Registry aims to reunite adopted children, parents

The two women sitting at a table in a Salt Lake cafe Saturday discussed their experiences with adoption. Both were adopted as infants, and both have looked for their birth parents.

Valeen Haslem [Haslam - misspelling] and Grace Larsen spent Saturday at Mocha Modem cafe trying to get the word out about the International Soundex Reunion Registry, a multinational database that links birth parents with adopted children. Registry stations were set up at 36 different sites in 12 states and Canada for the second annual International Registration Day Saturday.

''Our main goal is to let people know that the registry is out there and available,'' said Larsen. The database contains thousands of registrants and includes information like birth dates, maiden names, adoptive parents' names, birth hospital and birth names. Computers regularly scan the registry looking for matches.

All information in the database is provided voluntarily, and the registry does not offer other search features. But if birth parents and adopted children are both registered, a match can be made almost immediately.

The registry is a good place for children and parents to start looking, because it's computerized, fast and free, the two said.

The registry [should be Registration Day] was formed about two years ago by an Internet support group for birth mothers who gave their children up for adoption [should be "and an Internet group for adoptees"].

It [talking about ISRR here - the reporter got his wires crossed a little] is funded by donations and staffed by volunteers. Privacy is a big concern, and strict confidentiality is maintained for personal information stored in the database.

The international registry is also available for families separated by war or divorce. Applicants must be 18 or older to submit information.

Haslem and Larsen agreed that when adopted children decide to initiate a search it is almost never a rejection of adopted parents. Children may want to know medical histories, the circumstances involving their birth, or they may just be curious, they said.

''It's not that we're searching for new parents,'' Larsen said. ''We're just looking for our roots.''

Haslem found her birth parents four years ago and has a good relationship with her birth mother. She remains active in the adoption reuniting movement to help others, she said.

''My search and reunion was easy, but some people have searched for years and can't find anything.'' She said she wished the registry was available when she was looking for her birth parents.

Larsen is still looking for her birth parents, and both women agreed that not all reunions turn out to be good experiences. But Larsen said 80 percent to 90 percent are positive.

Haslem and Larsen said they chose Mocha Modem at the Foothill Village Shopping Center for the registration drive because the cafe has several computers with Internet access available for patrons. They spent part of their day showing off adoption-related Web sites.

They also provided lists of adoption support groups, suggested readings about adoption and open records, and distributed information about local adoption laws.

To contact the registry, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to P.O. Box 2312, Carson City, NV 89702 or call (702) 882-7755 during business hours.