Many recent events have emphasized the need for investment in the social service workforce. My trip to India to participate in the launch of a social work training program was one event that highlighted the importance of this profession and...
Author: ISS USA
Lion: A Tale of Intercountry Adoption
In Search of Happier Beginnings and Joyful Endings What if our number one priority was the well-being of children across the globe? I recently saw Lion, a film that tells the story of Saroo Brierley, an Indian boy who is...
11 Key Takeaways from The Ties That Bind
The key finding of the 6th annual International Social Service conference is that we have failed to do our due diligence in protecting children in our country. Through the creation of benign euphemisms, we have trivialized key circumstances that threaten...
Parental Abduction & National Missing Children’s Day
In April, I was honored to be asked to present at the I Stand Parent Network in Washington, D.C. The network is composed of left-behind parents whose children have been internationally abducted by the other parent. The organization is both...
ISS-USA’s Regional Conference in Guatemala
Coordinated Cross-Border Social Services for Children and Families Migrating in the Northern Triangle, Mexico and the U.S. April 28-29, 2016 ~ Antigua, Guatemala Thanks to the generous support from our project donor, ISS-USA hosted an international meeting in Antigua, Guatemala...
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month
“Building Community, Building Hope” This month, and in recognition of the 40th anniversary of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, we acknowledge the importance of preventing child abuse and neglect as well as promoting family strengthening. While much progress...
National Strategy to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities
CECANF's Recent Report Outlines Recommendations to Prevent Child Abuse Recently, the Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities (CECANF) released its final report: Within Our Reach: A National Strategy to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities. CECANF is a...
Understanding the Refugee Crisis
Stay Informed and Welcome Others In light of the recent attacks in Paris and Beirut, there have been varied reactions to the way countries address the influx of refugees, ranging from acceptance, to fear, hostility, and significant backlash. As an...
We Never Outgrow the Need for a Family
ISS-USA Reflects on National Adoption Month with Thomas Waterfield November is National Adoption Month: a time to increase awareness about the need for adoptive families for thousands of children in the U.S. waiting for permanent families. This November, National Adoption...
Shame on U.S: The Stalled Ratification of The Convention on the Rights of the Child
As the year comes to an end, we naturally reflect upon all that we have accomplished, and all that we need to continue to strive for. We celebrate our victories and triumphs, no matter how big, or small, they may...