Adoption Reunion Registries
Reunion registers are files indexed by name and other identifying information, such as the child's date of birth, hospital where born, and physical description. Many search and support groups maintain a registry of their members and/or belong to a national registry. Those registries are listed with the organizations to which they belong. Your search will be conducted by entering the data you provide into a database and attempting a match-up with like information. For this search to be successful, both parties must be registered and actively searching. More then half of the states in the USA now maintain their own reunion registry. Some states place restrictions on the release of information, including psychological counseling or consent from the adoptive parent - regardless of the age of the "child." Other states are not nearly so restrictive. Check with your state officials to see whether you want to pursue this course of action. If you were adopted as an infant, your best source for information will be your adopted family. If you announce that you intend to go ahead with your search, family members may react in different ways. They may be cold to the decision, in which case, information might not be all that easily forthcoming. On the other hand, loved ones may support your decision and readily volunteer details of your birth and adoption. Your decision to take on this search could affect the emotional well- being of family members. Your parents may feel insecure in their position and fearful of being replaced in your life. Some adoptee do not inform their adopted parents of their intention to search for birth parents because they do not want to cause them pain. If you do inform them of your intentions, it is important to reassure them that your need to know your genealogical history does not in any way threaten your relationship or the love you have for them. Question family members carefully about anybody who was involved with your adoption. Ask them to try to recall anything they can about your birth parents. They may know their names. If you were a young child at the time of the adoption, you may have some recollections about your birth parents. |
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