International Adoption Net

08/22/2026

Understanding Child Profiles in India Adoption

A child’s referral information is important—but it cannot tell you everything about who that child is or what the future may hold.

Children available for intercountry adoption from India may be older, part of a sibling group, have medical or developmental needs, or have been abandoned or relinquished. The amount of information available varies, and parts of a child’s medical, developmental, birth, or social history may be unknown.

IAN shares all child information and documentation provided to us by CARA and does not withhold information from families. If additional information becomes available after referral and before travel, we share that as well. Families should still be prepared for the possibility that some information may be incomplete, inaccurate, unavailable, or simply never known or recorded.

Medical and developmental records matter, but they do not define a child. They may not fully reflect a child’s strengths, personality, resilience, current development, or needs that become clearer over time.

Families should focus less on finding certainty and more on their own ability to parent the child in front of them. What medical, developmental, educational, or therapeutic services are available where you live? What needs are you prepared to support? Where might you need additional help?

At IAN, families considering a referral receive child-specific education from an IAN social worker. Using the information provided by CARA, we help families review and research the referral, identify questions for medical or other professional review, understand where information may be limited, locate resources, and thoughtfully consider whether they are prepared to meet that child’s needs.

The goal is not to find a “perfect” child through a referral file. It is to make a thoughtful, informed decision while understanding that some uncertainty is part of international adoption.

Considering adoption from India? Contact IAN:
[email protected] | 303-691-0808

08/21/2026

August 25 Upcoming Adoption Education: In*******al Families — Building Supportive Communities. Register Today!

In*******al adoption is a complex, lifelong process that requires more than placement stability and good intentions. It calls for intentional, informed practice that recognizes the central role of race, identity development, and systemic inequities in shaping adoptee outcomes.

In*******al adoption places children in a social and psychological “space in between” where connection or disconnection is shaped by the quality of preparation, support, and community surrounding them. Parents play a critical role in either lessening or reinforcing that experience through their willingness to learn, advocate, and continue to connect with their children as they navigate the lifelong journey of adoption.

This training series by the Center for Adoption Support & Education is designed to support adoptive parents and caregivers in building the knowledge and skills needed to care for children across racial and cultural differences. It focuses not just on good intentions, but on developing culturally responsive, thoughtful, and accountable caregiving practices.

WHEN: Tuesday, August 25, 2026
TIME: 7:00 – 8:30PM EST
WHERE: ZOOM
COST: $20
REGISTER at CASE: https://adoptionsupport.org/webinars/
You may register for the rest of the series or other courses at the link above.

*******alAdoption

08/20/2026

08/19/2026

India Adoption with IAN: Focused Experience Matters

Adopting from India requires more than general knowledge of international adoption. It means navigating a process involving CARA and CARINGS in India, USCIS and Hague requirements, child referrals and history, Indian adoption authorities, court procedures, immigration, and travel, and post adoption requirements.

And at every stage, families have questions: What happens next? How long might this step take? What does this document mean? Who is responsible for what? What happens after we receive a referral?

That is where focused experience matters.

IAN’s highly experienced India team works with families throughout the process, providing guidance that is specific, practical, and realistic. Our coordinators communicate with families, Specialized Adoption Agencies (SAA's) and professionals in India, monitor cases through CARINGS, assist with referral, child specific education and post-referral steps, and help families prepare for travel and bringing their child home.

Considering adoption from India? Contact International Adoption Net to learn more about our flagship India Adoption Program and whether it may be the right fit for your family.

[email protected] | 303-691-0808

08/18/2026

What Trauma-Informed Practice Looks Like at IAN

Trauma-informed practice means looking beyond a child’s behavior and asking what they may be communicating through those behaviors.

Trauma-informed practice at IAN means preparing adoptive parents to understand how grief, loss, fear, survival responses, sensory needs, attachment, and uneven development can affect a child’s behavior and relationships.

It also means avoiding labels and unrealistic promises—and understanding that while love and a safe, permanent family are incredibly important, love alone cannot undo everything a child may have experienced before adoption.

IAN’s pre-adoption education helps families understand topics such as separation, grief and loss; attachment and bonding; how trauma can affect the developing brain and nervous system; fight, flight, freeze and other survival responses; emotional regulation; sensory needs; developmental delays and uneven development; triggers and challenging behaviors; and practical ways parents can help children feel safe, connected, and supported.

Families also learn why behavior is often communication and how trauma-informed parenting may require different expectations and responses than traditional parenting approaches.

Our support does not end when a child comes home. IAN’s post-adoption services can help families navigate needs that emerge as their child grows.

Adoption is lifelong, and families deserve preparation and support for the journey—not just the placement.

Contact International Adoption Net to learn more about our pre-adoption education and post-adoption support services, [email protected] or call 303-691-0808

08/17/2026

Preparing Your Adopted Child for School: Real-World Tips

Starting school can be a big transition for any child. For a newly adopted child, it can be enormous.

Some internationally adopted children may be 7, 10, or even 13 years old and have never attended a traditional school. Based on age, teachers and classmates may assume your older child knows more about school than they do. Others may have had limited or very different classroom experiences. Add a new language, unfamiliar adults, hundreds of children, bells, cafeterias, buses, rules, homework, and constant transitions—and school can quickly become overwhelming.

A few things can make the transition easier:

Show them what to expect:
Visit the school before the first day if possible. Walk the halls, find the bathroom and cafeteria, meet the teacher, see the classroom, and practice drop-off and pick-up. Photos of the school, teacher, bus, and classroom can help too.

Don’t assume they understand “school rules.”
Standing in line, raising a hand, changing classrooms, eating lunch on a schedule, asking permission to use the bathroom, or sitting quietly for long periods may all be completely new.

Expect language to be exhausting.
A child learning English may understand far less than it appears—or understand a lot but be unable to respond. Use simple language, visuals, demonstrations, and extra processing time.

Watch for overstimulation.
Noise, crowds, fluorescent lights, touch, unfamiliar food, recess, and constant activity can overwhelm a child’s nervous system. What looks like defiance, shutting down, refusing, wandering, or “not listening” may actually mean, “I can’t handle any more right now.”

Give the teacher useful information, not your child’s entire history.
Explain what may trigger stress, how your child shows anxiety, what helps them calm down, and what approaches tend to make things worse.

If the school does not immediately seem to understand your child’s needs, keep advocating. Ask for a meeting with the teacher or administration. Put concerns and requests in writing. Share specific examples rather than simply saying your child has “adoption issues.”

Ask for practical supports such as predictable routines, visual schedules, movement breaks, extra transition time, a quieter space, or a trusted adult your child can go to.

Most importantly, adjust your and the teacher's expectations. During those first weeks or months, success may not look like top grades or perfect classroom behavior.

Sometimes success is getting on the bus. Staying for the whole day. Asking for help. Eating lunch. Making one friend. Not wandering without permission. Or simply coming home tomorrow and being willing to try again.

School readiness for an adopted child is not just academic. It is helping them feel safe enough to learn.

08/17/2026

Domestic Infant Adoption in Colorado: Strong Partners Matter

Domestic infant adoption usually involves several professionals working together—the placing agency, home study agency, attorneys, counselors, hospitals, and interstate authorities.

Clear communication and well-defined roles can make a complicated process much easier for adoptive families.

A good home study agency does more than complete paperwork. It helps prepare you for adoption, responds quickly when a match occurs, coordinates with your placing agency and other professionals, and remains available through placement and finalization.

International Adoption Net provides domestic adoption home studies for Colorado residents working with placing agencies outside of Colorado. We work collaboratively with your adoption professionals to help keep the process moving smoothly.

Planning a domestic adoption in Colorado? Contact IAN to learn more about our home study services and recommendations for experienced adoption partners. [email protected] or call 303-691-0808

08/16/2026

FUN FACT ABOUT INDIA: NEARLY 4 IN 10 INDIANS IDENTIFY AS VEGETARIAN

Did you know that nearly 4 in 10 Indian adults identify as vegetarian? With India’s enormous population, that means hundreds of millions of people enjoy a vegetarian diet.

And there really isn’t just one kind of “Indian food.” India’s vegetarian cuisine changes dramatically from one region to another, shaped by local ingredients, traditions and generations of family cooking.

One of the best things about Indian cuisine? The same dish can taste completely different depending on where in India you eat it.

For adoptive families, exploring foods from your child’s region of India can be a simple—and delicious—way to learn about their culture and keep those connections growing.

Comment below and let us know which is your favorite Indian food(s)

08/15/2026

Celebrating India’s Independence Day — August 15

India’s Independence Day marks the country’s freedom from British rule in 1947. It is a day that Indians honor those who fought for independence and to celebrate India’s freedom, unity, and national pride.

Across India, people gather for flag-raising ceremonies and the national anthem. Schools and communities often hold programs with patriotic music, dancing, speeches, and plays, and families may watch the national celebration at Delhi’s Red Fort, display the tricolor flag, share sweets, and spend time together.

In Delhi and other parts of North India, kite flying is also a much-loved Independence Day tradition. Colorful kites filling the sky have become a joyful symbol of freedom. For adoptive families connected to India, making or buying a kite can be a simple way to celebrate your child’s heritage.

India’s influence also reaches far beyond its borders. In the United States, Indian immigrants and Indian Americans have made important contributions in medicine, science, technology, education, business, research, public service, the arts, food, and culture. India is also the largest source of international students studying at U.S. colleges and universities. These connections are another reminder of how deeply India’s people and culture are woven into the American story.

For adoptive families, small traditions like flying a kite, listening to Indian music, displaying the flag, or trying a traditional sweet can help children feel proud of and connected to India and the history that is part of their story.

Happy Independence Day, India!