Domestic Adoption — Search

What is involved in the search process?

The first step to initiating a search is to either:

1. complete the Request Assistance form. Once received, a social worker will contact you to discuss your interest.
   OR
2. directly contact our PASE Social Worker listed below.

The social worker will speak with you about your request and ask for the following information:

• For adopted persons — your name, date of birth, and parents' names at the time they adopted you
• For adoptive parents of minor — your name (and spouse's name) at the time of the adoption, your child's name given by you, and your child's date of birth
• For birth parents — your name at the time of the placement, your child's birth name and date of birth

Before releasing any information to you, you will be required to send us a copy of your driver's license or birth certificate by mail, fax, or in person confirming your identification. The social worker will speak with you about your interest in locating your birth child or birth parents. She will ask several questions to be sure that you are ready to begin this journey. If the social worker feels that more thought is needed before beginning a search, she may suggest some counseling to help you prepare for this journey.

Reunions between birth parents and birth children can be richly rewarding and meaningful, but this is often a long journey with many ups and downs.

It is important to understand from the start that you may not have success in locating the person you hope to find. Addresses and other contact information change over time. It is also important to understand that even if you are able to locate the individual, he or she may not be ready to have contact with you. Each individual's readiness for reunion depends on many factors. In addition, if you do exchange information or have a meeting, you may find that the person you seek is very different from what you imagined. In order for your reunion to be successful, it is very important to be emotionally prepared. In order to help you prepare for your journey, one of our PASE social workers will speak with you about your hopes, dreams, and motivations.

Review of your file

After speaking with you, the social worker will review your file. Some files may include a letter giving permission to release identifying information. Sometimes birth parents will leave a letter in the child's file stating that they would like contact in the future. On occasion, an adoptive parent or adopted person may have done the same.

Obtaining permission

Wide Horizons will attempt to contact the birth parent, adoptive parent, or adopted person using the last known address or telephone number in the file. We are aware that some birth parents may not have told current family members about the adoption, so we are careful not to identify ourselves as an adoption agency.

How long will the search take?

It is very difficult to say how long this process can take. If we make contact right away using a last known address or telephone number in the file, the search may be very quick. On the other hand, if we are not able to get a response, or we are given different leads to pursue, this can take some time. Time frames will depend a lot on the particular case.

If we can locate your birth child or birth parent

If we are able to locate the person you are seeking and they want contact with you, we will need their permission in writing to release their contact information to you. Similarly, we will need your permission to release contact information to them.

If the person you are seeking does not want contact, we will inform you right away. If a birthparent is seeking contact with a birth child under the age of 21, the permission of the adoptive parent is required.

You will have a number of options regarding your first contact. Wide Horizons recommends a gradual course of contact:

1. Write letters to introduce yourself
2. Exchange pictures
3. Share email
4. Speak by telephone
5. Have a face to face meeting

For some, this process may be slow and gradual. For others, a face to face meeting cannot come soon enough. There is no absolute right or wrong way to make contact with a birth parent or birth child. This is a very personal journey and the two parties will create what works for them

If we cannot locate your birth child or birth parent

It is not unusual that the person you are looking for has moved. Often we cannot find a forwarding address or telephone number. If we are unable to locate the person you seek, we will give you the names of registries and other resources so that you can continue your search on your own. Registries are often free, but there are usually fees involved in locating an individual. How much you want to spend or how much time and energy you will want to put into this pursuit is a personal and sometimes financial decision.

If you have located your birth child or birth parent on your own, but want help making contact

On occasion, Wide Horizons is asked to make a first contact for a birth parent or adopted person. Often this first contact can feel "scary" and raise deep feelings of rejection. If you have located the person you seek, we would be happy to make the initial call or send a letter on your behalf.

Fees

Wide Horizons For Children does not charge fees for a file search and release of non-identifying information. Instead, you may consider making a donation to one of our humanitarian aid funds.

Counseling and Support

Your Wide Horizons social worker will offer support and information to help you initiate your search. For some, this process is highly emotional and may raise feelings of fear, rejection, anger, worry, or other difficult emotions. Taking the time to discuss your desire to search with a counselor can be very helpful. Your WHFC social worker can help you locate a nearby counselor or other resources for support.

Additional Information

If you would like to speak with a Post Adoption Counselor, or need additional information, please contact:

Pat Hoopes, MSW, LICSW
phoopes@whfc.org
781.419.0378

NOTE: All requests for search assistance must be made in writing. Permission to release identifying information is required in writing from all relevant parties. Wide Horizons For Children adheres to Massachusetts General Law c.210 section 5D governing the release of adoption information. More information is available at www.mass.gov.