The following teaser is from an excellent article in the July 6, 2013 edition of lobservateur.com:
LAPLACE [LOUISIANA] – Brenda Frisard, a retired postmaster from LaPlace, is what one might call a “search angel.”
Thousands of Louisiana adoptees search for information on their parents every year. Some are able to find what they need, but others are not so lucky — it is more than just a matter of searching for children who were adopted through a sealed process. These adoptees must retrieve their original paperwork and hope it contains enough information to find a lead. Because of the Louisiana laws, the process can be long and disheartening. Many need help but do not know where to turn. This is where Frisard comes into play.
“They’re all looking for a search angel — that’s what they call us. We do it for free. I don’t do this for the money. It’s something I do because I’m very passionate about what I believe in,” said Frisard.
…
Frisard has actively lobbied for the rights of adoptees. This year, she made it to the Senate floor with a proposed bill that would allow adoptees to access their original birth certificates, SB 155. The bill was signed by the governor and was sponsored by Sen. Danny Martiny.
“We made this bill to protect both sides. We covered every base, ” said Frisard.
Bless you, Brenda! Welcome to the joyful, rewarding world of search angeling!
What is a Search Angel?
A “search angel” is someone who gives of their time and expertise, without charge, to help people separated from family and lost loved ones by adoption, foster care, divorce, and alienation, to find their information and reconnect, if they choose. We are men and women of all ages and from all socio-economic strata. Some of us are members of the adoption community – adoptees, mothers of loss, grandparents, siblings – and some of us are just concerned genealogists and researchers who have not been touched by adoption, but understand and appreciate the importance of the work. Thanks to the wealth of publicly accessible information now on databases on the Internet, virtually everything we do can be done on the computer with an occasional contact with a library or other public record facility.
Why do we do this work?
We are united in our belief that every human being has a right to their identity, family history, heritage and the identity of those to whom they are blood related. However, for adoptees, this presents a unique problem. There are an estimated six to seven million adopted persons in the United States. Most of these were babies and children who were adopted under “closed and sealed” adoptions, meaning their original birth certificates and other identifying information are filed away under lock and key in state capitals or court or agency records. In 43 states adoptees – and only adoptees – are forbidden by archaic, outmoded laws from accessing this information – their very own personal information. Yet, every year, as the importance of knowing one’s genetic and health history is generally recognized, and simply because they rightfully believe they have a right to know, more and more thousands are beginning to search for knowledge about themselves and their origins. Unfortunately, until now, many thousands have been exploited and ripped-off by highly publicized professional search companies who prey upon adoptees’ naivety and vulnerability and have charged thousands of dollars, many times with no results, nothing to show for the money lost. These professional companies then had the funds to advertise and promote themselves, thus reeling in more victims and perpetuating the vicious cycle.
The recognition of the Search Angel is dawning.
Quietly working away for over thirty years have been hundreds of search and support groups all over the country, in person and on-line, with very successful search angels who have solved hundreds of thousands of cases. Until the advent of the Internet and social networking, we have not had the organization or funds to make our availability known.
New search angels joining the fold.
We are delighted to receive inquiries daily from people asking how they can become a search angel and join the network. We are working toward developing programs to assist these new angels, such as training webinars, networking, and groups for sharing expertise and guidance.
Hi, thank you for all the wonderful help to others.
Come visit us on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/theregistry
For ny: http://www.nyadoptees.com
We help with all the states.
Can be found on fb at SearchAngelCentral
Joan
I am a search angel from Opelousas please let me know if u need addresses or I can search with dob and first name please email me joanne rose jabr01@aol.com
I have been searching for my birth mother endlessly with no luck. I was born in Metairie at Lakeside Hospital in 1978.. Any ideas on where I can continue to look would be greatly appreciated. I have a very sick child and need to locate my birth mother for medical reasons. Thanks so much and may God Bless!
Hi please send me more of your information I can check some of the sites and see if there is any one looking for you joanne rose in Opelousas louisiana
Hello my name is Shaquana Ward and I am adopted. I have been looking for my birth parents for a very long time with a lot of dead ends. I have my non identifying information and I have also did DNA Testing.
I would like to find out who my biological parents were. My name is James M Wilder. Please call me at 318-452-6817
I am trying to find information on my father who was adopted. He was born in New Orleans in 1936 and has since passed away. Is this something you can help with?