Support Groups for Adult Adopted Children

People who have been adopted may experience a range of emotions often experienced by adoptees, including identity issues, low self-esteem, feelings of abandonment and isolation. Adoptees deal with these experiences in different ways, sometimes culminating in a reunion with birth parents. Support groups can often help adoptees in a singular way and may be crucial to the healing process.

  1. Online Organizations

    • The ALMA (Adoptees' Liberty Movement Association) Society supports adoptees' need to reunite with birth parents. The American Adoption Congress is an organization that seeks adoption reform and is comprised of individuals who have been affected by the adoption process. It is seeking new legislation to remove some of the secrecy that surrounds adoptions.

    Online Support Groups

    • Some discussion forums include international adoptees, reunions with birth families and relationships with others. There is an adoptee forum on Adoption.com. Adoption Crossroads is a nonprofit organization with online support for adopted individuals. Adult Adoptees is another online organization offering support, friendship and understanding. There is a Yahoo! support group called Arizona Search and Support for adoptees, adoptive parents and birth families all over the United States.

    Local Support Groups

    • To locate a local support group, contact your state social services office and adoption agency. Contact American Adoption Congress and ALMA to find a local branch of these national organizations. Some in-person support groups include: Coordinators2 in Richmond, Virginia; PACT in Oakland, California; and the Barker Foundation in Maryland.

    Considerations

    • Support groups can help adopted adults come to terms with their adoptions, provide friendship with other adopted people and help with emotional healing. Support groups are made up of other adoptees and possibly other people with opinions and biases based on positive or negative experiences. There may be advice offered within these groups that is questionable, and you should always seek professional counsel before taking legal actions.

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