Contents:

Preface / The Real World /
The Need to Search /
"Non-Identifying" Information /
Into the Labyrinth /
Hire a Detective? Never! /
Breakthrough / Contact / Reunion /
The End Was Only the Beginning /

Appendices:

An Open Letter /
Search Information /
Provincial Information /
Open Records - a Closer Look at Ontario /
A Look Into History
Bibliography

Full Chapter - An Open Letter

Madelene Ferguson Allen is a reunited adoptee and activist in the Adoptee / First Mother's struggle for equal rights of knowledge about their lost families.(More information about background and involvement.)

Reunion is an account of the frustrations, tactics and victories of her seven year search in Canada. An invaluable collection of hints, idea, clues - where to find information, what to do with it, how to organize it and then HOW to draw conclusions from non-identifying information. An insipiring testament to determination.

The Canadian Council of First Mothers

Who is Reunion written for?

Anyone who is involved with the growing question of the rights of those who have lost family through adoption. For those who believe that adoptees have the right of knowledge of their heritage.Adoptees / adoptive parents / social workers / counsellors / birth parents / siblings.

Primarily it is written for people trying to find infomation about their past and figure out what to do with the information once they have it.

WHY did you write it?

I began my search 27 years ago - long before adoptees had come out of the closet. There were few guidelines as to how to start or where to look for information - and HOW to ask for information. I learned so much in the course of my 7 year search in Ontario that I wanted to share this material with other searching adoptees. The basic principles are the same regardless of where you are searching.

WHAT is Reunion About?

Discussion of the history of adoption, growth of secrecy and legislation leading to sealed records.A detailed description of the search process.A 'how-to' for searchers. Outline of the research writing. Growing up adopted.Discussion of leading writers on adopti

WHAT will Reunion tell me?

No book will give all the answers, but Reunion may be used as
* a guide through the process of turning your non-identifying information into facts.
* Preparation for what you may meet -especially those behind hospital & government desks.
* It will give you ideas about HOW to deal with closed minds.
* It will help you to understand the roller coaster of your own mind as you proceed.

WHAT makes Reunion different from other books on searching?

The personal account plays a minor role except as a vehicle to illustrate the examples. Reading letters on newsgroups I am astonished by how much information people have and still can't make the final link.

The information IS there for the knowledgeable searcher. I share my non-identifying information step by step and give detailed information on what I gleaned from it and HOW I arrived at the conclusions which led me to a wonderful REUNION. This is primarily a Canadian book - in as much as my search took place in Ontario and my placement was done through CAS in Toronto. However, the principles of the search would apply anywhere.