Founded in 1975, by Emma May Vilardi, the International Soundex Reunion Registry (ISRR) was developed with the idea of providing a means for families that have been separated due to divorce, adoption, or foster care to reunite. ISRR is a mutual consent registry, meaning that for the registry to work, each adult (18 and over), has to have registered with ISRR in order for a match to be made.
The ISRR uses the Soundex Coding System which takes the information off of the applications and translates it into a single line of code. This line of code enables the registrar to check over 1000 entries in approximately 5 minutes. Matches are confirmed by human registrars who are capable of comparing the fine details of an application, which a computer might miss or misinterpret. ISRR does not perform searches, but will notify you if a match has been made from your application, so remember to keep your information current with ISRR's change of information form.
If You Decide to Register With ISRR
Registration is free and begins with the simple filing of an application. Remember:
- Fill out the form in its entirety and as instructed.
- You can NOT phone in the information or submit it online.
- You MUST sign the form before mailing it in.
- Anyone can register: birth parents, adoptees over the age of 18, adoptive parents for minor adopted children, as well as siblings and other birth relatives.
RegDay
November 08, 2008 will mark the next RegDay. Volunteers set up booths out in public areas, such as libraries, and hand out ISRR applications and free information on adoption searches and reunions. Many volunteers and visitors share their touching stories of reunion or the pain of a fruitless search.
One RegDay volunteer shares the following:"One young woman(an adoptee) - late twenties I think - came in with her boyfriend - took the form to register and got some info about searching as well. She was quite soft-spoken and articulate. Said she had wonderful parents, did not have to know about her past, but, felt somehow it was part of her essence as to who she was. Said that she felt if she did not search, on her death bed, she would regret it.
Our event touches a few people very dramatically, but, we need to find ways to bring in more people - especially those birth moms still in their safe cocoons as I was until over 3 years ago. Many of them have children who are signing up, but, Soundex only works if both parties register. The fear of the unknown paralyzes many of us though - that's why those of us who are reunited work tirelessly to de-mystify search and reunion for people. We know what a difference reunion has made in our lives."
RegDay events are already planned in California, Louisiana, New York and Texas. Even if you live in an open records state such as Kansas, registering with ISRR may help in your search efforts as people move and files are lost.
The Adoption Registration Coalition
The Adoption Registration Coalition (ARC) is a volunteer group of adoptees, birthparents, adoptive parents, and others who are dedicated to promoting the use of the ISRR. ARC works tirelessly to reach those searching, those afraid of searching, and to teach the importance of registering with ISRR. ISRR could be your answer to life long questions.
Read some of the reunion stories that have been made possible thanks to ISRR.
ISRR is a non-profit, tax exempt corporation funded entirely by donations.SOURCES:
