Imagine: you're a searching adoptee or birthparent, and you find what looks like the matching name through your own hard research, probably via the Internet. Further research turns up an address and telephone number. You think this is it, but maybe it's not. Search and support groups like PFMTL can't confirm it. You want a third party to make a contact, and you decide that you want the social service that handled the adoption to do it for you (although Parent Finders, Mouvement Retrouvailles, Triad, etc., and independent professionals also provide third-party contact services).

   If your adoption was handled through Montréal's Batshaw Youth & Family Centres (handling files from the former Ville-Marie Social Services, Red Feather, Jewish Family Services, etc.), then this is what to do, and the form to fill out. Must they verify that name for you? The answer is yes-- with some conditions attached. You have to have the person's name, address, and telephone number, the person must consent to contact with you, and they will be told your name.

   If this is your next step, we at PFMTL will save you an extra step by showing you what to expect, and give you the form to print and fill out.

CAUTION: The social agency may ask you for your source. You are under no obligation to reveal this information. We recommend that you remain discreet, especially since social agencies will do everything in their power to then have that source removed, banned, etc., and your indiscretion could harm the chances of others who could also benefit from the same source.

What to do

1. verify that your file is indeed at Batshaw (coordinates below)

2. print out the verification request form below

3. fill out and sign the form, and send it in

4. cross your fingers, and remember, you got this far because you learned how to read between the lines.

5. contact PFMTL if necessary to decode Batshaw's response.

Want to know how it works, and who's eligible? Here's a copy of the letter Batshaw encloses with the verification form:

Dear Ms./Mr./Mrs.

   We have received your request to verify your relationship to the person you have identified.

   In order to proceed we are requesting that you complete the attached form and return it to us. Upon receipt of this form we will check our records to determine if the name corresponds to that on file. If yes, we will contact the indentified person to further verify our information.

   Once we have determined that the person identified is the person for whom you are searching, we will explain that you have identified her/him and wish to have contact. If this person is in agreement we will pass on your name, address and phone no.

   If we find you have identified the wrong person or the located person does not want contact, we will so notify you.

   The above process is specific to parent-child verfications. In the event that extended family come forth of either the birth parent or the adoptee we would proceed only after having obtained either (a) written consent from the person they represent or (b) a death certificate of the person represented.

 

Signed,

Adoption Program Manager

Form

<----- cut here ------------------------------------------->

Verification Request
--------------------------


Name of Adoptee:________________________________  Date of Birth: ___ / ___ / ___

Address:________________________________________  Postal Code: __ __ __ __ __ __

Phone No:( _ _ _ ) _ _ _ - _ _ _ _  Fax No (if available):( _ _ _ ) _ _ _ - _ _ _ _

Email (if available): ___________________________________


--------------------------


Name of Birth Parent:___________________________  Date of Birth: ___ / ___ / ___

Address:________________________________________  Postal Code: __ __ __ __ __ __

Phone No:( _ _ _ ) _ _ _ - _ _ _ _  Fax No(if available):( _ _ _ ) _ _ _ - _ _ _ _

Email(if available): ___________________________________


--------------------------


Name of Person making the Request(if different from above): ________________________

Relationship to person identified: _____________________________________________

Address:________________________________________  Postal Code: __ __ __ __ __ __

Phone No:( _ _ _ ) _ _ _ - _ _ _ _  Fax No(if available):( _ _ _ ) _ _ _ - _ _ _ _

Email(if available): ___________________________________


--------------------------


Request: Please specify what you are requesting:

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________
(5 lines)

I, the undersigned, give Batshaw Youth & Family Centre my consent to release
identifying information to the person I have identified above should the
investigation verify this is the person I am seeking.

Signed: _______________________________________________  Date: ___ / ___ / ___


  <----- cut here ------------------------------------------->

Batshaw's coordinates

Batshaw Youth & Family Centres
Adoption Department
6 Weredale
Westmount, Qc H3Z 1Y6
(514) 932-7161

Again, if you need help deciphering Batshaw's response, call or email PFMTL, or other local post-adoption search and support groups.

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