International Adoption Clinic

Overview

In the past decade, there has been a substantial increase in the number of adoptions of children from other countries by American families. Global socioeconomic changes coupled with a shortage of US adoptees have lead to international adoptions originating from all continents with a substantial representation from developing countries. While these adoptions provide an incredible opportunity to unite children of overwhelming need with families deeply committed to caring for them, these children's diverse geographic origins can present unique and difficult medical and psychosocial issues, and may be best addressed by specialists skilled in Geographic Medicine and complex pediatric assessment.

In response to the needs of the international adoptee and his/her family, the Sections of Pediatric Infectious Disease and Developmental Pediatrics of the Indiana University School of Medicine and Riley Children's Hospital established the International Adoption Clinic. This clinic unites families with experts in Infectious Disease, Geographic Medicine and Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics. Children who visit undergo comprehensive evaluation with special emphasis on issues related to growth, physical development, psychosocial development, infection, immunization, nutrition and birth defects.

The International Adoption Clinic is a unique and important resource for Indiana and its health care community. It provides primary care physicians and their patients access to the broad range of world class health services available at Riley Hospital for Children, and helps integrate these children into their primary health care settings. More importantly, the International Adoption Clinic offers information, comfort and support for these newly formed Indiana families.