Prison Adoptee
@prisonadoptee.bsky.social
I was born to an incarcerated mother. Many adoptees like me—especially those whose mothers were labeled 'juvenile delinquents'—remain unaware of their carceral birth because youth protection laws prevent disclosure.
https://andrewmercerreformatory.org/
https://andrewmercerreformatory.org/
Pinned
Prison Adoptee
@prisonadoptee.bsky.social
· Nov 21
‘Keeping Mum’: A Historical Examination of the Andrew Mercer Reformatory and its Contemporary Legacy Through a Framework of Motherhood
qspace.library.queensu.ca/items/82ec50...
qspace.library.queensu.ca/items/82ec50...
🥚In Ont, hidden behind the disclosure of adoption records—sealed under the guise CYFSA and the YCJA protections—are scores of mothers criminalized as “juvenile delinquents,” as well as wards of the Children’s Aid Society, many of whom were literally incarcerated in maternity homes. What did I miss?
December 30, 2025 at 9:20 PM
🥚In Ont, hidden behind the disclosure of adoption records—sealed under the guise CYFSA and the YCJA protections—are scores of mothers criminalized as “juvenile delinquents,” as well as wards of the Children’s Aid Society, many of whom were literally incarcerated in maternity homes. What did I miss?
Read the whole paper if you can bare it.
"The free-born infant is worth more than the slave child, because we may reckon upon its mental and moral capabilities as well."
archive.org/details/proc...
"The free-born infant is worth more than the slave child, because we may reckon upon its mental and moral capabilities as well."
archive.org/details/proc...
December 29, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Read the whole paper if you can bare it.
"The free-born infant is worth more than the slave child, because we may reckon upon its mental and moral capabilities as well."
archive.org/details/proc...
"The free-born infant is worth more than the slave child, because we may reckon upon its mental and moral capabilities as well."
archive.org/details/proc...
🥚Kelso in 1897, "We have in Ontario the same system that they have in Minnesota, except that we haven’t got the institution, but we are introducing the system there." It gets worse once I realized that Kelso's buddy was H. H. Hart, a leading figure in the United States child-saving movement.
December 29, 2025 at 9:36 PM
🥚Kelso in 1897, "We have in Ontario the same system that they have in Minnesota, except that we haven’t got the institution, but we are introducing the system there." It gets worse once I realized that Kelso's buddy was H. H. Hart, a leading figure in the United States child-saving movement.
I’m not very good at constructing a family tree, particularly because many of the records are in French. But if I did it correctly, this would be my ancestor, suggesting Acadian ancestry supported by both records and DNA.
#AcadianExpulsion
#AcadianExpulsion
December 28, 2025 at 11:05 PM
I’m not very good at constructing a family tree, particularly because many of the records are in French. But if I did it correctly, this would be my ancestor, suggesting Acadian ancestry supported by both records and DNA.
#AcadianExpulsion
#AcadianExpulsion
🥚Am I the only adoptee who eagerly anticipates Ancestry updates? For many adoptees, genetic genealogy has become a critical supplement to incomplete or obscured records.
December 28, 2025 at 10:57 PM
🥚Am I the only adoptee who eagerly anticipates Ancestry updates? For many adoptees, genetic genealogy has become a critical supplement to incomplete or obscured records.
🥚Do your adoption records reflect the circumstances of your birth?
At Mercer Reformatory, incarcerated mothers were transferred to Toronto General Hospital; elsewhere, to maternity homes. If carceral origins were obscured, what else was erased from the record?
At Mercer Reformatory, incarcerated mothers were transferred to Toronto General Hospital; elsewhere, to maternity homes. If carceral origins were obscured, what else was erased from the record?
December 28, 2025 at 5:35 PM
🥚Do your adoption records reflect the circumstances of your birth?
At Mercer Reformatory, incarcerated mothers were transferred to Toronto General Hospital; elsewhere, to maternity homes. If carceral origins were obscured, what else was erased from the record?
At Mercer Reformatory, incarcerated mothers were transferred to Toronto General Hospital; elsewhere, to maternity homes. If carceral origins were obscured, what else was erased from the record?
🥚“They were informed that babies were shipped out of the State when only a few hours old and their mothers were hired out to nurse the infants of the wealthy.”
Source: "Are Sold Before Birth," The Times-Democrat, Apr 19, 1913, 13.
Source: "Are Sold Before Birth," The Times-Democrat, Apr 19, 1913, 13.
December 28, 2025 at 2:39 PM
🥚“They were informed that babies were shipped out of the State when only a few hours old and their mothers were hired out to nurse the infants of the wealthy.”
Source: "Are Sold Before Birth," The Times-Democrat, Apr 19, 1913, 13.
Source: "Are Sold Before Birth," The Times-Democrat, Apr 19, 1913, 13.
🥚In a 1909 publication called Canadian bookman : a monthly review of contemporary literature devoted to the interests of Canadian book buyers, J. J. Kelso promotes a book, called "Your Boy ; His Nature and Nurture," Can anyone find this book for me by George A. Dickinson.
December 27, 2025 at 7:06 PM
🥚In a 1909 publication called Canadian bookman : a monthly review of contemporary literature devoted to the interests of Canadian book buyers, J. J. Kelso promotes a book, called "Your Boy ; His Nature and Nurture," Can anyone find this book for me by George A. Dickinson.
🥚1/4
Around the world, countries are confronting and exposing historical abuses and human trafficking carried out through adoption systems. Yet in Canada, there has been no national inquiry into adoption practices.
Around the world, countries are confronting and exposing historical abuses and human trafficking carried out through adoption systems. Yet in Canada, there has been no national inquiry into adoption practices.
December 26, 2025 at 4:32 PM
🥚1/4
Around the world, countries are confronting and exposing historical abuses and human trafficking carried out through adoption systems. Yet in Canada, there has been no national inquiry into adoption practices.
Around the world, countries are confronting and exposing historical abuses and human trafficking carried out through adoption systems. Yet in Canada, there has been no national inquiry into adoption practices.
Reposted by Prison Adoptee
We deserve answers. Our parents deserve to know that this was not their failure, but a deliberate campaign to fracture our families. #sixtiesscoop 🥚
sookenewsmirror.com/2025/12/22/s...
sookenewsmirror.com/2025/12/22/s...
December 22, 2025 at 4:12 PM
We deserve answers. Our parents deserve to know that this was not their failure, but a deliberate campaign to fracture our families. #sixtiesscoop 🥚
sookenewsmirror.com/2025/12/22/s...
sookenewsmirror.com/2025/12/22/s...
🥚Men advancing “child-saving” ideology that shaped modern adoption. This drawing shows some attendees of the 24th Annual National Conference of Charities and Correction—held in Canada for the first time in 1897 at J. J. Kelso’s invitation. Recognize anyone?
1/2
1/2
December 20, 2025 at 5:29 PM
🥚Men advancing “child-saving” ideology that shaped modern adoption. This drawing shows some attendees of the 24th Annual National Conference of Charities and Correction—held in Canada for the first time in 1897 at J. J. Kelso’s invitation. Recognize anyone?
1/2
1/2
🥚
Most AFCT survivors are misdiagnosed or never diagnosed properly with CPTSD and never understand themselves or get the proper treatment they need before these terrible stats come to be.
www.amazon.com/dp/B0G5DFHV1...
Most AFCT survivors are misdiagnosed or never diagnosed properly with CPTSD and never understand themselves or get the proper treatment they need before these terrible stats come to be.
www.amazon.com/dp/B0G5DFHV1...
Adoption Evolution: Call to Action for Adoption Literate Mental Health in the 21st Century
Adoption Evolution: Call to Action for Adoption Literate Mental Health in the 21st Century [Cronyn, Dr Maria] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Adoption Evolution: Call to Action for Adoption Literate Mental Health in the 21st Century
www.amazon.com
December 12, 2025 at 8:51 PM
🥚
Most AFCT survivors are misdiagnosed or never diagnosed properly with CPTSD and never understand themselves or get the proper treatment they need before these terrible stats come to be.
www.amazon.com/dp/B0G5DFHV1...
Most AFCT survivors are misdiagnosed or never diagnosed properly with CPTSD and never understand themselves or get the proper treatment they need before these terrible stats come to be.
www.amazon.com/dp/B0G5DFHV1...
Reposted by Prison Adoptee
Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering a bill that would stop parental incarceration from being used as the sole reason to terminate parental rights.
When punishment extends to children, the harm doesn’t end at sentencing.
#adopteesky
When punishment extends to children, the harm doesn’t end at sentencing.
#adopteesky
December 12, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering a bill that would stop parental incarceration from being used as the sole reason to terminate parental rights.
When punishment extends to children, the harm doesn’t end at sentencing.
#adopteesky
When punishment extends to children, the harm doesn’t end at sentencing.
#adopteesky
Eugenic Ideas and Influences 𝗡𝗼𝘁 a Thing of the Past
Historian and author C. Elizabeth Koester discusses the lasting ideas and influences behind eugenic theory and their importance today.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1Vb...
Historian and author C. Elizabeth Koester discusses the lasting ideas and influences behind eugenic theory and their importance today.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1Vb...
Eugenic Ideas and Influences Not a Thing of the Past
YouTube video by Canada Region Anti-eugenic Scholarship Hub
www.youtube.com
December 10, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Eugenic Ideas and Influences 𝗡𝗼𝘁 a Thing of the Past
Historian and author C. Elizabeth Koester discusses the lasting ideas and influences behind eugenic theory and their importance today.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1Vb...
Historian and author C. Elizabeth Koester discusses the lasting ideas and influences behind eugenic theory and their importance today.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1Vb...
Reposted by Prison Adoptee
A new national study confirms what adoptees have said for decades: medical care isn’t neutral for us.
#adopteesky
#adopteesky
December 3, 2025 at 3:01 PM
A new national study confirms what adoptees have said for decades: medical care isn’t neutral for us.
#adopteesky
#adopteesky
🥚If you’re an adoptee and your mother was a ward of a Children’s Aid Society, this won’t show in your records. Same if she was a "juvenile delinquent" or a ward of an Industrial/Training School—all of which means she was effectively incarcerated.
Why did admissions to maternity homes decline?👇1/2
Why did admissions to maternity homes decline?👇1/2
November 26, 2025 at 9:21 PM
🥚If you’re an adoptee and your mother was a ward of a Children’s Aid Society, this won’t show in your records. Same if she was a "juvenile delinquent" or a ward of an Industrial/Training School—all of which means she was effectively incarcerated.
Why did admissions to maternity homes decline?👇1/2
Why did admissions to maternity homes decline?👇1/2
JFMR Statement Regarding a Significant Error in Testimony Documentary
🥚
jfmresearch.com/testimony/jf...
🥚
jfmresearch.com/testimony/jf...
November 26, 2025 at 7:56 PM
JFMR Statement Regarding a Significant Error in Testimony Documentary
🥚
jfmresearch.com/testimony/jf...
🥚
jfmresearch.com/testimony/jf...
🥚The Manitoba Métis Federation is suing the provincial and federal governments after the Red River Métis were largely excluded from a class action settlement for Sixties Scoop survivors.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Manitoba, Canada took part in 'intentional destruction' of Red River Métis culture via Sixties Scoop: lawsuit | CBC News
The Manitoba Métis Federation is suing the provincial and federal governments after the Red River Métis were largely excluded from a class action settlement for Sixties Scoop survivors.
www.cbc.ca
November 26, 2025 at 7:25 PM
🥚The Manitoba Métis Federation is suing the provincial and federal governments after the Red River Métis were largely excluded from a class action settlement for Sixties Scoop survivors.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
🥚Riveting NPE journey that began with an at-home DNA test and unfolded into the discovery that his father was not his genetic father.
@1:00:08 Wenzel states:
“you’re a health care professional and you are knowingly and wilfully documenting false information”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8qv...
@1:00:08 Wenzel states:
“you’re a health care professional and you are knowingly and wilfully documenting false information”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8qv...
Episode 09 | Dr.Richard Wenzel
YouTube video by Kristal Parke
www.youtube.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:24 PM
🥚Riveting NPE journey that began with an at-home DNA test and unfolded into the discovery that his father was not his genetic father.
@1:00:08 Wenzel states:
“you’re a health care professional and you are knowingly and wilfully documenting false information”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8qv...
@1:00:08 Wenzel states:
“you’re a health care professional and you are knowingly and wilfully documenting false information”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8qv...
Testimony
JFMR Statement: Testimony Documentary to be released in Irish and UK Cinemas
More info here: jfmresearch.com/testimony/
🥚
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5_A...
JFMR Statement: Testimony Documentary to be released in Irish and UK Cinemas
More info here: jfmresearch.com/testimony/
🥚
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5_A...
Testimony Trailer Digital - Updated
YouTube video by Rocliffe Productions
www.youtube.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Testimony
JFMR Statement: Testimony Documentary to be released in Irish and UK Cinemas
More info here: jfmresearch.com/testimony/
🥚
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5_A...
JFMR Statement: Testimony Documentary to be released in Irish and UK Cinemas
More info here: jfmresearch.com/testimony/
🥚
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5_A...
🥚The Privilege of Not Being Adopted: Survival, Trauma, and the Closed Circuit of Ego Unconsciousness
“Why Non-Adoptees Are Ignoring Adoptee Trauma – And It’s Hurting Everyone”
Source: medium.com/thoughtless-...
“Why Non-Adoptees Are Ignoring Adoptee Trauma – And It’s Hurting Everyone”
Source: medium.com/thoughtless-...
November 19, 2025 at 11:43 PM
🥚The Privilege of Not Being Adopted: Survival, Trauma, and the Closed Circuit of Ego Unconsciousness
“Why Non-Adoptees Are Ignoring Adoptee Trauma – And It’s Hurting Everyone”
Source: medium.com/thoughtless-...
“Why Non-Adoptees Are Ignoring Adoptee Trauma – And It’s Hurting Everyone”
Source: medium.com/thoughtless-...
🥚Report covers “Acquiring children from adults in institutional care.” Canada tracked some adoptions from “unwed mothers,” but not those involving forcibly institutionalized parents (including juveniles) or unmarried parents more broadly—very different categories.
The English version of the Korean Truth and Reconciliation Committee's report on illegal practices concerning the adoptions of 200,000 children is out now. When it was released in Seoul on the 26th of March of this year it became world news
swedishkoreanadopteesnetwork.wordpress.com/wp-content/u...
swedishkoreanadopteesnetwork.wordpress.com/wp-content/u...
November 19, 2025 at 5:54 PM
🥚Report covers “Acquiring children from adults in institutional care.” Canada tracked some adoptions from “unwed mothers,” but not those involving forcibly institutionalized parents (including juveniles) or unmarried parents more broadly—very different categories.
Reposted by Prison Adoptee
it’s been a while since I mentioned that i created a feed for posts by people who are adopted/trafficked/purchased out of their original families. please consider adding it. And if you would like to post to it, please let me know in a reply. 🥚
November 16, 2025 at 8:33 PM
it’s been a while since I mentioned that i created a feed for posts by people who are adopted/trafficked/purchased out of their original families. please consider adding it. And if you would like to post to it, please let me know in a reply. 🥚
🥚Adoptees of incarcerated moms exist—but no one’s paying attention. No research. No tracking. Just silence.
#Adoptees are diagnosed at higher rates with ADHD due to interaction of genes with environmental stressors such as systemic inequities and trauma related to adoption.
A little sciencey but I was geeking out on the research.
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-...
A little sciencey but I was geeking out on the research.
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-...
Why Adoptees Have Higher Rates of ADHD
Adoptees’ higher ADHD rates reflect genetic, prenatal, and social factors, highlighting the need for trauma-informed, adoption-competent care and systemic equity.
www.psychologytoday.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:59 PM
🥚Adoptees of incarcerated moms exist—but no one’s paying attention. No research. No tracking. Just silence.