Pact, An Adoption Alliance

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Can Pact Help Me in My Search For Birth Family Members?

We are a non-profit organization that assists children of color in need of adoption. We do our best to insure that children we help into adoptive families have the opportunity to retain connections with their birth families after placement. Pact advocates for truth and honesty on behalf of all people touched by adoption.

We do not offer search services but are happy to offer you the following resources that may help you on your journey toward reconnecting with your birth relatives.

Getting Personal Assistance: Support Organizations
These groups can help you find a local support group or locate a qualified, reputable search person or help you be part of a registry:
Adoptee Search Center www.adopteesearchcenter.org/index.html
Adoption Registration Site www.RegDay.org/
American Adoption Congress www.american-adoption-cong.org, 202-483-3399
Birth Parents Searching www.geocities.com/HotSprings/4427/birthparents.html
Independent Search Consultants, PO Box 10192, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
International Soundex Reunion Registry, 775-882-7755
Lost & Found List www.members.aol.com/DEITRAHS/index2.html
Search Information (Bastard Nation) www.plumsite.com/shea/
Search Resources www.lbar.com/voices/resources/search.htm

Search Consultants
Pact uses a search consultant in Texas who works with families all over the country, you may contact her directly yourself:
Patricia Martinez Dorner, 210-341-2070, pdorner@email.msn.com

The Do-It-Yourself Route:
It is very important that you understand both the process of how to search and the emotional effects of reunion and reunion attempts. We think the following are good books available and a good place to start.

Adoption Searches Made Easier, Culligan.
Written by a licensed private investigator, this step-by-step guide discusses where to start, laws & rights of the searcher, how to utilize various organizations including government agencies, libraries, and historical societies, as well as a listing of addresses, by region, of these various organizations.
Birthright, Strauss.
This book is filled with stories...direct quotes from birth parents, adopted adults, and adoptive parents who have experienced search and reunion. Guidelines for beginning a search are included.
Courageous Blessing, DeMuth.
Adoptive parents are not usually direct participants in search & reunion but may have strong fears about it. This book explains why adoptees search and how adoptive parents will feel, and offers support.
Adoption Reunions, McColm.
This book covers all phases of the reunion process.

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