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.
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.
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.
VISION
We envision a world in which all children, adults and families separated by borders are connected so they may live safe, self-sufficient and meaningful lives.
MISSION
ISS-USA mobilizes a domestic and international network of social work, legal, and other professionals to connect children, adults and families separated by borders with the services and support they need.
VALUES
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Tomorrow, we celebrate 100 years of ISS-USA!
We’re just one day away from the ISS-USA Centennial Celebration in Baltimore, where we’ll spend the day reflecting on a century of cross-border work, connecting with colleagues and friends, and celebrating the people and partnerships that have shaped our mission.
Today is the LAST DAY to register. If you’ve been thinking about joining us, now’s the time!
Register now and we’ll see you tomorrow. Link in bio!
Supporting children and families across borders requires strong partnerships, shared expertise, and a commitment to collaboration.
At ISS-USA’s Half-Day Symposium, these expert panelists will share insights from their decades of leadership in child welfare, systems reform, family-centered practice, and cross-sector collaboration. This panel will explore how professionals and systems can work more effectively across borders to improve outcomes for children and families.
Learn more and register using the link in our bio!
October 9, 2026 | Baltimore, MD
Panel Highlight!
These wonderful panelists join our Centennial Half-Day Symposium to explore what it takes to center identity, belonging, safety, and stability in cross-border decision-making.
This panel will examine how professionals across disciplines can work together to make informed, child-centered decisions that support the best interests of children and families.
Join us October 9, in Baltimore, MD. Registration is still open, follow the link in our bio!
Cheers to 100 years!
For a century, International Social Service-USA has been connecting cross-border families, helping children and families stay connected across distance, borders, and changing circumstances.
Now, we’re raising a glass to 100 years of this work—and to the future ahead.
Join us in Baltimore on October 9 for the ISS-USA Centennial Celebration, featuring an afternoon symposium followed by an evening reception at the Roundhouse.
Register today and celebrate 100 years with us. Link in bio.
100 years of service, countless stories, and many more to come.
Join us October 9, as we celebrate a century of impact at our Centennial Celebration!
Register to join us. Link in bio.
We’re celebrating 100 years of ISS-USA in one of Baltimore’s most iconic historic spaces!
Built in 1884, the National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation is a National Historic Landmark featuring a stunning 60-foot turntable and one of the world’s most significant collections of 19th-century railroad equipment.
Join us for an evening of food, music, and art as we celebrate a century of service and look toward the next 100 years.
National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation | Baltimore, MD
October 9, 2026 | 5:00–9:00 PM
Register using the link in our bio or visit our website!
On October 9, ISS-USA celebrates 100 years with a full day of conversation, community, and celebration in Baltimore.
CENTENNIAL SYMPOSIUM
1:00–4:30 PM
University of Maryland, Baltimore – SMC Campus Center
ROUNDHOUSE RECEPTION
5:00–9:00 PM
National Museum of Railroad History and Innovation
Join us as we reflect on a century of cross-border work, explore the questions shaping the future, and celebrate the people who have helped make this work possible.
Register using the link in our bio!
Meet our Keynote Speaker: Dr. Allison Blake!
We are pleased to welcome Dr. Allison Blake, child and family advocate, community builder, former New Jersey Department of Children and Families Commissioner, and former Unaccompanied Children Bureau Chief, as our featured speaker at ISS-USA’s 100th Anniversary Symposium.
From direct service positions as a case manager and child abuse investigator to leadership roles in public service and the nonprofit sector, Dr. Blake has been a champion for children and families, strengthening families, prioritizing kinship connections, and investing in primary prevention programs.
Throughout her professional journey, she has been an ISS partner and collaborator, making her the right choice to kick off our anniversary reflection and celebration.
Join us October 9, 2026, in Baltimore as we reflect on 100 years of cross-border work and look toward the future.
