When I found a grave, I thought and felt all alone. Although I had a lot of people around me who loved and supported me, and was an active member of an adoption search and support group, there was no one else that I knew who had found a grave.

As time went on and with the evolution of the internet there is more support out there for those who have found a grave or lost a triad member through death. On that I found and am an active member of is called Found and Lost Support. This is a yahoo group mailing list and the link to it is http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/FoundandLostSupport/.

I... more

Back in April of 2006 I wrote a blog about How to Find a Therapist. If you are interested in reading that blog it is at http://birthfamily-search.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/how-to-find-a-therapist. I thought today, I would let you know about the types of help that are available to you.

There are many different professionals who provide mental health services but not all of them may be available in your area. It may help to know the training and credentials... more

When I first began posting on this subject, I intended on only one post. However, there are enough interesting blogs to mention, I decided I needed to do at least one more post on the subject.

6. Search and Reunion by Reunited Dan is another new blog for me. His mother declined contact in November of 2005. I have not read too much yet from his blog, but enough to recommend it. The male viewpoing on reunion is less documented, so I am happy to see him blogging on the subject.

7.... more

Bloggers are everywhere! They write about every subject imaginable including adoption. When time permits, I enjoy hearing from other birth parents and adoptees and their experiences with search and reunion.

Although I did not search, I have spoken to many people who have and it has given me many insights into the subject. Here are some blogs from those who are reunited or searching:

1. Relinquishing, Reunion and Journey to Adopting is a new blog that I just found. I know a few... more

I am not a big fan of state run adoption registries. They often times lack funding, advertising, promotion, funding, and I could go on and on.

Not all states have a reunion registry but below is the states that do and how to contact each.

Arkansas - State Adoption Department at: Department of Human Services, Division of Social Services: Adoption Services, P.O. Box 1437 slot #808, Little Rock, AR 72203. (501) 682-8345

Colorado - Voluntary Adoption Registry, 4210 E. 11th Ave., Denver, CO 80220. (303) 320-8333

Connecticut... more

Ancestry.com regularly posts items on their website that are “in the clear.” In other words, you don’t have to have a subscription to access them. However, these free databases are often difficult to locate, as they are scattered amongst many other databases that are not free. These databases typically don’t stay free, but change as Ancestry’s promotions change.

Now Clear Digital Media, Inc., best known for their http://www.interment.net/ site, has posted a new site entitled FreeOnAncestry.com. It’s a... more

A website that I have come across may be helpful in adoption search. It is www.maidenname.net.

This website was conceived as the owner wondered about the women from his past as he recalled long evenings spent in college and realized he never knew how things turned out for them since many of their names change perhaps for some more than one. The site acknowledges under their FAQ section that they have received thank you notes telling of natural families reunited and family histories traced.

For... more

The documentary Unlocking the Heart of Adoption will screen at the Adoption Connections Training Institute: OneWorld Neighborhood - 3rd International Conference on Post Adoption Services, February 19-21, 2007, at the Hotel Marlowe, Cambridge, Massachusetts. ACTION has begun to establish a network that will exchange ideas, knowledge, models, and resources to provide the best possible services for all members of the extended "Family of Adoption." For information and registration visit: http://www.kinnect.org/training.html#ACTION

The... more

I recently read about an adoptee who applied for her passport and her application was denied. She and her family were planning a vacation out of the country and her and her husband had applied for their passports together. Her husband had received his passport a couple of weeks before she received a letter advising her that her application for a passport was denied because her birth certificate was dated over a year after her birth.

It is my understanding that the folks who issue the passports consider a birth certificate issued more than... more

It's now official! DMC, aka Darryl McDaniels, formerly of the legendary rap group Run DMC, is appearing at the American Adoption Congress Conference this year in Boston. Darryl McDaniels is scheduled to give the keynote speech this year at the conference. I had heard some months back that Darryl might be at the conference and am glad to confirm that he will be there. This year's conference is the 28th annual Conference.... more