2. Cases Opened by Adoptees in the Local Country

associated with more than one E#### number. An interview code can include the narration on the disappearance of a child by two or more family members who may have been interviewed simultaneously on the circumstances of the loss of the child. However, subsequent interviews of additional family members on the loss of the same child are included under the same initial E#### originally assigned.

2. Cases Opened by Adoptees in the Local Country

During the war children were also adopted by Salvadoran families, many associated with the military. Several youths have approached Pro-Búsqueda inquiring about their biological families.

2.1 How are inquiries from local adoptees handled?

Given that the adoptee is taking the initiative to establish contact with his/her biological family, a process that is difficult and emotional, it is vital that the organization responds in a way that is welcoming and reassuring. Adoptees are made aware by their adoptive families of their adoption, or have inquired about this possibility, given that they do not share similar physical traits. Therefore, DNA testing to prove that they are indeed adoptees and not the biological children of the adoptive parents is not required. To best serve adoptees, Pro-Búsqueda adheres to the following guidelines:

INQUIRY GUIDELINES

Communicating with the Adoptee or Family

1. Thank the adoptee or adoptive family for contacting Pro-Búsqueda and praise them for their interest in searching for his/her biological family.

2. Clearly explain the process to search for a birth family. Describe how the investigation is conducted, the role of DNA, and the possible outcomes for a case.

3. For adoptees or adoptive families outside of El Salvador, provide the Intake Form and describe what it entails (APPENDIX 1, A-1.2: Intake Form for Transnational Adoptees and Adoptive Family Members). For families and persons found in El Salvador, the investigator conducts interviews with them (APPENDIX 1, A-1.1).

4. Offer the adoptee or family further assistance and let them know you are there to answer questions, provide resources, and support them.

Documentation and Investigation

1. . Check the Interview Database to make sure the case has not been registered already. If it is not, record the adoptee or family ’ s information with the appropriate date. There is another database of cases proper which is maintained by the researchers in the Investigation Unit. (For a more complete description of all the databases involved in Pro-Búsqueda's work, see Figure 1 and Chapter V, Databases and Recordkeeping).

2. Initiate an investigation. Start by contacting witnesses and accessing public records, including birth certificates, adoption papers, and court records.

3. Keep the adoptee or family informed about the progress and the information collected.

FIGURE 1. DATABASES MAINTAINED FOR SEARCH AND IDENTIFICATION OF MISSING CHILDREN/ADULTS

2.2 What information is collected from adoptees in the local country?

To initiate an investigation the researchers conduct the interview and enter the information on an Intake Form to gather as much information as possible. A similar Intake Form is used for transnational adoptees (APPENDIX 1, A-1.2). In that case the adoptee is asked to fill out the interview himself or herself, and additional information might be entered subsequently by the researcher by means of phone interviews.

The interview Intake Form gathers the following:

Personal information: Name and surname, contact information (address, telephone, e-mail), date and place of birth if known, distinguishing physical marks acquired before adoption (scars, birthmarks, moles, illness), biological name if known, and name(s) of biological parent(s) name if known.

Adoption information: Date of adoption, name of lawyer or notary in charge of the adoption, name and address of orphanage (if adoptee spent time in an orphanage prior to adoption), and adoption agency or other institution involved in the adoption.

Memories: Any memories of the adoptee ’ s life in the country before the adoption.

Documents: Photographs of adoptee as a child as well as present-day, adoption papers, and birth certificate if available.