Crossing borders in service and support of children and families

ISS/Casework Services

ISS services are provided to family members who are separated by international borders.

Field of competence Services
Family conflict
  • Counselling
  • Psycho social support in resolving intercultural difficulties and conflicts relating to parental and visiting rights, guardianship, placement of children with extended family, parental responsibility, etc.
  • Mediation
Family reunification
  • Social evaluation of individual family members with a view to possible reunification
  • Psycho social and administrative support throughout the process of reunification.
Child Abduction
  • Locating and obtaining information on the welfare of the abducted child;
  • Assistance in re-establishing contact between the abducted child and the parent deprived of access;
  • Social report on the living environment of the child and family;
  • Counselling on legal rights
Alternative care
  • Social assessment on extended family members as potential future carers in order to assist in decisions regarding the most appropriate solution for the child.
International Adoption
  • Adoptability assessment of the child and his/her living conditions
  • Home study on prospective adoptive parents living outside their country of origin;
  • Social assessments on family members in respect of a proposed relative adoption;
  • Counselling of biological parents and, if appropriate, obtaining their consent to the adoption;
  • Post adoption evaluations;
  • Transmission of reports to the appropriate national authorities;
  • Advocacy on behalf of the best interests of the minor concerned.
Search of origin
  • Assistance in tracing biological family members living abroad
Unaccompanied minors
  • Counselling and assistance to minors in the receiving country;
  • Locating family in the country of origin and helping to re-establish contact;
  • Providing social reports on the family situation in the country of origin;
  • Advocacy on behalf of the best interests of the minor concerned;
  • In cases of return to the country of origin, preparation and follow up of the child and family.
 

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