Search and Support Programs
Updated February 6, 2003
National Organizations and/or Registries
Other Search-Related Web Links
Michigan Search and Support Resources
State and National Organizations and/or Registries
Adoption Triad Outreach (ATO) - "Adoption Triad Outreach, Inc., also known as ATO, serves those who are seeking information, healing, support, and truth in their adoption experiences."
American Adoption Congress - "The American Adoption Congress is composed of individuals, families and organizations committed to adoption reform. We represent all those whose lives are touched by adoption. Through education and advocacy, we promote honesty, openness and respect for family connections in adoption, foster care and assisted reproduction.
Bastard Nation (BN) - Bastard Nation advocates for the civil and human rights of adult citizens who were adopted as children.
Coalition for Adoption Registry Ethics (CARE) - To provide an environment for the online search community free from exploitation by setting a standard of ethics for online reunion registries.
Concerned United Birthparents (CUB) - "CUB is a national organization serving those touched by adoption and others who are concerned about adoption issues. Although our focus is on birthparents, long the forgotten people of the adoption community, we welcome adoptees, adoptive parents, and professionals. We find that we all have much to learn from each other and that sharing our feelings and experiences benefits all of us."
International Soundex Reunion Registry (ISSR) - "The International Soundex Reunion Registry is a non-profit, tax exempt, humanitarian agency founded in 1975 by Emma May Vilardi. ISRR is a mutual consent reunion registry for persons desiring a reunion with next-of-kin. This agency serves the needs of family members who have been separated from each other by adoption, divorce, foster care institutional care, abandonment, etc. ISRR is not affiliated with any other registry or organization. "
Safe Online Adoption Registries (SOAR) - "Among our sites you will find useful and helpful information regarding the state you are searching, links to databases that are FREE and a web ring of registries who have dedicated themselves to protecting their registrants from unsolicited searchers and scam artists who prey on the emotional conflicts of those triad members in search.
Other Search-Related Web Links
Adoption: A Gathering - "Birthfamilies, adoptees, adoptive families. Fear, hope, shame, pride. For so long, we've pushed adoption into the shadows. We've whispered about it, lied about it, and pretended it didn't exist. Recently, we've brought adoption out into the open with activists and talk shows, open records and open adoptions. Adoption is becoming increasingly visible, and our sense of community is building. We're talking to each other. We're sharing our stories. adoption: a gathering is a space where our conversation can grow and deepen. It's also a space where we, the adoption community, can create new ways to think about adoption, to talk about adoption, and to define adoption. This is the place for breaking down barriers within ourselves and within our community."
Michigan Search and Support Resources
(with special thanks to About.com)
Adoption
Identity Movement of Michigan, Inc. - Support group for those searching
in Michigan. $30 annual membership.
Child and Family Service of MI, Inc. - "Child and Family Services of Michigan, Inc., is a private, non-profit, statewide, non-sectarian social service organization and houses one of the countries largest collections of adoption records. We believe adoption is a life-long process of creating families and providing services throughout the life cycle of the adoption triad."
Kerrylynn's Michigan Search Sites - An extensive listing of search resources and guidelines.
Michigan Adoption Information Page - State legislative information, office addresses and phone numbers, overview of statutes.
Michigan County Courthouses - Listed alphabetically by county, with mailing addresses and phone numbers.
Michigan Family Independence Agency
Michigan Search and Support Groups - Includes searchers and researchers.
Michigan Search Angels - Search Angels are volunteers who offer their time and talents free of charge to help others in adoption-related searches for birth family members.
Michigan Vital Records Information - How to obtain vital records in Michigan (birth, death, marriage, divorce) including fees, dates, addresses, etc.
Search in Michigan Mail List - Support, search tips, and community for those searching in the state.