Family History “Unknown”: Understanding Adopted Individuals’ Needs in the Healthcare Environment

Adoption Advocate No. 167 - For adoptees to be empowered to advocate for their healthcare needs, medical providers must know how to interact in an adoption identity affirming manner and create an environment where patients feel safe discussing their biological history. To accomplish this, adoption professionals and parents should partner with both adoptees and medical providers to find ways to thoughtfully navigate adopted patients’ healthcare needs. This issue of the Adoption Advocate explains how to begin that process.