Hundreds of thousands of children in the U.S. are waiting to be reconnected to their families. A staggering number of children have been separated from their families because of the opioid crisis, the growing number of people being deported, the...
Category: General
National Child Abuse Prevention Month 2018: Best Practices in Permanency Planning for Children with Family Connections in a Foreign Country
Several years ago, a child in foster care from a western U.S. state was placed in the care of her extended family in Mexico. There had been no home study on the family, background checks, or other basic assessments to...
An Interview With International Social Service Contractor Laura Rinck, LCSW
In honor of Social Work Month 2018, International Social Service, USA is celebrating our social workers and social work contractors! We recently interviewed Ms. Laura Rinck, LMSW [pictured left] about her experience as a social work contractor in our global...
4 Ways Social Service Providers Can Help Separated Families Following the Termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Over the 93-year history of the International Social Service network, we have witnessed numerous shifts in immigration policy, often causing the separation of families across international borders. Throughout these shifts, we have maintained our focus on reconnecting children and families...
The ISS Global Network Shares a Rich History of Working with Migrants
As we acknowledge International Migrants Day, it is important to note the complexities of the world where more people than ever live on the move or in a country they were not born. These individuals and families are fleeing personal...
Reframing False Dichotomies: Child Protection is Not Black and White
The history of child welfare in this country has been rife with persistent dichotomies about outcomes and best practices in child protection. These “all or nothing” approaches to child protection are dangerous in a number of ways. The language about...
Assisting Vulnerable Children on World Mental Health Day 2017
In recognition of World Mental Health Day, we want to address the issue of protecting and supporting the emotional and psycho-social well-being of all children. Recently, there have been numerous incidents and situations placing vulnerable children in untenable situations that...
New Americans Provide Repatriation Assistance for Returning Americans
An Overseas Adventure Becomes a Nightmare Imagine this: You are a U.S. Citizen who moves overseas to start a new adventure with your spouse and four children. That adventure quickly becomes a nightmare when your partner becomes angry and abusive,...
Alone and Mentally Ill in a Foreign Country: Bringing a Vulnerable Son Home
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. In our work to safely reunite people across borders, we often help vulnerable individuals return to the U.S. from overseas when they are experiencing mental health issues. Navigating life with a mental health condition...
Social Workers Bring Hope – Part 2: The Importance of Investing in Child Protection
Social Work and Silos In the international child protection field, people tend to work in silos. Some may work on child trafficking, intercountry adoption, or cross-border migration, but all of these topics overlap. Events in Guatemala provide evidence of how...