gives Nova Scotians one of the most open and fair disclosure services in Canada. "The Adoption Information Act places Nova Scotia along side British Columbia and Saskatchewan on the Canadian forefront of adoption information disclosure." The act also has special provisions to allow for the release of non-identifying information which may include medical history, physical description, interest and level of education and any other general information that will not identify the person. The cost for a full search is $250, with the cost of less involved services being less expensive. So as not to exclude anyone, arrangements have been made to reduce fees as low as $50 for individuals on limited income. The information contained in personal adoption files will be used to help locate people. Unfortunately the information in some files, especially older ones, is not complete. Staff will try to find the person through other means, but they may be limited by the lack of available information. The staff at the Adoption Services Disclosure Program are expecting an overwhelming number of applications when the service becomes operational. They indicate it could take up to three years to process the initial rush of applicants, because of the high number expected. After these are dealt with, staff expects searches to take less than a year. If the person cannot be located, identifying information will not be released. The program begins taking applications as of Jan. 2, 1997. Searches will be done on a first-come-first-serve basis. Priority will be given for medical emergencies and in situations where the birth parents are more than 65 years of age. -30- Contact: Tom Peck 902-424-4038 NOTE TO EDITORS: Backgrounder available by calling 1-800-670-4357 or 1-902-424-4492. trp Dec. 30, 1996 - 11:15 a.m.