International Social Service - United States of America Branch, Inc.

U.S. citizens living overseas sometimes need a home study certified in order to proceed with an intercountry adoption. ISS-USA can usually certify such a home study.

FACT: The U.S. ratified the Hague Convention on Intercountry adoption on April 1, 2008.

Read More

Certifications

In collaboration with the ISS federation, home studies are performed by qualified social workers living in, and with specific knowledge of, the country being considered for the placement of a child.

FACT: 62% of all intercountry cases in 2007 (1351) involved a child welfare matter.

Read More

Home Studies

Examples of the documents ISS-USA can often obtain in other countries include criminal background & child abuse registry checks, birth, death and marriage certificates.

FACT: ISS-USA provided intercountry services in 42 states in the U.S. and 62 countries world-wide.

Read More

Searches

Family tracings are performed to locate adoptive or extended family members living in other countries for the purpose of permanency planning or to request communication between separated family members.

FACT: Read about Wendy Bryant Gow, a successful family tracing story

Read More

Tracings

ISS-USA provides repatriation assistance to U.S. citizen adults, families and children returning from other countries because of destitution, mental illness, armed conflict or natural disaster.

FACT: In 2007 of the 317 American citizens ISS-USA helped repatriate, 97 were children.

Read More

Repatriations

In addition to the services listed, ISS-USA can provide child welfare checks, child welfare alerts, post placement follow-ups and many other services. Please contact our office for more information.

FACT: ISS-USA received over 500 inquiries about our services in 2007.

Read More

Other