Donate
100 years ISS

Cross Border Casework

Connecting Families Across Borders

Reuniting families

Helping Families and Individuals Across Borders

The International Social Service (ISS) helps reunite families, protect vulnerable individuals, and support those navigating complex social issues across borders. Through a trusted global network of members and partners, we coordinate social work interventions and solutions in more than 120 countries.

Whether it involves a child separated from their family, an adult needing cross-border care, or a professional requiring help with an international case, we are here to support. 

ia-huh-EouGRS24pvg-unsplash

Who we help

Our beneficiaries

Cross-border social issues can impact individuals in many different ways. ISS services are designed to support: 

Children separated from their families by international borders

Adults with care or protection needs in another country

Families searching for relatives or seeking reunification

Social workers, legal guardians, and authorities needing reliable international cooperation to support those in need

What we do

What is ISS Cross Border Casework?

Cross Border Casework is at the heart of what ISS does. It refers to psychosocial and legal support provided through international cooperation to address situations involving individuals or families affected by cross-border issues. These cases often arise in complex situations such as:

Family separation due to migration, divorce, or conflict

Child protection concerns

Care placements of a child or adult in another jurisdiction

Support for victims of human trafficking abroad

Search for origins

Individuals needing assistance

In these situations, local services often face limits. They cannot act alone when part of the case lies across an international border. That is why ISS works through a global network, connecting professionals in different countries to ensure the best outcome for each person.

Each ISS member is part of a collaborative global network that shares information, coordinates action and upholds international standards of child and family welfare.

  • Centering the individual’s or child’s best interest and needs 
  • Respecting human rights, international and national laws 
  • Using mediation-based methods 
  • Adhering to confidentiality and safeguarding regulations 
  • Ensuring the accountability of services in all countries involved 

To ensure each case is handled with care and professionalism, ISS works closely with: 

  • Local social and child protection services 
  • Central authorities, designated under international conventions (e.g., Hague Conventions) 
  • Courts and legal guardians, particularly in custody, adoption, or care decisions 
  • Police and Interpol 
  • NGOs and community organisations involved in support services 
  • Families and individuals who may be involved in a particular case 

Types of cases we handle

Although each ISS members may offer slightly different services, our global network collectively supports a wide range of cross-border social work: 

We support children whose well-being is being threatened, whether due to abuse, neglect, unsafe living conditions, or family breakdown. These cases often involve difficult questions about where and with whom a child should live. We work with authorities across countries to assess the situation and support the child’s safe care, while also helping to access key documents or address risks like child trafficking. 

Our services can include:  

  • Child abuse alert/notification 
  • Child welfare assessment/report (for placement) 
  • Birth-parent assessment/report (for placement) 
  • Kinship assessment/report for placement 
  • Foster placement assessment/report 
  • Residential care assessment/report 
  • Assessment/report for visitation and/or access (child in care) 
  • Post-placement child welfare assessment/report 
  • Obtain documents (birth certificate, school records, etc.) 
  • Prior involvement record check (foster care/kinship, child protection) 
  • Child trafficking alert 

When a child is taken or kept in another country without the other parent’s consent or against legal agreements, families can face an overwhelming legal and emotional process.  We assist in navigating these situations by offering guidance on the family’s rights, providing legal support, and promoting solutions like mediation to keep the child’s best interests at the centre.  

Our services can include: 

  • Cross-cultural counselling 
  • Pre-mediation 
  • Mediation 
  • Advise and support to (re-)establish access/contact & custody 
  • Tracing 
  • Family Reunification 
  • Assessment/report for custody / access / maintenance 
  • Obtain documents 

When families live in different countries (after divorce, migration, or separation), it can be challenging to reach agreements on custody, contact, or support. We assist with cross-border family issues through counselling, mediation, and support to help children stay connected to the people who care about them.

Our services can include:

  • Cross-cultural counselling
  • Pre-mediation
  • Mediation
  • Advise and support to (re-)establish access/contact & custody
  • Tracing
  • Family Reunification
  • Assessment/report for custody / access / maintenance
  • Obtain documents

Adults facing abuse, mental health issues, or living in vulnerable circumstances may need protection and guidance. This also includes support to migrants, asylum seekers or refugees. We assist by assessing their needs, coordinating care or guardianship, and helping to secure rights, access services, or obtain documents.  

Our services can include: 

  • Adult abuse alert 
  • Adult placement assessment/report 
  • Migrant, asylum seeker, refugee support  
  • Identify/notify curator for adult/legal guardian 
  • Transfer of social benefits 
  • Obtain documents 

Children who are separated from their families due to conflict, migration, or crisis situations often need urgent protection and long-term support. We help trace their families, reunite them when possible, and connect them to legal, emotional, and social services to ensure they are safe and supported.  

Our services can include: 

  • Tracing 
  • Reunification 
  • Obtain documents (e.g.: birth certificate, passport) 
  • Repatriation/Reintegration 
  • Legal Support and counselling 
  • Psychological Support and counselling 
  • Assessment/report for planning (on child or for possible placement) 

Children born through surrogacy or donor conception may wish to learn more about their origins or reconnect with their biological family later in life. We guide individuals and families through this deeply personal process, by offering support through counselling and helping navigate tracing and rebuilding the contact with their biological family.  

Our services can include: 

  • Family counselling 
  • Assessment/report of prospective parents 
  • Tracing 
  • Family reunification

We offer support both before and after adoption, especially in international and kinship adoptions, to ensure that the process is safe, ethical, and in the best interests of the child. We help prepare adoptive parents, follow up on the child’s well-being after adoption, and support individuals who want to reconnect with their birth families later in life.  

Our services can include: 

  • Suitability assessment/report of prospective adoptive parents  
  • Counselling and preparation of prospective adoptive parents 
  • Post-adoption follow-up and/or support 
  • Post-adoption tracing and family reunification  
  • Relative adoption (in-family) 

Process

Cross Border Casework process

Whether you are a parent searching for your child, a government official managing a cross-border case, or a social worker unsure how to proceed with an international concern, starting a case with ISS is simple and support is within reach.

  • Individuals and families 
  • Government bodies (child protection services, family welfare offices, central authorities, etc.) 
  • Courts and legal professionals involved in custody, protection, or guardianship cases 
  • Non-governmental organisations and civil society organisations 
  • Care institutions dealing with vulnerable children and adults in cross-border settings 


If you are unsure whether you can start a case, we encourage you to contact your national ISS office. They can advise on eligibility, next steps, and the best approach for your situation.

  • Once received, the national ISS office will evaluate the case and communicate the next steps with the beneficiary
  • Communication between multiple ISS offices in different jurisdictions takes place
  • The ISS office acts locally by conducting services
  • Exchange of findings and additional support is provided
  • Case closure 

Contact the ISS member office in your country

ISS is not a single organisation, but a network of independent members working in solidarity. Together, we form one of the most established and trusted networks for international social service cooperation. Your request shall include basic information about your case and service(s) you are requesting in another country. If your case is urgent (e.g., child at risk), please indicate this clearly in your referral. ISS offices prioritize such cases and can act quickly when needed.

Global Network
hannah-busing-Zyx1bK9mqmA-unsplash

Ethical Standards

ISS Cross Border Casework is guided by an international legal framework and strong ethical principles that prioritise the children’s rights and the protection of families. We are committed to:

  • Social and legal protection of children and families
  • Promotion and defence of human rights, especially children’s rights
  • Respect for cultural diversity and enhancement of solidarity
  • Neutrality, independence and impartiality in all our actions
  • Voluntary engagement, responsibility and transparency
  • Guaranteeing confidentiality and data protection
  • ISS staff also follow Child Safeguarding, Sexual Harassment, Exploitation, and Abuse, and Data Protection standards.

For more information, please visit

governance page.

What we stand for

Protecting the rights of children, families and individuals according to human rights conventions, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

Celebrating diversity, respecting and promoting the understanding and acceptance of all cultures worldwide

Guiding principles of neutrality, confidentiality, independence, transparency, and impartiality are at the heart of ISS work

Unshakable commitment to families, children and individuals that unites its global network

ISS Stories

Discover a few stories of how we've impacted the lives of children, individuals and families across the world.

ISS Stories
Story 1 Video add Himaya