catholic charities/missing records

Hello Jess, I'm sorry to hear about what you're going through. I, also, was adopted thru Catholic Charities (Boston, MA area). I was adopted in 1960, so maybe retrieiving records, now, is different. In 1991 I obtained non-identifying info directly thru CC by telling CC my parents (so-called adoptive parents) names and the address where they lived when I was adopted. I sent a letter to CC w/this info and they sent me my birth name (first & middle only!), where I was born (including hospital!), my height and weight (I only don't have the time of my birth). Other info was completely blacked out on the hospital forms. Have you tried to write to the main chapter of CC in your area? You may get a better response. Give them all the info you have (ask your adoptive parents to help if they can). Good luck w/your search I truly know how important it is to get medical info. I just went through 5 knee surgeries (car accident) in less than 2 years and when asked for my past family medical history before each surgery, I could only write 'adopted'. It's vital to all of us adoptees to have access to our medical info! Best of luck Jess, Lee Ann

Jess -- I agree, try a regional CC, or just write or call the CC office again. Call on a different day of the week or at a different time, and maybe you'll talk to someone else who'll be better at locating files. In my experience with CC they were very inconsistent. When I searched for my son (born in 1969) they told me his aparents had also adopted a baby prior to him, but not through CC. After our reunion, his brother contacted the same CC office and they mediated a reunion with HIS bmother, who had in fact placed him through their office. It's been five years since I had dealings with them, so I can't remember all the contradictions in the info they gave me. I just remember my frustration. I see from your profile you're from NY. If you were born in NYC (or maybe just Manhattan?), a poster named AJK said yesterday that the NY Social Services Library keeps a birth index that lists the bmother's name, and you can find it by matching the number of your altered birth certificate to the number listed in the index. If you were a NYC baby you would have to contact AJK to see whether this was still true when you were born. Just a possibility. Good luck!

Hey Jess, I was adopted through Catholic Charities in Ohio, and recently got some non-identifying information. I didn't seem to have any problem, but the only thing I can think of is maybe it was a different CC office? I know in the Cleveland area there were several divisions. Keep trying though. When I got my non-identifying information I was really surprised as to how extensive it was. It's definitely worth the trouble.Good luck in your search! :)

hi sorry to hear about your problems with cc unforunatly i'm not surprized it took me over a year to get my non-idenifying information working with cc of buffalo new york some realy tough laws in ny state anyway when i finaly got some of my information i was told that my bmother had stayed at a home in rochester ny for unwed moms and that my records were in both places some here in bufflao and some there that could be your sistuation also .search if you can to see if your bmom stayed any where eles before your birth and then cc got involved with the placement hope this helps good luck in your search christine

They lie drastically my friend was told he was born OLV and all kinds of lies, by the catholics. He was born Millard Fillmore Gates, and everything he was told was a lie he did find his mother and father with the help of a outside locator. We are trying to find my wifes birth parents for medical information. She was born 12/19/1969 in buffalo and adopted through catholic charites Russ cellino sr handled adoption supposedly her mother was 13 and lost part of an arm she adopted by the zglinicki family of alden if anyone can help us that would be great thanks walt

I was helping my mother search for her birth mother...and Catholic Charities still had a pretty complete file on the adoption from 1938 (!) that they had even scanned into an electronic format the year before, when they were going through storing the earlier cases. They sent the proper paperwork to request redacted (i.e., names whited-out) copies immediately and the process was quick. The one thing that was a bit of a pain is they would not send the info directly to the adoptee...but only to a social worker who would go over it with her in person. I was able to find a free one who worked for a county adoption department in my mom's area who was really nice and signed off immediately...but that step could cost other adoptees time and money if they're not resourceful. It's possible the Catholic Charities workers were touched by my mom's age (70) at the time she was searching, and pushed things through quickly, but in our experience they were professional and responsive.

I was also adopted through catholic charities and at 48y.o. am just know trying to find out who my birth parents are and medical history as I have 3 grown children and this info. is a necessity as there are "inherited" medical conditions that if a history is in the family,ie..ashd,diabetes,cancer,high blood pressure, etc..among the few hereditary diseases. not getting very far in my search, anyone with clues to help would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Jess, I know this is a pretty old thread, but I have recently experienced the same issues. I was adopted in 1980 from the Buffalo/Niagara Falls Catholic Charities office. I am also looking for non-identifiying information and was also told my filed does not exist. Did you have any luck in locating your information? Any updates would be appreciated. Best, Danny

Jess I was adopted in Houston/ Harris County Texas. I have had the same thing. I have paid and then they told me that they have no know record of me or Birth Mother. Not sure but I would think that if you call them up give them Info about it and they said for a fee we will get non ID info they would not come back and tell there is no record at all. Honestly I have been given more info on this web site for free and using Google. The people on here are the Greatest,They all should be Thanked. Good Luck.

Do you mind if I ask when you were born? My grandmother placed a baby boy for adoption sometime between 1958 and 1962, all we know is that she was a teen mom, sent to a home for unwed mothers here in Houston/Harris County. Her name is Jo Ann McGee.

It was a nightmare getting my non-identifying information from Catholic Charities of Cincinnati. It took me two years to finally get it and that was only after I lucked out and a college intern answered the phone and finally helped me. Everyone else was putting up roadblocks to getting me the information, including that they couldn't find it or that records from 1979 were lost. I see that this is an old post, but if anyone else is in this situation, it takes being very persistent. Keep calling and writing and don't take no for an answer.