International Adoption Services

Pre-Adoption Consultation Disclaimer and Contract

Get details on adoption services from Cincinnati Children's.

The International Adoption Center (IAC) provides pre-adoption consultation of medical histories, photographs and/or videotapes for those pursuing international adoption. For more information about the International Adoption Center Pre-Adoption services, please call 513-636-2877, option 2.

An infectious disease physician on staff at the IAC will review the medical history, photographs and/or videotape.

At times, the medical record or the video may indicate a need to consult other specialists within Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. When this is needed, we will consult with these specialists as well.

The review process will require a minimum of 2 business days to give a thorough review of the information. You will be contacted by telephone when the review is complete.

The review process includes an examination and explanation of the medical record. The child's growth parameters will be placed on a growth curve and their height, weight and head circumference will be compared to the general population of children of the same age in the U.S. and country of origin when possible.

Photographs and videos will be examined for evidence of facial and other physical abnormalities, and the child's development will be assessed.

Limitations

Medical records, photographs and videotapes, when available, can be helpful in providing some information about the child. However, there are, significant limitations to the information provided in medical records and videotapes.

Information contained within the medical record, photographs and / or videotape is not always predictive of the child's future. Information contained in these records provides only a glimpse of this child's current condition.

Emotional, behavioral and cognitive abilities (mental retardation and learning disabilities) are difficult to assess by medical record, photographs or videotape.

Future emotional, behavioral and cognitive issues are impossible to predict. Information contained in these records cannot replace a physical examination and assessment by a qualified physician within the United States.

Medical Record Limitations

Medical records are often incomplete and difficult to assess.
Different medical terminology is often used. Direct translation is not often possible.
Growth parameters and lab work may be inaccurate.
Medical tests done in foreign countries are frequently not done properly. Equipment may be out of date. Technicians performing the tests are not always properly trained.
Medications such as antibiotics and immunizations are not always dated, stored and / or administered properly and therefore may not have been effective.
A thorough developmental assessment is not possible without appropriate testing.

Video Limitations

The quality of the video may be poor. The video may be out of focus, may not show the whole child or close-ups of the child. It is difficult to assess facial abnormalities when the child is videotaped from a distance or the tape is not in focus.
The child may have been videotaped in an unfamiliar setting or with unfamiliar caregivers and therefore, is not comfortable with their surroundings. Optimally, the tape should depict the child interacting with adults.
The videotape may be too short. A good video should be at least five minutes or longer.
The videotape may only represent one point in time. Several videos taken at different points in time are helpful in identifying developmental concerns.
A child less than six months of age is difficult to assess on video. At this age the child is not able to do many things.
Age-appropriate toys may not be present, making it difficult to assess development.
Children who are clothed throughout the video are difficult to assess. It is difficult to assess nutrition, look at skin condition or note other physical abnormalities if the child is clothed.
Gross motor skills such as pulling up, crawling, walking or gait abnormalities are difficult to assess if the child is held throughout the video.
Children exposed to alcohol during pregnancy may have Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). FAS is difficult to diagnose, and characteristics of FAS may not be obvious until the child is school age or older.
A thorough assessment of development can not be done with just videotape. Further testing will need to be done once the child arrives in the United States.

You can download a Pre-Adoption Consultation Disclaimer in portable document format (.pdf).

You must have Adobe Acrobat" Reader installed on your computer to read this file. You can download Adobe Acrobat" Reader at Adobe's Web site by selecting the version appropriate for your type of computer.

Pre-Adoption Fee Schedule

Pre-Adoption Services are generally not covered by insurance. Fees are per child, country-specific, and non-refundable.

You can download a fee schedule for pre-adoption consultation in portable document format (.pdf).

International Adoption Center Faculty / Staff

Mary Allen Staat MD, MPH, is director of the International Adoption Center.
Dr. Staat is a board-certified pediatrician and is board-certified in Infectious Diseases and Preventive Medicine. She is Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and faculty member of the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Infectious Diseases Division.
Dr. Staat has a master's degree in public health in international health and has personal and professional experience in international adoption.
Barbara Elleman, OTR/L, BCP
Robin L. Gordon
Kelly R. Hicks, MSN, RN
Kari A. Hufnagel, MS, OTR/L
Carrie E. Johnston, LSW

Release

I / We have read the International Adoption Center Pre-Adoption Consultation Form and fully understand the information contained herein. All of my / our questions concerning the Process and its Limitations have been answered to our satisfaction.

I / We realize that a brief medical history and / or video can, at best, only identify grossly obvious medical or developmental strengths or weaknesses in a child and in no way can they be used to accurately predict emotional, behavioral / cognitive abilities and future health to any degree of medical certainty.

Therefore, I / We agree to indemnify and hold harmless Dr. Staat, The International Adoption Center, Children's Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati, its agents, employees, volunteers and anyone who participated in the evaluation of the child from any injury, damages, expense or costs of any nature or kind resulting from outcomes in this child which would not have been predicted from this limited medical history and / or video.

Download a copy of this release form to sign. (.pdf)

If you have questions, and/or if you would like to contract with the International Adoption Center, please contact the IAC at 513-636-2877, option 2.