Once You Are Home

You did it! You and your family are home! It’s time to rest, settle in, and get to know each other a little better.

Some things you will want to do shortly after arriving home are: Picture of Child

Apply for your child’s social security card. You can visit the area Social Security office, you can call (800) 772-1213, or you can visit the website at www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.html. You will need to show them your child’s passport, the birth country’s decree and the English translation. They will also need to see the amended birth certificate with translation. Take the original documents and they will make copies. You’ll also need to show identification as to who you are as well. Picture of Child

Register your child with his/her birth country’s consulate. Some countries require this within one month of arrival, some within three months. Frost will provide the contact information for this, and you will be notified as to what documents need to be submitted. This is very important. Please make sure you do this accordingly.

American Citizenship. Please consult http://travel.state.gov/childcit.html and the fact sheet at http://travel.state.gov/childcitfaq.html for specific official details of the Child Citizenship Act, HR 2883. Picture of Child

Visit the pediatrician. Your child should see your physician within the first few weeks after arrival - sooner, if there appear to be problems. Physicians evaluate the health and status of children using a medical history, physical examination and laboratory tests. In children adopted abroad, the history may be limited or fabricated, and the physical examination rarely identifies the problems common to international adoptees. A battery of screening tests is absolutely necessary to fully evaluate the health of your adopted child. Below are the tests recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and our suggested additions to the list. For further details, consult the 1994 Red Book: Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases, American Academy of Pediatrics, pp.111-113.

Screening Tests

Hepatitis B profile, to include HBsAG, anti-HBs, and anti-HBc
HIV-1 and HIV-2 testing by ELISA in children greater than 18 months of age and by ELISA and culture in children less than 18 months of age
Mantoux (intradermal PPD) skin test with Candida control
Stool examination for ova and parasites
RPR or VDRL for syphilis
Complete blood count with erythrochte indices
Dipstick urinalysis

A developmental exam is essential for all international adoptees, but especially for those who have been institutionalized.
A lead level and antibodies to hepatitis C should be checked in children from Eastern Europe, Russia and China.
Vision and hearing screening can be done as directed by the primary physician.

Immunizations
Testing is recommended for any child who has reportedly received three or more DPT vaccines. If antibodies are absent or low, or it the child has received fewer than three DPT vaccines, it's recommended to start the immunization sequence over again according to the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics for children not immunized in the first year of life (1994 Red Book, Report on the Committee on Infectious Diseases, American Academy of Pediatrics, Elk Grove Village, IL, 1994, p. 24).

Some conditions may arise in previously institutionalized children. It’s best to educate yourself and your family regarding how to identify issues. Once you are aware of what behaviors to look for and what may be indicated, then you are in a better position to do something about it to help your child. Our resources list several books and websites available.

And as always, Frost will help you and be happy to provide any additional information. We're committed to successful adoptions and do our best to support them.

Return to Travel Information

You have been wonderful to work with, and we have highly recommended Frost to several others we have come
in contact with. Thanks, again.
-- Tom & Margaret