Missouri Adoptee Rights Movement

09/04/2026

I just learned Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has new links for an adoptee and/or a lineal descendant of a deceased adoptee to obtain the original birth certificate of the adoptee:

Form for Lineal Descendants of Deceased Adoptees requesting a copy of the Adoptee's original birth certificate:
https://health.mo.gov/sites/health/files/media/pdf/2026/04/580-3231s-lineal.pdf

Form for Adopted Adults, Adoptee's Attorney or Birth Parent requesting a copy of the Adoptee's original birth certificate:
https://health.mo.gov/sites/health/files/media/pdf/2026/04/580-3139-adoptee.pdf

07/15/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19GsrSSy8Y/?mibextid=wwXIfr

04/23/2026

Remember Jean Strauss who filmed many of the highlights at our Breaking the Seal conference in Jefferson City? Well, she has combined many of the highlights from her many films and created the Adoptee Birthright Archive which is available on YouTube. I have been watching it for some time. So far, I have seen Carolyn Pooler, Ina Lewis, Archie Hyde and Herman Denkler from Missouri, as well as many others I have met throughout the years. It is very long but so worth watching it.

SARA FEIGENHOLTZ - Illinois State Representative

10/07/2024

Birth/First Parents: Jenny Rogers Becknell and I are Co-Facilitators for Adoption Knowledge Affiliates' Peer Support Group meeting. Please register today by sending an email to [email protected] with subject line RSVP Birth/First Parents' Peer Support and receive the Zoom link in time for tomorrow's meeting. Our theme for October is “Ghost Kingdom.”

10/28/2023

One week from today. We hope to see you there.

10/22/2023

08/14/2023

I found out this morning my friend Judith Bock has now published her memoir, and I want to share it with you. I met her during the many times we joined many others across Missouri trying to get the adoption laws changed so Missouri-born adopted adults could request a copy of their original birth certificates. She and I were speakers during an adoption panel 07/16/2013 for the Department of Counseling and Family Therapy classroom of Bobbi Miller, PhD, Saint Louis University. I ordered her book and can hardly wait to get it. Congratulations, Judith! I am so proud of you!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1916707726?ref_=cm_sw_r_mwn_dp_KQ751B51MT40S7NEDQYQ&fbclid=IwAR0A4KYqukmJefYtJX45fXKMQTw4ZRdAwWwQfStHG6NVLToslf4ZOvoDFX4

In April 1969, a day before her 22nd birthday, Judith Ellen Bock gave birth to a 5 pound 15 ounce girl in a Tulsa hospital. Under the secrecy of a “NO SHOW, NO TELL” order, even Bock was kept from knowing much of anything about her newborn. Although she consented to the subsequent relinquishment...

07/27/2023

Ever since I first read The Foundling: The True Story of a Kidnapping, a Family Secret, and My Search for the Real Me, and then also True Identity by Paul Fronczak, I have wanted to hear more. I attended CeCe Moore’s conference in Arkansas a few years ago wherein she spoke of how DNA testing had been used to help Paul in his search. I also enjoyed meeting Paul earlier this year in Kentucky at the Untangling Our Roots conference wherein he was Plenary Speaker. Yesterday, my Facebook Feed included a story about his life so I thought I would share it here. If you want to read more, you can Google his name.
Posted by Sharon Cummins

Paul Joseph Fronczak was kidnapped from Chicago's Michael Reese Hospital on April 27, 1964, then returned to his parents a year later — but he wasn't really their son.

07/24/2023

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06/03/2022

An interview I did last month with Julia Daily on her Authors Over 50 Podcast was released today. I just watched it and wanted to share it with you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSVQvtkaONg

I have also read Julia's debut novel, No Names To Be Given by Julia Brewer Daily, and I highly recommend it.

My guest today is an author who has a passion for helping others and fulfills her passion by encouraging those whose lives have been affected by an adoption ...