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Hi Everyone,
I thought I wrote this last night, but apparently I didn't send it properly. Anyway, first of all I just want to say thanks to everyone who has emailed me or pm'd me. I hope to get back to each of you individually in the next day or two. I teach at a university and this is the end of the semester and life has been crazy!
I received a call from the new director of LDSFS in Atlanta on Wednesday. He left a message and I returned his call. His secretary was nice to me (which was a change) and she apologized profusely saying that they had really been working hard to get my nonID information (that's why it has taken 8 months?). When the director finally returned that call, I was in Wal Mart of all places, shopping for our annual honors night celebration with a colleague (and a good friend who knows what I am going through). I was not able to talk as long or ask as many questions as I would've liked to, but over all the conversation was fairly positive. The details are following - sorry this is long.
The new director is young and from Salt Lake City. He worked previously at the LDSFS office there. The first thing he told me was that he had not even heard of me or my request for information until he received my letter (that must be why the secretary was so nice, he probably got all over her). He told me he knew the person who was supposed to be pulling my file (in SLC) and he called them and asked them to speed things up. However, when he followed up the next day, the person would not return his call, nor would their supervisor. He seemed confused by this and by the fact that it has taken so long to get the information in the first place.
I also expressed my frustrations with getting any information about general LDSFS adoption policies. I told him that the previous director would not answer any of my questions. He seemed open to answering questions and told me I could call anytime with them. I asked him about the possibility of someone at LDSFS acting as a confidential intermediary between my son and me. After all, that would not entail giving out confidential information without the consent of both of us. He didn't even know what a confidential intermediary was! Do they live in a vacumn at LDSFS. Do they not keep up with the current trends in post-adoption services. Even Catholic Charities offers a confidential intermediary service. And he didn't even know what one was! When I explained, he told me he didn't think that would be possible -- not LDSFS policy, and they don't change policy lightly!
Anyway, he asked me if I thought I needed counseling! What a laugh -- like I would get counseling from LDSFS after what I have gone through. Not likely! He was nice and I think I can get some answers to some questions from him. But I don't trust him.
I am going to call him back with a list of questions next week. Since I seem to be having a little better luck than some of you, if you have any general questions you want answered about LDSFS, I'd be happy to ask them for you. Just pm me or email me or put them on this forum and I will include them on my list. I am hopeful as far as getting nonID information. I feel like I have made forward progress. But I don't think I will get more than that from LDSFS. I am now investigating what petioning the courts to unseal the records will involve. If any of you have information about that I would appreciate the help.
Good luck to all of you. I hope to have my nonID soon! If I can help let me know.
Thanks,
Debbie
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