Families Supporting Adoption - HAWAII

HB 1407 Hearing

2011-03-01T02:28:00.000-08:00

To view all versions of this measure or for more Information regarding HB 1407, please visit the Hawaii State Legislature's website:

http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov

Oppose House Bill 1407

2011-03-01T01:51:00.000-08:00

Aloha Friends and Families Supporting Adoption!

A bill negatively affecting adoption laws in Hawaii just came to my attention. It is late. The Senate has already passed it unanimously because they only had supportive testimonies from the Adoption Circle of Hawaii (a small group fighting for liberal adoption laws) who are sponsoring the bill.

House Bill 1407 would REQUIRE that all adoption records from years ago be open and that no birthparent has the right to keep their name and adoption record confidential. At this time, if a request for birthparents' names is made to the Family Court, the law does allow for a court approved agent to look for the birthparent and ask them if they want to have their names given out. If they don't, they can sign an affidavit requesting confidentiality. If they want to be connected with the other parties, their name is given out. With House Bill 1407, birthparents would have NO CHOICE to have confidentiality.

HB 1407 would ALSO REQUIRE that the birthparents' names be included next to the adoptive parents' names on the finalized official adoption birth certificate of the adopted child. This means that birthmothers cannot have confidentiality and privacy regarding their placement. Those who want privacy may be forced to revert to abortion as a desperate measure or abandon their babies.

It may be acceptable IF the birthparents WANT their names on the birth certificate and give their written approval, but to mandate them to put it on takes away their right to privacy. There will definitely be an increase in abortions!!

Please help stop this bill by doing the following:

1. Write a brief personalized testimony against the bill, and submit it online by Tuesday, March 1, 2011 (TOMORROW) by 2pm. Go to the link below and type in BH1407 and then fill in the blanks with your information and comments. Go in as an INDIVIDUAL and OPPOSE this bill. (sample ideas listed below).

http://capitol.hawaii.gov/emailtestimony/

AND PLEASE

2. Attend the Public Hearing at the State Capitol in Room 325 on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at 2 p.m. Show up early. If you have adopted children, you may wish to bring them to better illustrate what is at risk if this bill passes. Hearings can go long so bring snacks/books to keep kids entertained.

We need 100+ people present at the hearing on Wednesday to oppose HB1407.

Here are some sample testimonies for your reference:

Sample 1:

I strongly oppose HB 1407. It completely removes confidentiality and privacy for birthparents. Birthparents should be given the right to keep their records closed if they choose to. Their names should not be on the birth certificate of the child they have placed for adoption...

Sample 2:

I oppose HB 1407. I am an adoptive parent of two children who are mine in every way. My wife and I love their birthparents very much. We would not want the birthparents to have to have their names on our children's birth certificates if they do now want it there. It should be a choice for them. They should be able to give written permission to have their names put on the birth certificate...

Sample 3:

I oppose HB 1407. My ....(daughter, sister, myself, etc.) is a birthparent who placed a child. ...... (Her, my, etc) Her adoption was very confidential. It would be a crime of privacy to mandate that birthparents' names be on the birth certificate without their permission. Please do not pass this law.

Sample 4: Letter written by Daniel Skaf for your reference:

Greetings Members of the Judiciary Committee,

I write in opposition to HB 1407. I adopted my daughter, Julianna, when she was just a few days old. Her original birth certificate is kept confidential in the state where she was born. My name is listed as Father on her current birth certificate. This is the way it should be.

I have several reasons for feeling this way.

First of all, many young girls seek to have their babies adopted for one reason - so they can make a good decision out of a bad decision and START OVER. How is a young girl to feel she can start her life on a new track, go to college, marry a good man, and start a new family if all the while her name is publicly connected to a baby she gave to another family? Most girls appreciate their right to privacy and anonymity. And consequently most girls would shy away from the adoption option if they had their right to privacy taken away. I firmly believe that this would lead to more abandoned babies and more abortions.

Also, many single adults and married couples rely on sperm banks or egg donors in order to have a baby. Will the sperm or egg donor be listed on the birth certificate, too? I believe we will see a dramatic reduction in sperm and egg donations if the donors' right to privacy is taken away.

As it is, adopted children can access their original birth certificate when they turn 18. This allows for them to be relatively prepared with some level of maturity and life experience before and if they choose seek out their birth parents. Some adoptive parents choose to tell their child about their adoption and their birth parents at a much earlier age. This decision is made by loving parents, based on the emotional needs and maturity of the child. The whole story of the adoption is shared in a sensitive, private, individualized manner. The parents of the child know best how, when and if this should be done and certainly NOT the government. Children are unique individuals not items on a mass-production line. Their adoption history should be a personal, private matter for them to disclose if they choose when they are ready. HB 1407 denies them that right.

My last reason for opposing HB1407 is rather personal.

I am deeply, emotionally, spiritual, and mentally dedicated and connected to my precious daughter, Julianna. I AM HER FATHER. I do not consent to sharing my title with anyone. She is my daughter and no one else has claim on her. I feed her, bathe her, dress her, protect her, teach her, defend her, plan for her future, and have loved her with all my heart and soul, every single day, every hour, every minute from the day she entered my life. While I appreciate the young boy who had a brief role in her creation, under no circumstances should he be considered her father. He has no right to be publicly listed as her father. I AM HER FATHER.

Please vote to defer this bill.

Sincerely,
Daniel Skaf
Waialua, HI
phone number

Please bring your friends and family to the hearing on Wednesday. Come early. Send in your written testimony first. You can also testify verbally. Your presence is important to stop this law from passing.

Mahalo for your support!

Sally Lee, LDS Family Services
Stacey Cannon, Families Supporting Adoption
Daniel Skaf

HB 1407 information

2011-03-01T01:00:00.000-08:00

Additional points against HB 1407:

This bill was put together by the Adoption Circle Hawaii, and it orginates in the Bay area of California. http://www.adoptioncirclehawaii.com/services.htm They have a list of "very valuable links" that are surprisingly very anti-adoption. As you read their links and resources it is clearn they treat adoption as a violation of children's rights and birth mother rights.

Here are quotes from their websites to give you an idea of their perspective:

"Women who LOST babies to adoption are referred to as "moms" or natural moms."
"No one should die simply because they are adopted." (emergency organ transplant needs)
"Bastard Nation: Advocates for the civil and human rights of adult citizens who were adopted as children. Please join us in our efforts to end a hidden legacy of shame, fear and venality."
"7 Core Issues in Adoption: Loss, Rejection, Guilt, Shame, Grief..."
"RegDay: Registry dedicated to reuniting adult family members separated by adoption, divorce, or other dislocation.

It appears HB 1407 was inspired by those who have had negative experiences with adoption. Let's submit our stories of adoption success, love, and joy! We must make sure the legislature hears a balanced view.

The legislature WILL PASS this bill unless they receive an outpouring of written AND verbal testimony. Please make the sacrifice and do all you can to be there on Wednesday.

Right to privacy is not only a concern for bith mothers, but also for the children.

Doctors, schools, churches, and other organizations requiring birth certificates would have access to birth parent info whether or not the parents choose to tell the child. This would cause confusion in the life of the child. "How come strangers know so much about me, Mom?" or "Why did I have to hear the truth from a stranger before hearing it from you, Dad?"

Some children are adopted from negative environments or situations that are best left alone in the past. This bill would forever connect adopted children to their past even in dangerous situations.

HB 1407 removes 8 complete pages of laws protecting bith mother and adopltive child confidentiality

HB 1407 removes the terms "confidentiality" and "consent" 18 times

Please join us in OPPOSING HB1407.

2009 FSA-Hawaii Regional Conference

2008-07-01T17:00:00.000-07:00

“Letting Love Lead the Way”
Saturday, November 14, 2009
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Laie North Stake Center: 55-630 Naniloa Loop, Laie HI 96762

Offered by LDS Family Services

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Broadcast: Troy Dunn, the "Locator" and a Birth Parent panel

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch: Meatballs & Rice. Please bring a salad or fruit to share

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Adoption Classes

2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Chocolate Brownie & Ice Cream Social (mmm. chocolate)

The conference is FREE and there will be something for everyone. A nursery and Keiki class will be provided, so come and enjoy a day of educational, inspirational classes and workshops as we celebrate and promote adoption in Hawaii.

Registration

2008-07-01T16:30:00.000-07:00

If you plan to attend, please register by EMAIL
to Amanda at: fsahawaii@gmail.com with "REGISTRATION" in the subject line and include the following information in your email.

Name(s):
Email Address:
Phone:
# of ADULTS attending the conference:
# of children attending the NURSERY (ages 18mo~4yrs):
# of children attending the KEIKI class (ages 4~11yrs):

OR register by MAIL:
by downloading the registration form here and mailing to:

Amanda Dugan
813 Hays St.
Honolulu, HI 96818

Registration must be received by Friday, November 6, 2009

Location

2008-07-01T16:00:00.000-07:00

Laie North Stake Center

55-630 Naniloa Loop
Laie, HI 96762

(Near the Laie Temple - The front chapel on the corner of
Lanihuli St. and Naniloa Loop)

View Larger Map

Lunch

2008-07-01T15:30:00.000-07:00

We will be having MEATBALLS and RICE.
Please bring a salad or fruit to share for lunch.

Nursery / Keiki Class

2008-07-01T15:00:00.000-07:00

University students will be available to watch your keiki while you attend the conference. We will be offering a nursery and Keiki class.

Nursery: ages 18mo~4yrs
Keiki Class: ages 4~11yrs

Please R.S.V.P. by November 6, 2009 so we know how many babysitters, snacks and project materials we’ll need.

(R.S.V.P. to fsahawaii@gmail.com with your registration)

Classes & Broadcast

2008-07-01T14:30:00.000-07:00

BROADCAST (10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.):
We will be broadcasting a portion of the 2009 National FSA Conference from Utah:

Keynote Address: Troy Dunn
Troy Dunn stars on WeTV’s “The Locator,” a popular TV show where he helps people across the nation find lost loved ones, including adoptive families, birth families and adults who were adopted. A former BYU football player, author, popular speaker (Life is like a football game), and current LDS Bishop, Troy has been involved in helping families for over 20 years. He first became interested in this kind of work when he helped his mother, adopted as an infant, reunite with her birth family. Troy feels strongly that having answers about your family makes a healthy family. He says, “You can’t have peace until you have all the pieces.”
Birthparent Panel
Adoption would be nothing without the courage, faith and love of a birthparent. Hear from birthparents who have placed their children with loving families as they share their experiences with openness, the adoptive families, and their healing.

CLASSES (1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.):
We will be offering three short classes:

Joy in the Journey
The journey of adoption. It is challenging. A lot of paperwork, writing, praying, fasting, waiting... but the end result is a personal miracle. The crowning event comes as families are sealed together in the Temple. It is a journey that can cause our hearts to change and strengthen our testimonies of our Savior’s divine Atonement by making the bitter sweet.
Fear vs. Love, Openness in adoption
Birthparents share what they wish their adoptive couples knew concerning openness, communication, relationships and healing.
Growing up Adopted
Listen to the stories of an adult, young adult and teen as they talk about what their adoption has meant to them, what kind of relationship they have with their families and how they have learned to deal with their unique history.

Brownie & Ice Cream Social

2008-07-01T14:00:00.000-07:00

Join us for brownies and ice cream at the close of the conference.
mmm. chocolate.

Information & Display Table

2008-07-01T13:30:00.000-07:00

We will have an information table with one 3-ring adoption binder per family for you to compile the information that pertains to your family. Some of the information and displays will include:

Financing your adoption
Adoption tax credit
Helping friends and family become adoption fluent
Creating personal histories, Life Books, or Adoption books to tell your child’s story

These binders are available for families who did not receive one last year.

Family Photo Collage!

2008-07-01T13:00:00.000-07:00

We are updating our collage of photos from FSA families in our area. We need your photos! We would love a current family photo, placements, Temple sealings, or something else you'd like to send to help us celebrate our families... built one miracle at a time.

Please submit your family photo (preferably 5x7)
by email to: fsahawaii@gmail.com
or by mail with your registration form.

please note: you won't receive photos back, so you may want to send a color copy rather than the original. Also, due to copyright laws, we can't reproduce professional photos so please send the original or a snapshot.

Download a Flier

2008-07-01T11:00:00.000-07:00

Click here to download a conference flyer (PDF file)
Please spread the word! Our goal is to promote adoption as a positive option here in Hawaii!

Contact

2008-07-01T10:30:00.000-07:00

For more information about the conference or if you'd like to get involved with FSA, please contact:

Stacey Cannon, FSA-Hawaii Co-chair
email: stacey@staceycannon.com
phone: 808-398-3340
or
Amanda Dugan
email: fsahawaii@gmail.com

Troy Dunn - Keynote from National Conference

2008-06-28T16:39:00.000-07:00

Meet The Keynote Speaker from the National FSA Conference
(to be broadcast during the morning portion of our conference):
Troy Dunn

Troy Dunn has been granting wishes for families in search of loved ones for nearly 20 years. Beginning in 1990 with his own mother's search for her biological medical history, he created an organization which soon spread to all 50 States and 32 Countries and has reunited tens of thousands of people.

He credits the majority of his organization's growth to tremendous media coverage throughout his career, having reunited families on over 500 national tv appearances on virtually every morning talk show, daytime talk show and primetime news program from Dr. Phil, Oprah, The Today Show and Good Morning America to Sixty Minutes, Barbara Walters and the list goes on.

In 2002, he sold his original company to Ancestry.com and turned his complete attention to the care and support of his 7 year old daughter's battle with cancer. She went into remission and he went back into reuniting families by launching TroyTheLocator.com. Television came calling again but this time offering him his OWN show - "The Locator," which has enjoyed high ratings from the start.

Troy has been married to his high school sweetheart Jennifer, for 21 years. They have 7 children (the oldest currently serving a mission in Moscow Russia, the youngest is 4) and reside in Ft Myers Florida. Troy is a member of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints and is currently serving as Bishop, for the second time!