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

Agency or Person Preparing the Report

Citation: Rev. Stat. §§ 109.309; 109.321; 109.342

The Department of Human Services shall prepare the placement report that contains the child's social and medical history. The department may designate an Oregon-licensed adoption agency to prepare the report.

The parent or other person giving consent to the adoption shall provide information about the child's social, medical, and genetic history to an attorney, the department, or an Oregon-licensed adoption agency. The department shall prescribe a form for the compilation of the medical history.

Contents of Report About the Adopted Person

Citation: Rev. Stat. §§ 109.309; 109.342

When possible, the medical history shall include, but need not be limited to, the following:

• A medical history of the adopted child from birth up to the time of adoption
• Any diseases, disabilities, congenital, or birth defects
• Records of medical examinations of the child, if any

Contents of Report About the Birth Family

Citation: Rev. Stat. §§ 109.309; 109.342

Information gathered for the placement report may include information concerning the birth parent's history.

When possible, the medical history shall include, but need not be limited to, the following:

• Physical characteristics of the birth parents, including age at the time of the adopted child's birth; height; weight; and color of eyes, hair, and skin
• A gynecologic and obstetric history of the birth mother
• A record of potentially inheritable genetic or physical traits or tendencies of the birth parents or their families
• Any other useful or unusual biological information that the birth parents are willing to provide

The names of the birth parents shall not be included in the medical history.

When the Report Is Made

Citation: Rev. Stat. §§ 109.309; 109.342

Within 90 days after being notified that a petition for adoption has been filed with the court, the department shall investigate and file for the consideration of the judge before whom the petition for adoption is pending a placement report containing information regarding the status of the child.

Before any judgment of adoption of a minor is entered, the court shall be provided a medical history of the child and of the birth parents that is as complete as possible under the circumstances.

Exceptions for Stepparent or Relative Adoptions

Citation: Rev. Stat. §§ 109.309; 109.342

The department may waive the placement report requirement but shall waive the placement report requirement in an adoption proceeding in which one of the child's birth parents or adoptive parents retains parental rights.

The requirement to provide a medical history does not apply when a person is adopted by a stepparent.