Providing Adoptive Parents With Information About Adoptees and Their Birth Families - Iowa

Agency or Person Preparing the Report

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 600.8

A background information investigation and a report of the investigation shall be made by the adoption service provider, the Department of Human Services, or a certified adoption investigator.

Contents of Report About the Adopted Person

Citation: Ann. Stat. §§ 600.8; 600A.4

The background information investigation and report shall not disclose the identity of the adopted person.

To the extent available, the report shall include the following:

• The complete family medical and social history of the adopted person, including any known genetic, metabolic, or familial disorders
• The complete medical and developmental histories of the adopted person
• A social history of the adopted person

The social history may include, but is not limited to, the following:

• The minor child's racial, ethnic, and religious background
• An account of the minor child's prior and existing relationship with any relative, foster parent, or other individual with whom the minor child regularly lives or whom the child regularly visits

Contents of Report About the Birth Family

Citation: Ann. Stat. §§ 600.8; 600A.4

The background information investigation and report shall not disclose the identity of the birth parents of the minor adopted person.

The report shall include, to the extent available, a social history of the minor adopted person's family that does not disclose the identity of the birth parents. The social history may include, but is not limited to, a general description of the minor child's birth parents.

A birth parent also may provide ongoing information to the adoptive parents as additional medical or social history information becomes known by providing information to the clerk of court, department, or adoption service provider that made the placement and may provide the current address of the birth parent. The clerk of court, department, or adoption service provider that made the placement shall transmit the information to the adoptive parents, if the address of the adoptive parents is known.

When the Report Is Made

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 600.8

A background information investigation of the medical and social history of the birth parents of the minor person to be adopted and a report of the investigation shall be made prior to the placement of the minor person to be adopted with any prospective adoption petitioner.

The report shall be completed and filed with the court prior to the adoption hearing prescribed in § 600.12.

Exceptions for Stepparent or Relative Adoptions

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 600.8

Any report required by this section shall not be needed when the adopted person is an adult or when the prospective adoption petitioner is a stepparent of the adopted person. In addition, any required report may be waived by the court if the adoption petitioner is related within the fourth degree of consanguinity to the person to be adopted.