PASS of Delmarva, a search and support group based in Salisbury, MD, is going to be very busy this fall. Right on the heels of their Voices of Adoption program, (See http://birthfamily-search.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/voices-in-adoption-event for more information on the Voices of Adoption event) they are planning a search workshop lead by Kate O'Connor, an Annapolis-based searcher who has helped many Maryland and DC-area triad members locate natural family members.

The workshop is scheduled for November 4, 2006 at Salisbury University in Salisbury, MD.

Under duress, O’Connor relinquished a child to adoption as a teenager. She successfully searched for and found her adult daughter in 1987. Now she advocates for adoption reform and she helps other triad members to find their biological relatives.

She cautions searchers that before beginning, "you need to figure out why you want to search, what you can expect to find and how you will deal with your findings." She says that s Search can resurrect all sorts of emotions that you thought were long buried or never knew you had. And there is no guarantee that you will find who or what you are looking for — searchers need to come to terms with that first. Once you know what you want, you can design a search.

The workshop will cover all the search basics, for example organization. Successful searchers are organized. O'Connor advises searchers to keep records of their search activities.

"Without a plan, you will soon be buried under tons of paper. A plan of organization will help you decide what to save and why and how to file it so you can find it again.” Said O’Connor

She advises every searcher to start by taking inventory. What do you know? What can you learn from non-ID information? What public information may assist your search -- prime examples are marriage and divorce records, death certificates, etc. Do you know where to start to get this information? What else can you find out? How will it help you find?

Perhaps the biggest question is "whom can you trust?" O'Connor's rule of thumb is that anyone who asks you for money is not high on her list. And she will discuss the kinds of products that you might find a need to buy and how much you might expect to pay.

PASS of Delmarva is a volunteer, self-help, search and support group. They meet in Salisbury on the fourth Sunday of every month except for August, November and December, usually at the Wicomico County Public Library. In November, they skip their regular meeting to celebrate National Adoption Awareness Month with one or more awareness events. In addition, they have an on-line list serve to provide search support to those who are not able to attend our regular meetings. It also serves to keep members up to date on our activities.

Registration for searchers is $10. Continuing education units are also available through the Seidel School at Salisbury University for an additional $10.

For more information or to find out how to participate in group activities, contact Carol: scott32463@yahoo.com or Ann: wilmer@dmv.com.