Pre-Search Preparation and Statistics on Searching

One of the best ways to prepare yourself before putting your search into action is to be prepared for all outcomes. Talk to other adoptees and
birthparents that are considering searching; are in the process of searching; or have completed their searches. It's always good advice not
to share your search journey with anyone who is not supportive of your search. Join on-line chat rooms at:
http://chat.adoption.com/.

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Contact face-to-face support groups in your area to gain knowledge about the search process. Read relinquishment, adoption, search and reunion books about the experiences of other members of the adoption community such as adoptees, birth relatives, adoptive relatives and therapists who specialize in counseling and research in these issues. Some interesting articles can be read at:
http://www.adoptionlibrary.com.

An excellent "Preparation Before Contact" article by Amy Bredes, birthmother can be found on this link:
http://www.genealogytoday.com/articles/prep.html.

Statistics on Searching

In a study of American adolescents, the Search Institute found that 72 percent of adopted adolescents wanted to know why they were adopted, 65 percent wanted to meet their birth parents, and 94 percent wanted to know which birth parent they looked like. (American Adoption Congress, 1996)

The psychological literature has established that the desire of 60 to 90 percent of adoptees wanting to obtain identifying information regarding their biological parents is a normative aspect of being adopted. (American Adoption Congress, 1996)
http://statistics.adoption.com/information/adoption-statistics-birth-family-search.html