3. Cases Opened by Adoptees in Foreign Countries

By signing the form, the adoptee certifies the information is correct and gives his/her consent that the information can be used by the organization to conduct a search for his/her biological family.

2.3 What forms do local adoptees need to fill out?

Local adoptees sign the consent form for sample donation during the interview process authorizing the organization to use the information provided to search for the birth family while the researcher fills out the Intake Form. As mentioned above, the form asks the adoptee to provide personal information, adoption information, memories, and documents.

3. Cases Opened by Adoptees in Foreign Countries

Many adoptees in foreign countries want to learn about their biological families. They generally learn about Pro-Búsqueda's work through friends, media, or the Internet and as a result contact the organization by phone or e-mail. Sometimes the adoptee himself or herself will initiate the inquiry, while in other instances the adoptee's adoptive parents or the adoptee's spouse may make the initial contact.

3.1 How are inquiries from transnational adoptees handled?

As mentioned earlier, it is a difficult and courageous decision for an adoptee to start an investigation in search of his/her birth family. This is an emotional process that requires a lot of support from the investigators. Cases involving transnational adoptees require special attention to cultural differences, language barriers, and disparities in family expectations. For these reasons it is good practice to have multilingual, multicultural, and culturally sensitive staff in the organization, especially for those dealing with transnational adoption cases.

The partnership between HRC and Pro-Búsqueda was partially established to facilitate investigating cases of Salvadoran youth adopted in the United States. Pro-Búsqueda has partnered with other organizations in Italy and Spain to help locate adoptees in those countries. Partnering with local organizations is a good way to ensure that the needs and expectations of transnational adoptees are handled by staff who understand the cultural and socio-economic environment.

For most Salvadoran youth adopted in the United States interested in locating their biological Salvadoran families, HRC is their first point of contact. To best serve transnational adoptees, HRC adheres to the following guidelines below: