International Adoption Clinic
Kennedy Krieger Institute, 801 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205
Director:
The International Adoption Clinic of Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins Children’s Center offers pre- and post-adoption services to families who are adopting a child either internationally or domestically. The services are designed to augment the care provided by the child’s primary health care provider. Pre-adoption services include:
“Nina” was adopted from the Ukraine at age 12 months. Prior to her adoption, her parents procured medical information and a videotape of her at two different ages. Professionals in the International Adoption Clinic reviewed the information and alerted Nina’s parents about possible nutritional, growth and developmental concerns. They also provided the parents with information about Nina’s country of origin and referred them to the Johns Hopkins Travel Medicine service for travel preparation.
Post-adoption, Nina was seen by her primary health care provider three days after arrival in this country. Her parents and primary health care provider were interested in consultative assistance with her medical care, and thus she was seen by a pediatrician in the International Adoption Clinic. The clinic staff coordinated laboratory and x-ray evaluation of Nina’s special medical needs and advised her primary health care provider on future management. They also gave Nina immunizations appropriate to her special needs as a newly adopted child from an international site.
Due to concerns about her inability to crawl and language delay, a developmental pediatrician in the International Adoption Clinic saw Nina for a formal developmental assessment. The developmental pediatrician identified areas of delay and counseled her parents about the developmental delays that can often be seen in children who have lived in an orphanage. The staff then referred Nina for formal hearing evaluation and early intervention services, targeted to address her language delay. Follow-up developmental evaluation four months later revealed tremendous gains in Nina’s motor and language development. At age two years, Nina is now on target in all areas of her development, and her family has adjusted well to the addition of a new daughter to their family.
- medical history review
- videotape review
- information about child’s country of origin and common health problems
- referral to the Johns Hopkins Travel Medicine Service
- medical travel kit.
- developmental assessment
- comprehensive medical assessment
- laboratory evaluation and immunizations, as needed
- referrals to subspecialty medical or psychological services, as needed
- liaison with the child’s primary health care provider.
- To prepare family for care of newly-adopted child, including adjustment to adoption
- To identify, pre-adoption, potential areas of medical/developmental concern
- To provide consultative assistance to child’s primary health care provider
- To assess, post-adoption, child’s developmental level
- To coordinate, post-adoption, medical evaluation and preventive care
- To identify/coordinate needed subspecialty services/care
- To make referrals for appropriate resources geared to specific needs of the child/family
“Nina” was adopted from the Ukraine at age 12 months. Prior to her adoption, her parents procured medical information and a videotape of her at two different ages. Professionals in the International Adoption Clinic reviewed the information and alerted Nina’s parents about possible nutritional, growth and developmental concerns. They also provided the parents with information about Nina’s country of origin and referred them to the Johns Hopkins Travel Medicine service for travel preparation.
Post-adoption, Nina was seen by her primary health care provider three days after arrival in this country. Her parents and primary health care provider were interested in consultative assistance with her medical care, and thus she was seen by a pediatrician in the International Adoption Clinic. The clinic staff coordinated laboratory and x-ray evaluation of Nina’s special medical needs and advised her primary health care provider on future management. They also gave Nina immunizations appropriate to her special needs as a newly adopted child from an international site.
Due to concerns about her inability to crawl and language delay, a developmental pediatrician in the International Adoption Clinic saw Nina for a formal developmental assessment. The developmental pediatrician identified areas of delay and counseled her parents about the developmental delays that can often be seen in children who have lived in an orphanage. The staff then referred Nina for formal hearing evaluation and early intervention services, targeted to address her language delay. Follow-up developmental evaluation four months later revealed tremendous gains in Nina’s motor and language development. At age two years, Nina is now on target in all areas of her development, and her family has adjusted well to the addition of a new daughter to their family.
Hours of Operation:
Developmental Assessment: Tuesdays and Fridays, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Comprehensive Medical Assessment: Fridays, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Videotape reviews performed within 24-72 hours of request.
Comprehensive Medical Assessment: Fridays, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Videotape reviews performed within 24-72 hours of request.
Contacts:
To make a referral or request an initial evaluation:
Contact our Care Management Office
Toll-Free Referral: (888) 554-2080
Local Referral: (443) 923-9402
For follow-up appointments:
Laurie Backus
Phone: (443) 923-9402
Fax: (443) 923-9405
backus@kennedykrieger.org
Contact our Care Management Office
Toll-Free Referral: (888) 554-2080
Local Referral: (443) 923-9402
For follow-up appointments:
Laurie Backus
Phone: (443) 923-9402
Fax: (443) 923-9405
backus@kennedykrieger.org
Children who have been adopted either internationally or domestically.
The Resource Finder: A Project of Kennedy Krieger Institute
Adopting.com - Internet Adoption Resources
(http://www.adopting.com)
National Adoption Information Clearinghouse
(http://www.calib.com/naic/)
Eastern European Adoption Coalition, Inc.
(http://www.eeadopt.org)
Families with Children from China
(http://www.fwcc.org)
Rainbow Kids.com: An International Adoption Publication
(http://www.rainbowkids.com)
Outpatient Programs l Inpatient Programs l Community Programs l
Continuums l Clinical Laboratories l Clinical Disciplines/Depts.
Adopting.com - Internet Adoption Resources
(http://www.adopting.com)
National Adoption Information Clearinghouse
(http://www.calib.com/naic/)
Eastern European Adoption Coalition, Inc.
(http://www.eeadopt.org)
Families with Children from China
(http://www.fwcc.org)
Rainbow Kids.com: An International Adoption Publication
(http://www.rainbowkids.com)
Continuums l Clinical Laboratories l Clinical Disciplines/Depts.