Photographers Adoptee Stories Project Helps 100+ Find Birth Parents
Jeff Forney's adoption journey began like many others - with questions about his origins and a desire to understand his complete story. As a multi-dimensional storyteller and adoptee advocate, Jeff has transformed his personal search experience into a mission that connects and supports adoptees nationwide. His background as both a professional photographer and someone who successfully navigated adoption search and reunion gives him unique credibility in addressing the challenges many adoptees face.
Jeff's story, shared on the Voices of Adoption podcast with hosts Donna Pope and Nathan Gwilliam, demonstrates that creative thinking and community support can lead to successful birth parent connections, even during the era of sealed records. His experience evolved into the Innocent People Project, a photography initiative that has documented and shared the stories of over 100 adoptees, including celebrities and everyday individuals seeking their roots.
Creative Search Methods Work
Jeff's 1991 search took place before the internet and DNA testing revolutionized adoption searches. Working through the Adoptee Liberty Movement Association support group in Chico, California, he used traditional investigative techniques that required patience and creativity. His breakthrough came when he wrote to San Francisco Children's Hospital requesting his birth records from two different perspectives - first as himself, then having his girlfriend write as his birth mother using the partial information he had discovered.
This dual-approach strategy proved successful when the second letter, written in his girlfriend's handwriting and using the partial birth mother information they had discovered, resulted in receiving the complete nine-page file that revealed his birth mother's identity. The hospital's administrative oversight in providing more information than intended gave Jeff the missing pieces needed to locate his birth mother in Portland, Oregon.
Jeff's methodical approach demonstrates that persistence and creative thinking can overcome the barriers of sealed records systems. The National Council on Adoption reports that approximately 115,353 adoptions took place in 2019, with around 5 million Americans currently adopted, representing the growing number of adult adoptees navigating search processes today.
Navigating Reunion Boundaries
Jeff's first phone conversation with his birth mother, which he recorded on a 90-minute cassette tape, marked the beginning of a reunion that required careful boundary management. His birth mother's immediate desire to blend families and celebrate all holidays together initially felt overwhelming to Jeff, who needed time to process this new relationship while honoring his existing family commitments.
The situation improved when his birth mother's husband served as a mediator, helping her understand that reunion relationships need gradual development like any friendship. Jeff learned that successful reunions require both parties to respect existing family structures and avoid assumptions about instant family integration. This approach allowed him to maintain his close relationship with his adoptive parents while building a separate, meaningful connection with his birth mother.
The National Survey of Adoptive Parents found that 86 percent of adoptive parents report their relationship with their child met or exceeded expectations, suggesting that most adoptees like Jeff can pursue search while maintaining strong adoptive family bonds.
Building Adoptee Community
The Innocent People Project began unexpectedly during a 2014 photography session with actor Ray Liotta, when both men discovered their shared adoptee experience during a break in the shoot. This chance encounter inspired Jeff to document and share adoptee stories through photography, eventually capturing the experiences of over 100 individuals including celebrities and everyday people navigating adoption journeys.
Jeff's community-building approach addresses the isolation many adoptees feel when questioning their origins or processing reunion experiences. His project validates that adoptees can simultaneously love their adoptive families and need to understand their biological roots, challenging the narrative that curiosity about origins suggests ingratitude. The photography and storytelling format creates safe spaces for adoptees to share their truth without judgment.
The project's success demonstrates the value of peer support in adoption experiences. Jeff regularly receives messages from people expressing relief at reading stories similar to their own situations, reducing feelings of isolation and providing validation for complex emotions.
Supporting Search Success
Jeff's positive search outcome reflects broader trends in modern adoption practices and support systems. His advice for current adoptees emphasizes approaching searches with realistic expectations and understanding that successful outcomes require patience, community support, and respect for all family relationships involved.
Key strategies that contributed to Jeff's success include:
Community Support - Working with adoption support groups provided guidance and emotional support throughout the search process
Creative Problem-Solving - Using multiple approaches when traditional methods reached dead ends
Boundary Respect - Treating reunion as friendship-building rather than instant family integration
Documentation - Recording important conversations and saving all correspondence for future reference
Professional Guidance - Utilizing experienced search advocates and counselors when needed
American Adoptions research shows that 85 percent of adopted children are rated to have "excellent" or "very good" health, compared to 82 percent for non-adopted children. Additionally, 88 percent of adoptive parents describe themselves as "happy" couples, compared to 83 percent of non-adoptive parents, suggesting that adoption creates positive family outcomes that support search journeys.
Jeff's story demonstrates that successful adoption searches often lead to expanded family connections rather than replacement relationships. His experience shows that with proper support, realistic expectations, and respect for existing bonds, search and reunion can enhance rather than threaten family relationships.
Building Understanding Through Stories
Jeff Forney's journey from adoptee searcher to community advocate illustrates the positive ripple effects that emerge from successful adoption search experiences. His transformation of personal questions into a platform for supporting other adoptees demonstrates how individual healing can become community service when approached with empathy and respect.
The Innocent People Project continues growing as Jeff documents more adoptee stories, creating resources that help adoptees feel less alone while educating others about adoption complexities. His work validates that asking questions about origins represents natural human curiosity rather than ingratitude, helping shift conversations about adoption toward greater openness and understanding.
Ready to learn more about adoption search experiences and community support? Subscribe to the Voices of Adoption podcast for authentic stories from adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive families navigating the evolving landscape of modern adoption relationships and identity discovery.
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