We know they’re out there. Biological reality. But birthfathers are the most silent members of the adoption constellation. - Birthfather.com

The network of blogging triad members just keeps growing by leaps and bounds. Dads are beginning to join in the fun too, and I think that is a terrific development. I will credit Judy, aka Nate's Mom for mentioning this new birth dad blog which he calls Rambling B-Dad. This dad is brand new to blogging with his first post on April 6, 2007.... more

The two part blog series I wrote in February talks about the different types of DNA tests that can be utilized in your adoption search. Before you turn to DNA testing to help uncover your natural ancestry you first should probably learn some basics.

Each individual’s physical traits and characteristics are determined from our genes and our chromosomes hold our genetic material and carry genetic information in long strands of DNA called genes. DNA acts... more

Angels are one of my favorite things. I love them for their beauty, and for what they are--guardians. Angels are loving, kind, and show selflessness in their acts. The angels with in the adoption community are referred to as Adoption Search Angels.

An adoption search angel volunteers his or her time to help triad members seek answers in their adoption search. These search angels can help a natural parent locate and old yearbook so that he or she can see the child she placed for adoption. Some search angels will explore registries to help... more

Change comes slowly in adoption, but attitudes about certain issues do eventually take some positive turns. How adoptive parents feel about their children searching is one of those issues where a positive change in direction has definitely occurred over the years.

In the past, not too many adoptive parents seemed to support the idea of their children searching. In fact, I would venture to say that ten to twenty years ago, few adoptive parents would have supported their child's desire to search. Virtually no one supported searches a few decades ago, with... more

According to the Social Security Administration a Social Security Number is composed of three parts totally nine digits. The first three digits is called the area number, the second set of two digits is called the group number and the final set of four digits is the serial number.

The Area Number is assigned by the geographical region. Prior to 1972, cards were issued in local Social Security offices around the country and the Area Number represented the state in which the card was issued. This did not necessarily have to be the state where the applicant... more

When searching the Social Security Death Index in addition to searching by name, you can search b y date of birth and date of death as well as where a person lived and applied for their social security number. This is often times where the office that issued the Social Security number was located. You can also search using the residence at time of death which is the address of record but not necessarily where they lived or died and finally where the burial allowance or death benefit was sent. If the person you are searching for is a retired railroad worker... more

The first Social Security card was issued December 1, 1936 and on January 1, 1937 United States workers began acquiring credit toward old age benefits or retirement. At that time approximately 35 million numbers were assigned to workers who qualified.

One search tool that triad members can utilize in their adoption search is the Social Security Death Index. It is the easiest databases to access and the information obtained from the database can tell you more about the person you are searching for if he or she is deceased or family members of the person... more

One thing that I have learned through my own adoption search and reunion is that although we cannot control those around us, we can control ourselves and how we feel about things. We can choose to let the facts bother and depress us, or we can choose to learn from them and go on. After finding a grave I did it both ways, acknowledging the past and then moving on has worked best for me – no matter how hard it seemed to do at the time or how comfortable it felt hanging on to that pain. Moving on does not mean forgetting or not dealing with it.

Recently,... more

Has searching in the newspaper archives brought you to an obituary? Has the funeral home in the obituary provided you with additional information that helps to confirm for you that you have found your natural mother? Have you contacted a natural family member and confirmed that your natural mother is deceased?

Finding a grave…this can be one of the most difficult things that you have to deal with in our life. You will learn, grow, and heal from the experience.

It seems like I have been reading a lot of stories lately that searches have ended... more

Once you have obtained your non identifying information from the court and/or agency you can use this to try and learn more information about your natural family. Often times the non identifying information will contain the occupation of the person you are looking for.

The CareerOneStop website at http://www.careeronestop.org/CREDENTIALING/CredentialingHome.asp is sponsored by the United States Department of Labor. It is an industry and occupation database... more