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International Adoption

The Yale International Adoption Clinic offers comprehensive services to adopting families; internationally adopted children; and, the community doctors who care for them. Three Yale faculty pediatricians with expertise, backed by the resources and support of Yale-affiliated child medical, behavioral and developmental specialists, provide Pre-Adoption and Post-Adoption medical services: Drs. Margaret Hostetter, Founder; Carol Weitzman, Director; and Michael Cappello, Co-Medical Director, Betsy Groth, PNP.

Pre-Adoption Services

• Medical records review, with written findings and report, of the child being considered. Please download the Clinic's Pre-Adoption Intake Form (click here to download PDF of Pre-Adoption Intake Form) for a full description of what the Clinic needs in order to assess the adoptee.
• Counseling for adoptive parents: identifying the special needs/limitations parents are willing to accept and discussing the general risks of international adoptees.
• Ongoing consultation during the pre-adoption period.
• Information for Traveling Families, to more fully inform the trip abroad and assist our Clinic in the assessment of the child.
• Telephone support for families during their stay abroad.

Post-Adoption Services

The Yale International Adoption Clinic offers comprehensive evaluations of newly adopted children every Monday in the Pediatric Specialty Clinic on the second floor of the Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital. The evaluation includes:

      • Medical examination
      • Developmental assessment
      • Audiology and physical therapy evaluation
      • Growth and nutrition screening
      • Psychosocial development assessment
      • Screening tests recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics
      • Counseling about potential health and developmental issues

The Adoption Clinic staff is knowledgeable about the unique medical and social conditions of children from other countries, is skilled in managing infectious diseases, and understands the developmental and psychological impact of institutionalization and sensory deprivation. Our goal is to assist families every step of the way; from providing guidance and information about pre-adoption records to performing a careful post-adoption assessment of an individual child's medical, developmental and psychosocial well-being. Educational seminars are offered throughout the year for both pre and post-adoption needs.

Building intimate relationships with caregivers provides children with a framework of how to understand and interact with the world. Children who haven't had that may exhibit many behavioral symptoms that need to be assessed. The clinic staff can help pediatricians caring for children who may need specialized attention, and they can help parents figure out ways to help their child learn coping strategies.

To reach our clinic, please call Gail Novey at (203) 785-7521. Our nurse practitioner works with Drs. Weitzman, Cappello, and Hostetter. Our clinic meets weekly in the Pediatric Specialty Clinic.

Building the Bonds of Adoption Program

Building the Bonds of Adoption is a 10-week program where parents of internationally adopted children come together to gain information and practice techniques useful for fostering healthy and mutually satisfying relationships with their children.

Over the course of 10 sessions, we reflect upon what both children and parents each bring to their relationships, being mindful of the influence of children's prior experiences, and their history of uncertain relationships and relationship disruptions. Parents become more effective at noticing and interpreting behaviors and feelings in themselves and in their children after participating in this group. Parents, who have participated in this program report that they have gained skills to manage everyday struggles, and felt better equipped to actively promote the healthy emotional, cognitive and social development of their children.

Yale International Adoption Clinic

(203) 785-7521, phone
(203) 737-7208, fax
Map and Directions

Thank you for your interest in our clinic. We look forward to working with you to make your family dreams come true!

Carol Weitzman, M.D., F.A.A.P.
Director
Michael Cappello, M.D.
Co-director

For a special look at the Clinic, please click here