photo by Erin
“Dear PoPville,
I’m hoping I can poll the community for some valuable advice. I gave birth to my third child last fall, my first in the District. She’s now four months old, and the city has yet to provide me with her birth certificate or forwarded the information to SSA.
My midwife’s team have reached out to vital records numerous times and they haven’t provided any answers. In the meantime, I have no ability to apply my baby for a passport and no SSN to provide on my taxes or her bank account. Since she’s my third, I’m aware that this is completely abnormal and downright negligent of the city. Both of my other kids were born in different states, and I had all documentation within two weeks of their respective births. What gives? Is this normal here, and how have other parents dealt with it? We’re moving soon, and I’m terrified of leaving without any official documentation of her birth.
Thanks in advance from a stressed out new parent!”