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

Bringing resolution across borders

  • Home
  • About ISS USA
    • History
    • Our Mission
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff
    • Staff Directory
    • Networks, Memberships and Partners
  • Services
    • Certifications
    • Home Studies
    • Searches
    • Tracings
    • Repatriations
    • Other
  • Press Releases
    • Haiti Adoption
  • Conferences
    • 2009
    • 2008
    • 2010
  • Employment / Internship / WS
    • Employment ISS-USA
    • Internships ISS-USA
    • Work Study Opportunities
    • Volunteer Opportunities ISS-USA
  • Give or Donate to ISS-USA
    • Giving Options
    • Combined Federal Campaign
  • Annual Reports / Newsletters
  • Contact
  • Arthur C. Helton Institute
    • About
    • Mission
    • Research
    • Publications
    • Training
    • The Social Welfare History Archives
    • Presentations
  • ISS Federation
  • Fostering Connections Blog
Arthur C.Helton Institute
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: In 2009, almost 20 percent of all intercountry cases involved a home study.

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: In 2009, ISS-USA provided services in 48 States and 78 Countires.

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: In 2009, of the 560 people seeking technical assistance, 22% were seeking information about tracing relatives in other countries.

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 2009, 166 of the 356 American citizens repatriated, were children. Of those, 37 came back without the care of their parents.

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 trained more than 400 people in 2009!

Read More
Other

International Social Service, USA (ISS-USA)

The mission of ISS-USA is to promote resolutions in the best interests of children, adults and families separated by international borders.

Keynote Speaker Announced 9/3/2010
Keynote Speaker Announced
Ambassador Susan Jacobs has agreed to serve as Keynote Speaker at the 2010 Conference.
read more...
Together With Thomas 7/20/2010
Together With Thomas
How a dying wish, a long-held dream and a special boy have brought happiness to a new family in Tanzania
read more...
2010 Conference Set for November 6/1/2010
2010 Conference Set for November

Click Here to Register Now!

ISS-USA and the Arthur C. Helton Institute for the Study of International Social Service recently announced plans for their annual international social work conference, Fractured Lives: The Causes and Consequences of Children Separated from Their Families Across International Borders.
read more...

About ISS USA

  • History / Our Mission / Board of Directors / Staff / Staff Directory / Networks, Memberships and Partners

Services

  • Certifications / Home Studies / Searches / Tracings / Repatriations / Other

Contact

200 E. Lexington Street, Suite 1700
Baltimore, MD 21202

Telephone: 443-451-1200
Fax: 443-451-1220
Email: iss-usa@iss-usa.org

Copyright © 2008, International Social Service - United States of America Branch, Inc. All rights reserved.