A Brave Escape
15-year-old Grace McCarthy was staying with relatives in China who she reported were abusing her and arranging a marriage she did not want. She believed her parents back in the U.S. were aware of the abuse and the arranged marriage; therefore, she was afraid to return to their care in the United States.
Sisters Unified After 60 Years!
Growing up, Carmen yearned to find her biological family. While she independently searched for her biological family, she received an email from ISS-USA informing her that her sister was searching for her as well.
The Role of the ISS in the History of Private International Law
The ISS has been hiding in plain sight in the history of private international law since the 1920s. Anyone lucky enough to visit ISS-USA’s archives at the University of Minnesota would be astonished by ISS’s extensive engagement with virtually every aspect of transitional family law.
Restoring Hope in Humanity
Due to internal conflict in Thailand, Don was unexpectedly forced to repatriate to the United States in September as the cases for Covid-19 were increasing. While Don was able to return through an emergency loan from the State Department, he was financially unequipped to resettle on such short notice.
Reuniting Families Across Borders
When 8-year-old Mateo was placed in foster care in the U.S., social workers discovered he had grandparents in Guatemala who wanted to care for him. ISS-USA worked with authorities in both countries to complete the necessary home study, coordinate the logistics of an international placement, and reunite Mateo with his family.
Helping Agencies Navigate Cross-Border Cases
A child welfare agency in Texas needed to conduct a home study for a child’s relative in Mexico, but they didn’t know how to manage the international process. ISS-USA provided the necessary expertise and coordination, ensuring the agency could make informed decisions for the child’s future.
Americans Returning Home Safely
After experiencing hardship abroad, David, with help from a U.S. Consulate overseas found himself in need of support once he arrived in the U.S. Without resources or a clear plan, the Office of Human Services Emergency Preparedness and Response (OHSEPR) gave ISS-USA the green light to arrange for shelter, medical care, and a connection to case management services, to help David get back on his feet again.
Working Between States
A social work team in Connecticut is working to reunite 3-year-old Dana with her father in Florida. However, concerns arose about their lack of a prior relationship, and Dana’s speech and motor delays made it crucial to ensure continuity of her treatment. To support the transition, ISS-USA conducted a community resource assessment, helping to create a service plan that connects Dana and her father with local resources tailored to their needs, ensuring a stable and supportive placement.
International Social Service, USA
We are the U.S. member of a global child protection and social service network. We connect vulnerable children, adults, and families, separated by a border, to the services and support they need.
ISS-USA coordinates services for U.S. and non U.S. citizens returning to their countries of origin, conducts home studies, finds relatives in other countries, obtains documents such as birth certificates and adoption paperwork, provides post-placement monitoring, and acts as advocates for children reuniting with families all over the globe.
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January’s work spanned borders and communities, supporting children and families as they navigated complex cross-border situations with care and dignity.
ISS-USA provided services in 25 U.S. states in 2025 through both incoming international cases and interstate assessments, demonstrating the nationwide reach of our work and the widespread need for cross-border family support.
In 2025, ISS-USA completed 117 domestic home studies and 106 abroad, supporting decision making for safe and stable family placements.
From Latin America to Europe, Africa, and Asia, ISS-USA provided cross-border family services in 35 countries in 2025, strengthening family connections across continents.
In 2025, 86% of outgoing cases involved services in Latin America, where ISS-USA delivered wide-ranging cross-border support—from home studies to document tracing—meeting the growing need for trusted family support across borders.
ISS-USA supported 438 outgoing cases in 35 countries in 2025, working across borders, systems, and cultures to help families stay connected no matter where they are in the world.
Nearly three out of four cases in 2025 were outgoing, meaning services were delivered in other countries on behalf of U.S. child welfare agencies, supporting children in the U.S. child welfare system as they worked to reconnect with family members outside of the United States.
In 2025, ISS-USA supported families through a record 619 cross-border cases—200 more than the previous year—helping more children, parents, and loved ones than ever before navigate complex situations and stay connected across borders.
