Birth Family Search

China Family Search

China Family Search is a resource page for those in the Chinese adoption community interested in birth family searching. It offers information and resources for both the adoptive parent and the adoptee. This source would be a good starting point for Chinese adoptees interested in searching and their parent.

Birth Family Search

Nikwi Hoogland

In an Instagram page in blog-like format, this source offers a personal look at an adoptee’s thoughts and experiences surrounding her identity and reunion experience. This source can apply to and most benefit adoptees who are wondering about an experience like this.

Birth Family Search

A Family in China

An archive of a podcast that discusses the searching journey in multiple perspectives (adoptees, birth parents, & searchers). This source can apply to and most benefit those who are invested in learning more about this topic.

Birth Family Search

ReunionEyes

In blog format, an adoptee writes about her adoption experience and the experience of reuniting with her birth mother. This source has a lot of insight into how the experience has impacted the adoptee and how some people integrate their lives with both their adoptive and birth families.

Birth Family Search

NPR: “I Found My Birth Mother. It Didn’t Rock My Life — And That’s OK”

This is a short narrative story about an adoptee’s experience of meeting her birth mother and her feelings about it. This story can apply to and most benefit adoptees who are wondering about an experience like this. It is important to remember that this short story is not meant to be discouraging but comes from a rather realistic point of view.

Adoptee Groups

CACH-ALL

This is a support group for families and adoptees in the UK who have completed international adoption. They have in-person meetups as well as social media connections.

Literature

Adoption Is a Lifelong Journey

Meet Charlie, an adoptee who opens his heart and shares what’s on his mind through various phases as he grows up in his adoptive home. As the narrator, Charlie invites readers to see the adoption journey from the perspective of a child adoptee. This illustrated book provides insight into emotions and thoughts an adoptee or foster child might encounter while also equipping parents and caregivers with timely responses and resources. While every adoption story is unique, Charlie’s voice brings to light common themes the authors encounter as post-adoption therapists at Boston Post Adoption Resources (BPAR). | The book begins with Charlie settling into his adoptive home and progresses as he grapples with challenges such as building trust, feeling a sense of worth, relating to his beginnings, and establishing his identity. The illustrated portion connects to recommendations for parents: things to think about, tips for conversations, family activities, and additional resources.

Literature

Delly Duck: Why A Little Chick Couldn’t Stay With His Birth Mother

When Delly Duck lays an egg, she is excited for it to hatch. But she doesn’t really know how to keep an egg safe, or how to look after her chick when he hatches. See how a concerned goose tries to help Delly to learn how to care for her chick, in this touching adoption story.

Literature

A Forest of Doors: An Orphan’s Quest

A young child, orphaned by addiction and isolated from her siblings, dreams of reuniting her family after decades of separation. She begins a quest and gains more than she ever dreamed possible along the way. A Forest of Doors is a powerful true story of loss, love, spirituality, coping, and redemption.

Literature

I Wished for You: An Adoption Story for Kids

This story follows a conversation between a little bear named Barley and his Mama as they curl up in their favorite cuddle spot and talk about how God chose them to be a family. Barley asks Mama the kinds of questions many adopted children have, and Mama lovingly answers them all. This book affirms how love is what truly makes a family.