 The term “search and
reunion” refers to the efforts of adoptees,
birth parents or their family members to seek
some kind of contact with a blood relative
touched personally by adoption.
An adopted person
may wish to seek contact with a birth mother. A
sibling of an adopted child may wish to seek
contact with an adopted sibling. A birth mother
may wish to seek contact with a child she placed
for adoption.
Search and reunion
efforts usually involve those who were part of
adoption plans which included little, if any,
openness. Current adoption practices involving a
significant level of openness often negate a
need for search and reunion.
Each state has laws
regulating the requirements for search and
reunion. Some are more restrictive than others.
Some state laws give rights to adoptees and
birth parents to do a certain level of
searching.
 Prior
to openness in adoptions becoming the norm in adoption practices, there were
over 500 search support groups in the United States. There are also a few
national search services.
There are several reasons why people decide to
search and there are many emotional and social dynamics involved which can get
fairly complicated. It often requires much sensitivity, diplomacy and cautious
judgment to handle these situations well.
As can be anticipated, searching is viewed from many
perspectives. Some view having information about, and contact with, their birth
families as being a moral right of theirs. Some are open to having contact while
others are hesitant. Some refuse to allow contact while others go overboard and
force themselves on the other party. Some say searches should only occur after
an adopted child reaches a certain age. Some put off searching in fear of
appearing disloyal to their adoptive parents.
Yes, there
are many dynamics involved. AGAPE provides help
and support through this process with those
whose adoptions occurred through our agency.
Counseling prior to embarking on a search is
recommended and can be very helpful. All of this
underscores the value of working with an agency
that will be around for many years to come in
order to be available to help with this process.
This is a very
important topic with much at stake. Because of
this, birth mothers considering adoption would
do well to anticipate their situation and
consider the factors involved as they choose an
agency to work with for an adoption placement.
If you have been
involved in an adoption through Georgia AGAPE
and wish to consider a search, we encourage you
to call us. You have rights given you by law and
we are here to help you as we can. |
