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Teller: Oregon Law Will Not Discourage Adoption

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: We want to continue our discussion now with Delores Teller, she's president of the Oregon Adoptive Rights Association.

Delores, sorry about that audio problem, we're glad to have you back with us.

DELORES TELLER, OREGON ADOPTIVE RIGHTS ASSN.: Thank you.

ALLEN: We're talking about the law in Oregon that allows adoptees to find out who their birth parents are and you're saying that this is a good thing overall, for adoption. But what about down the road? Could this possibly keep some women from making the decision for adoption when they might really want to?

TELLER: Actually it should enhance the decision, because if a birth mother knows that she has the opportunity to know the whereabouts and well-being of her child, it will be more comfortable for her to be able to relinquish to adoption when those circumstances are absolutely mandatory.

ALLEN: You don't think it will mean fewer adoptions?

TELLER: Well, no, not at all, in fact that hasn't proven out any way in the states such as Alaska and Kansas where adoption rates are up.

ALLEN: Do you think that what's going on in Oregon, and I know other states have adopted this law of openness, that this is a trend that's going to be moving across our country?

TELLER: Oh, absolutely, it should begin in every state and eventually the goal of the American Adoption Congress is that every state has open access to birth certificates.

ALLEN: And what would you say, Delores, to some birth mothers out there that are just hearing about this and they went through the whole adoption process thinking it was private; that's how they always felt it would be, who now might be concerned about having a knock on the door and how to handle this type of situation. You've been through this with your son.

TELLER: Yes, well, first of all that's a very small group, but I will be glad to speak to them. Because at one time we were all in the same place, and that is that we were silent and we were ashamed. And so what I would say to them is it's OK to come out now. They no longer have to follow the mandate of silence and shame. There's a lot of support out there, there's a lot of other birth mothers, such as myself, who are here to help them through the process and that there is light at the end of that tunnel.

ALLEN: And as far as the Oregon law goes, a birth mother still has -- can make the decision to stay private, just relinquish all medical records that a child could need. Is that right?

TELLER: Yes, and they always have the right to deny a relationship or a reunion. That's the right they always have that they can make. And I think you will find overwhelming that adoptees will respect that because they're very afraid of upsetting the birth mother.

ALLEN: And as far as reunions of -- I guess, some were reunited with their fathers as well as their birth mothers; overall, do you know, do statistics show what that's like for people? Is it overall a good experience or a negative experience?

TELLER: It has a mixed bag, I mean, there's all types of reunions. Some go very well, some are very close, some are brief and then there isn't much of a relationship after that. It really depends on the dynamics between the two parties and what they actually wish to have. And so we see all different levels of it, it goes through various processes.

ALLEN: Delores Teller, again, thanks to being with us twice today here on CNN TODAY, thank you.

TELLER: Thank you.

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