International Adoption Program

In response to the needs of the growing population of children adopted from other countries, the Stramski International Adoption Program (SIAP) has been established at the Stramski Center at
Miller Children’s & Women's to provide support for these children, their families and their primary care physicians.

The Stramski International Adoption Program provides consultation, evaluation and counseling to families that are in the process of adopting a child from another country. Post-adoption medical and development evaluations also are provided.

Pre-Adoption Consultations

Preliminary Adoption Consultation – One-on-one sessions with families and Stramski International Adoption Program (SIAP) physicians prior to travel. They provide families with appropriate knowledge and tools to evaluate prospective children and provide information regarding medical, developmental and behavioral risks common to internationally adopted children.
In-Country Consultation – Consultations provided to families while they are overseas. Families
are responsible for contacting the SIAP via phone or e-mail with information they wish to
have reviewed.

Post-Adoption Assessments

The SIAP provides a detailed evaluation of internationally adopted children in the immediate
post-adoptive period. This is ideally completed within one to two weeks after arrival. This visit focuses
on several components including:

Physical exam
Laboratory testing
Behavior and developmental assessments

Appropriate education and referrals for interventions are provided.

Follow-Up Care

All children will be scheduled for a three-month and six-month follow-up care appointment from the time of the initial visit. This is to ensure optimal developmental and behavioral surveillance for this at-risk population. This strategy allows for timely interventions to be made.

Role of Primary Care Physician

The SIAP is a specialist referral center for internationally adopted children. The primary pediatrician is considered to be a vital part of this process. All immunizations, immediate and ongoing medical problems and therapies will be addressed by the child’s pediatrician. The pediatrician will help determine any pre-disposed conditions the child may have and can determine through records if the child has an underlying genetic condition, which is important information for the parents before choosing to adopt.

Visit the Stramski International Adoption Clinic.