International Social Service-USA

International Social Service-USA We connect children, adults & families separated by borders with the services and support they need. or Dad in the Ukraine. A U.S. Or a U.S.

ISS-USA can help in these situations and others- email us to find out more! A Judge needs to decide whether a child should live with Mom in the U.S. Or, a Judge needs to decide whether a child should live with grandparents in Ecuador, or be adopted by a foster family in the U.S. A child adopted in Germany is looking for his biological father in the U.S. Citizen, becomes destitute and ill and needs

to return from Lebanon to Florida. Citizen child is abandoned in Bolivia, and needs to be placed in foster care in Ohio upon return to the U.S. because there is no one to care for her. A birth certificate is needed from Brazil, or a marriage certificate from Haiti, or a death certificate from Zimbabwe to help people in the U.S. A couple wants to adopt a child from Tanzania, but is unclear where to begin and what rules might apply. A couple wants to become foster parents, but needs a criminal records check from the time when they were living in Israel. A person has a question about how they can adopt their niece in Canada whose parents are dying, and have her come live with them in the U.S. An unaccompanied undocumented child is being returned to El Salvador, and there is a question about what services are available upon return to El Salvador. A state child welfare agency wants to know about how to look for and place children with family outside the U.S. Is there a way to follow up, once the child is placed? Are home studies from other countries valid? A state is trying to comply with Hague Conventions and Fostering Connections and doesn't know how to work across borders and when Hague Conventions apply and when they don't.

A little girl recently returned home to the Dominican Republic after a long cross-border journey. As she arrived, she wa...
09/02/2026

A little girl recently returned home to the Dominican Republic after a long cross-border journey. As she arrived, she wasn't welcomed only by her family—neighbors, friends, and members of the community gathered to celebrate her return, filling the moment with joy, hope, and a reminder that a child's well-being is strengthened by the people who surround them.

This story celebrates one successful reunification. When reunification is safe and possible, it can be a powerful milestone. When it isn't, children still deserve stability, meaningful relationships, and the support they need to thrive.

Every family's journey is unique, but every child deserves to feel connected, supported, and safe. Thank you for following along as we've explored the many ways cross-border collaboration helps children and families stay connected—because every child deserves the opportunity to belong.

Speaker Announcement!We’re honored to have these leaders joining us on October 9 for Enduring Questions, Evolving Answer...
08/31/2026

Speaker Announcement!

We’re honored to have these leaders joining us on October 9 for Enduring Questions, Evolving Answers.

Jerry Milner, DSW
Linda Spears, LMSW
Andy Strait, Esq.
Moderated by Nadine Toppozada

Together, they’ll explore what it takes to build stronger collaboration across borders in support of children and families.

Baltimore, MD | October 9, 2026
Learn more & register at iss-usa.org

Documentation, legal procedures, child welfare systems, and government agencies can vary greatly from one place to anoth...
08/28/2026

Documentation, legal procedures, child welfare systems, and government agencies can vary greatly from one place to another. Every family's circumstances are unique, which is why collaboration across borders is so important in determining the best path forward.

Staying connected is not always as simple as making a phone call. Language, internet access, technology, and geography c...
08/26/2026

Staying connected is not always as simple as making a phone call. Language, internet access, technology, and geography can all create barriers. Even when families cannot be together physically, staying connected can play an important role in a child's well-being.

We’re honored to have these leaders joining us on October 9 for Enduring Questions, Evolving Answers.Panel 1: Decision-M...
08/24/2026

We’re honored to have these leaders joining us on October 9 for Enduring Questions, Evolving Answers.

Panel 1: Decision-Making That Shapes Children’s Lives

Heather Zenone, JD
Francisco Flores, JD
Renee Evelyn, MSW
Moderated by Cathy Ceniza Choy, Ph.D.

Together, they’ll explore how we can center identity, belonging, safety, and stability in cross-border decision-making.

📍 Baltimore, MD | October 9, 2026
Learn more & register at https://www.iss-usa.org/100th-anniversary-registration/

Coordinating services, gathering information, completing assessments, securing documentation, arranging travel, and ensu...
08/20/2026

Coordinating services, gathering information, completing assessments, securing documentation, arranging travel, and ensuring everyone is prepared can take months—or longer. Whether reunification is the goal or another permanency plan is being pursued, thoughtful planning helps support better outcomes for children.

Sometimes the journey spans thousands of miles. International travel can involve passports, visas, multiple flights, sig...
08/18/2026

Sometimes the journey spans thousands of miles. International travel can involve passports, visas, multiple flights, significant expenses, and careful coordination. For many families, simply getting from one country to another can be a major hurdle.

While every case has a different outcome, helping children and families remain connected throughout the process is an important part of the journey.

Families across the world want to stay connected to the people they love. Sometimes that means reunification. Sometimes ...
08/14/2026

Families across the world want to stay connected to the people they love. Sometimes that means reunification. Sometimes it means maintaining meaningful relationships across borders while pursuing another permanent solution. In every case, those family connections matter.

Every family's story is different. For children and families separated by borders, reunification can be a powerful step ...
08/12/2026

Every family's story is different. For children and families separated by borders, reunification can be a powerful step toward stability, belonging, and connection when it is safe and in the child's best interests. In other situations, maintaining family relationships across borders may take different forms. No matter the path, these journeys are often far more complex than many people realize.

Join us as we follow The Many Paths Home.

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