Author: Marie Blum

Finding Identity Across Borders

A teen in foster care from Japan reclaimed her birth identity—turning fear and uncertainty into dignity, hope, and a future.

At 13, I came to the United States from Japan with someone who promised to care for me—but within months, I was alone, without family, documents, or a way home. I entered foster care carrying fear and uncertainty. Years later,...

Isabel and Marco’s Journey to Permanence

Two siblings were reunited with the family they already knew and loved, crossing borders to find stability and belonging.

At just 5 and 6 years old, siblings Isabel and Marco entered foster care after it became clear their home environment could not safely meet their needs. Though their grandmother first stepped in, follow‑up visits revealed the placement would not...

From Uncertainty to Stability

An independent social worker guides the process to ensure a child can safely return to family.

My name is Carolin, and I work with ISS‑USA as an independent social worker in Utah, conducting home studies and post‑placement visits. In 2024, I was contacted to assess a home in Salt Lake City for Sophia, a 13‑year‑old girl...

How Climate Displacement affects Child Separation

Notes From the Field

I  recently attended an academic conference titled “Multiplied Displacements: The Climate-Housing Nexus” because its themes align closely with the research I do in my master’s program, Global Affairs and Human Security, and I wanted to gain deeper insights into how...

1 Year of War

ISS Network Statement on War in Ukraine

One year into a waging war that has caused thousands of civilian victims and displaced millions, it is time that guns are silenced, human suffering is terminated, and peace prevails. Today, 24th February 2023 marks the sad anniversary of the...