children s health issues
Adoption
Contact with birth parents
If birth parents request anonymity, there is controversy about whether children should be able to find information about them. In the United States, some states provide a website for birth parents and children to post their identity. If both do so, then they will be placed in touch with each other. Contact cannot be initiated unless both parties agree. Widely available genetic testing now facilitates people's ability to find blood relatives they were unaware of. Sometimes adoptive parents connect with birth parents. The parties may already be related in some way. For example, a stepparent can adopt a spouse's biologic child or grandparents can adopt their grandchildren. In other cases, parents may connect through word of mouth or advertisements. For children who are adopted, it is best if this information is never considered a secret but is just considered part of the family history. 