Children waiting for adoption in other countries often have special needs and health conditions that are common in low-resource countries but can be prevented or easily treated in the United States. These challenges may be accompanied by trauma from their early life experience as well as deep feelings of loss and grief for their birth families. This section provides information on health and development issues relevant to children adopted from other countries.
- Health and developmental considerations for children adopted internationally
- Preadoption and postadoption medical assessments
- Intercountry adoption clinics and doctors
Health and developmental considerations for children adopted internationally
Adoption Medicine: Improving the Health and Wellbeing of Adopted Children
Todd (2016)
Adoption Advocate, 92
Offers an overview of adoption medicine, including the roles pediatricians and specialized adoption medicine physicians play before, during, and after the adoption process.
Health Considerations
U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs
Provides information about the health of children adopted from other countries and the health information that is provided to prospective adoptive parents. Describes the medical exam required for all internationally adopted children.
International Adoption: Immigrant and Refugee Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Discusses health problems that may be present in children adopted internationally and links to news resources relating to health considerations for these children.
International Adoption Project
University of Minnesota
Describes a clinic that specializes in medical services for children who were adopted internationally.
Medical Issues in Adopted Children: How Can Adoption Agencies Best Support Parents Before, During, and After Adoption?
Schulte (2020)
Adoption Advocate, 142
Compiles information for adoption professionals and parents on handling medical conditions or medical issues in adopted children and when an adoption medicine physician should be involved.
Preadoption and postadoption medical assessments
Adopting a Child From Another Country (Intercountry Adoption)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Outlines medical considerations for when adopting a child from another country and highlights the importance of medical reviews as part of the process.
Comprehensive Health Evaluation of the Newly Adopted Child
Jones, Schulte, & Council on Foster Care, Adoption, and Kinship Care (2019)
Pediatrics, 143(5)
Addresses the elements of a complete health evaluation of a newly adopted child, including the preadoption visit, current and past medical history, and referral for diagnostic evaluation.
International Adoption Medicine (S1:E18) [Podcast]
Children's Hospital Colorado (2017)
Offers a podcast featuring experts in the field of international adoption discussing medical support for families adopting internationally. The discussion explores why international adoptions require a different medical approach than domestic adoptions and why pre- and postadoption medical assessments are necessary. The podcast also discusses expectations and guidelines for these assessments, and more.
Internationally Adopted Children: Important Information for Parents
HealthyChildren.org
Provides an overview of medical evaluations for children adopted from other countries, including what to expect during the first medical visit, a checklist of what a doctor should do, information on growth and nutritional issues, and more.
Medical Examination
U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs
Reviews how prospective adoptive parents should request a comprehensive medical evaluation of their adopted child and should be aware of the unique health issues children adopted internationally may face.
The Role of Pre-Placement Medical Review in Contemporary Adoptions: Setting Expectations, Assessing a Child's Needs, and Supporting Successful Family Formation
Johnson (2019)
Adoption Advocate, 131
Discusses pediatricians' roles in the adoption process and describes how new knowledge about adversity in early childhood has expanded the medical field's understanding about risk factors for medical, developmental, emotional, and behavioral issues in adopted children.
Intercountry adoption clinics and doctors
Foster Care, Domestic and International Adoption
University of Minnesota
Describes a clinic that specializes in medical services for children who were adopted internationally.
International Adoption Center
Cincinnati's Children Hospital Medical Center
Describes the services provided by the Center, including pre-adoption consultation, postadoption evaluation, and its research program.
International Adoption Clinic
Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital
Provides services before, during, and after international adoption to help assess and manage medical needs commonly seen in adoptions from other countries.
International Adoption Health Program
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Supports the healthcare needs of families who have adopted internationally and provides pre- and postadoption counseling, therapy, and other services for children with special developmental needs.
International Adoption Medical Clinics
International Adoption Help (2017)
Supplies a directory of clinics and doctors who specialize in international adoption medicine.