Tracings

Wendy Bryant Gow with Jamie Ergas, the ISS-USA caseworker who facilitated communication between Gow and her birth family in Japan.

ISS-USA receives requests to trace adoptees, birth parents and missing people. Tracing letters are sent to possible matches and if a person is located, the ISS-USA caseworker acts as an intermediary, facilitating the communication between parties. Typically, when an adoptee is put in touch with a family member or vice versa, letters and information are exchanged. Gradually mail contact is followed by e-mail and/or phone contact. In some situations where both parties are willing, face to face reunions are arranged. There are many different scenarios though, and just because a relative or family member is found does not mean that this person will wish to have contact with the person looking for them. Sometimes it takes many months or even years for individuals to become comfortable with communication.

To refer a case for tracing download the Referral Form Cover Page here and the Referral Form here. The form can be faxed to us at 443-451-1230 or submitted electronically at question@iss-usa.org

To read more about Wendy's tracing story, Click Here.

To Contact ISS-USA Click Here.