The best thing to do is start with your own family members and write down what you/they do know. See if the family has any records, such as marriage and birth certs. Then start with the oldest known relative's information and begin a search at that point.
There are free search tools such as https://familysearch.org/search and other free web sites such as Genealogy.com which have Surname Boards and State Boards to post queries.
Starting with someone born in 1978 is difficult as records that recent are not public.
Here is an example from familysearch. Maybe some of this Chester's siblings name will be familiar?
U S Census, 1930 Big Valley, Lassen, California
Citing this Record "United States Census, 1930," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XCFF-WJ9
Head Leonard T Wolters M 40 Missouri
Wife Arkie L Wolters F 38 Missouri
Son Thomas L Wolters M 18 Missouri
Dau Devona P Wolters F 14 Oregon
Son Charles D Wolters M 12 California
Son Vernon F Wolters M 9 California
Son Chester L Wolters M 3 California
