“Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, Whispering ‘it will be happier.” – Alfred Lord Tennyson
As we approach the end of 2019, we want to express our thanks to all who have supported International Social Service-USA (ISS-USA) in our mission to protect and reunite children with their families across international and state borders. Our international network partners, domestic social work contractors, donors, board members, staff and professional partners have all contributed to our success this year, and we sincerely thank you.
So far this year, we have opened over 375 cases from all over the World, providing social and community services for children and families. These cases range from assisting returning children separated from their families at the southern U.S. border, to reuniting adoptees with their biological siblings, to helping vulnerable U.S. citizens repatriate back to U.S. after a natural disaster abroad, and much more.
2019 presented many challenges for children and families both here in the U.S. and abroad. Nearly 50 million children are separated from the care and protection of their families around the world, and our network has worked harder than ever to bring safe and sustainable permanency resolutions to these children. These children have been forced from their homes by war, violence, natural disasters, and poverty. Domestically, thousands of children in foster care are separated from a non-custodial parent as they wait for needed services to determine if they can be reunited. In addition, a growing number of unaccompanied or separated minors in the U.S. are waiting for repatriation and reunification services to ensure their return to their families is in their best interest.
In many ways, it is because of the increased attention being paid to this record number of children being separated from their families that we have been able to amplify our voice in providing sustainable solutions for this crisis. As we look forward to 2020, we will continue to build our capacity to provide services and technical support for social workers, lawyers, judges, and child advocates to protect children on the move around the world.
The staff of ISS-USA wish all of you a very happy holiday season and share our hope for a peaceful and child-friendly New Year.
To learn more about ISS-USA or donate to assist vulnerable cross border families, visit our website, www.iss-usa.org.