International Social Service USA (ISS) provides casework services to individuals and families who require international cooperation and assistance in matters such as intercountry adoption, child support, custody, deportation, desertion, immigration, paternity claims, and repatriation. The ISS often acts as a liaison for local agencies involved in cases requiring coordination with agencies in other countries.
Growing out of efforts sponsored by the YMCA, the International Migration Service (IMS) was founded in 1924 with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and national branches in Europe and the United States. The American Branch was established as an affiliate bureau of IMS under the leadership of Mary Hurlbutt. In 1946, IMS changed its name to International Social Service. Since World War II, intercountry adoptions have become the single largest category of service provided by ISS.
International Social Service American Branch entered into several merges and affiliations during the 1970s through the 1990s. In 1972, ISS merged with the Travelers Aid Association of America to form Travelers Aid-International Social Service of America. The merger lasted until 1977, when the two separate organizations were reestablished. In 1983, ISS affiliated with the American Council for Nationalities. In 1994, ISS affiliated with Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, a arrangement which lasted until 2004.
ISS continues to offer international social services and case management; consulting, referral, mediation and coordination for individuals and families; and research and advocacy on the issue of international voluntary and forced migration.
- Mary L. Ostling, "International Social Service-American
Branch," in Peter Romanovsky ed. Social Service Organizations (Greenwood Press,
Westport, Connecticut, 1978) vol. 1, pp. 367-373.
- A history of International Social Service USA is available on
the branch
web sitehttp://www.iss-usa.org.
- Histories and reports from the International Social Service USA
records in the Social Welfare History Archives.
From the guide to the International Social Service United States of America Branch records, 1924-1979, (University of Minnesota Libraries. Social Welfare History Archives [swha])
