Washington Adoption Reunion Movement
Sunday, July 14, 2013
I've been found - have you?
By Pam Queen
Today, many people are focusing on their genealogy and DNA testing. Hours are spent pouring over websites to find their roots. That’s fortunate for some - but what resources do adoptees and birth parents have? Washington State has closed records. The doors were shut until 1976 when three unrelated people - a King County Superior Court judge, an adoptee, and an adoptive parent gave birth to WARM – Washington Adoption Reunion Movement.
From their discussions, the use of the Confidential Intermediary was added to the process. WARM was also instrumental in founding the AAC – American Adoption Congress, a national group dedicated to adoption and reunion issues.
Since 1976, WARM has reunited approximately 7000 families separated by adoption - a 93% success rate. Our mission is to establish WARM as the primary resource for search, reunion, support and education in the life-long issues surrounding adoption. Our goal is to locate and reunite every adoptee or birth parent who seeks our services. The main criteria is that the adult adoptee be born and/or adopted in Washington State.
My journey to reunion started when I was 6 years old. I knew I was adopted but not until 1977 when I heard about WARM did I have the tools to successfully fulfill my greatest desire/need to find my birth parents. Since 1978 I have been reunited with my birth parents and have enjoyed our many years together. In the mid-90s, both my birth parents were widowed in their respective marriages and they reunited and lived together for 15 years before he died.
In the future, I would like to share some additional true stories but as a taste of our work, please enjoy this reunion story:
In one day the Intermediary found the birth mother and one sibling deceased but located three other adult living siblings. One of the three told the intermediary that when he was 10 he saw the relinquishment form on the dining room table. Ever since then the siblings knew they had a sister SOMEWHERE. Consent form was mailed and soon these siblings will be together again.
Please contact WARM – Washington Adoption Reunion Movement for your reunion, 206-767-9510.
Shoreline resident Pam Queen has been a member of WARM since 1977 and is currently the President and Treasurer.
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3 comments:
Thanks to WARM, I am currently in the process of reuniting with my biological father. This is a scary and exciting adventure I'm starting on. Is there any advice that you can give me?
Great subject and a touchy one also. You never know if getting what you want will be a blessing or a curse, so is life.
From Pam, to Veronica:
My guess is your emotions are somewhere between scared spitless and no big deal, he is my birth father and we are genetically connected. One of the many WARM attributes is the intermediary system which provides an avenue to lead the way into the first conversation between a birth parent and an adoptee. Make use of the introduction letter approach so he has some basic information about you ahead of the conversation. The intermediary (I know her and she can provide some direction) usually also obtains a letter from the birth parent to forward to you. Collect your thoughts ahead of the first conversation. Makes notes if that format works for you, then jump in, the water is fine.
All contacts are unique because you two are unique, just like DNA.
We eagerly look forward to hearing your news, or email me through the regular WARM office email address. Everything will work out.
Pam
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