At Children’s Service Society of Utah, we understand that adoption is a lifelong journey—and we are honored to support everyone touched by adoption, including adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive families. Whether you're navigating questions about identity, working through grief and loss, or seeking connection, our experienced team is here for you with warmth, respect, and understanding.
Counseling Services
We offer adoption-related counseling to:
- Adoptees of any age
- Birth parents
- Adoptive parents and their families
Counseling is free for birth parents who placed a child through CSS. We also provide contract counseling for individuals involved in private adoptions or adoptions through other agencies. In many cases, therapy for birth parents is covered by the adoptive family, helping ensure continued support after placement.
Counseling topics may include:
- Identity exploration
- Grief and loss
- Open adoption dynamics
- Parenting after adoption
- Family communication
For more information, contact Tara Romney Barber at:
Adoption Support Groups
CSS hosts monthly support groups for adult adoptees, teen adoptees, adoptive parents, and birth parents. These gatherings provide a welcoming space to share experiences, ask questions, and connect with others who understand.
Visit our Support Group page for upcoming dates and details.
The Connections Program: Search & Reunion Services
If you were adopted through CSS or placed a child for adoption with us and would like to explore reconnecting, our Connections Program can help.
We offer:
- A dedicated Connections worker to support and guide you
- Confidential search for birth or adoptive family members
- Facilitated contact and ongoing support
- Assistance with DNA testing and match analysis
Our goal is to make reunions as safe, respectful, and emotionally supported as possible for all involved. A small fee helps cover the time and resources involved in the process.
Contact Becky Davis at
Adoption Records & Information
Non-Identifying Background Information Report
Beginning November 1, 2025, Utah will implement a significant change in adoption law, granting adult adoptees access to their original birth certificates and other adoption-related court records. This change stems from House Bill 129, which passed the Utah Legislature in early 2025. After that date, Adoptees aged 18 and older can access their adoption records unless a birth parent petitions the court to keep them sealed due to potential harm. Contact us to learn more.
Additionally, adoptees aged 18 or older can request a Non-Identifying Background Report from your adoption file. This may include details such as:
- Physical characteristics
- Education and occupations
- Religion and nationality
- Hobbies, interests, and family structure
- Available medical history
Cost: $50 Includes research, report preparation, and a follow-up conversation if needed.
To request a report, submit the Request Form, a copy of your photo ID, and payment. Questions? Contact Becky Davis at
Foster Care Records Request
CSS previously provided foster care services and holds archived records for many of those children. If you—or a deceased relative—were in foster care through CSS, we can check our archives to see if a record exists and request it from State Archives.
Cost: $20 Includes search, copies, mailing, and return of file to archives.
For more information or to request records, contact Becky Davis at
