Resources for Searching
By Joy Kim Lieberthal
Originally published in TransCultured Magazine Winter 2000-1

A search is both an internal and external process. Here are some suggestions of actions one can take in order to begin an actual search.

Ok, so you have thought about the emotional aspects of searching and asked yourself all of the questions and confronted your internal demons. Now what? Here are some steps you can take in order to make your dream into a reality. They are not in sequential order, but mere suggested steps to help guide you in your journey.

What do you have?
When searching for your past, a good place to start would be to figure out what you already know. Your birth name, date of birth, place of birth, name of orphanage, date of placement, adoption agency, foster parents' names and address, hospital where you were born, adoption case number, any other dates you may have, anything that would provide you access to more information.

Your adoptive parents would be an excellent resource. They may have you adoption papers, photographs or letters. While it is perfectly understandable should you not want to include your adoptive parents in your search, asking for your papers is just another way of getting to know yourself better. Often times, there is a child study that is included and may provide you with some idea of what you were like as a child and something about your personality. Still, keep in mind that you will need a support network as you are going through this process.

American (or European) Adoption Agency
If you are your parents do not have any written records of your adoption, your adoption agency should. Contact your adoption agency and request information from your file. Now, more and more agencies are developing post-adoption programs to respond to these very inquiries by adult adoptees and are prepared to help you with your search, emotionally and logistically. Even if you do have you papers, contacting your agency is still a highly recommended step.

Birth Country Agency
Being that most international adoptions deal with a counterpart in your birth country, write a letter seeking more information - i.e. records, intent to connect with birth family members. There may be papers in their files that neither the American agency nor your parents may have. Also, you may have had birth family already make initial attempts to connect with you. Your American (or European) agency can help you with this as well. In fact, some overseas agencies will not help you unless you have visited your American agency and received a letter from them about your intent to search.

Passive Registries
In case you do not know what a passive registry is, it is a way to register your intention to connect with birth family and for them to contact you. This type of registry, however, only works if both sides have registered, thus making a "match" possible.

The International Soundex Registry is one of the largest and free passive registries available right now to international adoptees.