ASRC in the News
Colorado adoption records, open at last, spell complex family reunion - 8/8/15
Attorney Shayne Madsen began her life as an "inmate" of the State Home for Dependent and Neglected Children. She grew up to become a key factor in winning the battle for adult adoptee access to records in Colorado. By Alex Burness, Boulder Daily Camera.
Colorado Court Pulls Curtain Back on Adoption Records
By Karen Auge, Denver Post
When Patricia Dukeman started trying to find her biological parents, Ronald Reagan lived in the White House, Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” was record of the year, and the Supreme Court decided it was OK for us to use those new VCR things to tape TV shows.
In the 25 years since, Dukeman, 48, has spent a lot of money and learned a lot about Colorado adoption laws.
February 17, 2019
Baby Safe Haven laws -- What we do and don't know after 20 years.
In this Colorado Sun op-ed piece, ASRC President Richard Uhrlaub writes that though well intentioned, anonymous drop-off measures fail to consider the crucial details of adoption -- and we don't know if they actually save lives
From orphan trains to DNA: As adoption evolves, many paradoxes remain - 11/25/2018
In this op-ed piece published in the Colorado Sun, ASRC president Rich Uhrlaub takes a look at seemingly contradictory elements of modern adoption and points out three issues that lawmakers inside and outside of Colorado need to address.
Neal Cassady's Denver Legacy Includes a Secret Son, Robert Hyatt - 2/7/17
Westword's Gregory Daurer reports that Denver adoptee Robert Hyatt was born in 1945, when his 19-year-old birth father, Neal Cassady (the inspiration for Dean Moriarty in Jack Kerouac's On the Road) was incarcerated in Buena Vista. Hyatt has written a memoir, Beat Bastard, which debuted at the Mercury Cafe's annual Birthday Bash for Cassady.
After decades, CO adoptees can see birth records - 1/3/16 USA Today/9News
DENVER - Most of us can't imagine not knowing where we came from, or not having access to something as seemingly simple as a birth certificate. But for tens of thousands of adopted Coloradans, that document had been sealed for 40 years. Until now.
As of Jan. 1, 2016, all birth certificates regardless of when the adoption took place are available. Because of the holiday, this means people interested in obtaining their original birth certificates will be able to apply starting Monday.
Landmark adoption ruling bittersweet victory for Falcon man - 7/31/09
by John C. Ensslin, Colorado Springs Gazette
On the day Jeffrey Hannasch’s daughter was born, a nurse came to him with a long questionnaire on his family’s medical history.
“I won’t waste any time or any trees,” he said, handing her back the paperwork. “I’m an adoptee.”
“Oh, you’re one of those,” the nurse said.
One of those.
Encounters like that hospital conversation six years ago have always left Hannasch, who lives in Falcon northeast of Colorado Springs, wondering about his origins.
Two years ago, he set out to do something about it. He went in search of his birth parents. His search produced more than he expected.