International Adoption Clinic
Our professionals understand the physical, psychological and developmental challenges facing a child born in another culture.
The International Adoption Clinic staff members have experience treating conditions that sometimes are associated with early care in orphanages or foster care programs abroad.
In addition to international adoptions, we provide services for children adopted domestically.
We also care for children who have been with their adoptive families for months to years and have new or ongoing behavioral/developmental or medical concerns.
Services We Offer: Post Adoption
After You Bring Your Child Home: Post-Adoption Visit
As soon as you have travel plans finalized, please email us for an appointment. We would like to see your child in the adoption clinic around 2-3 weeks after your child is home. Please email us all the medical information including immunizations, photos/videos that you have for your child prior to your visit so that they can be reviewed.
If your child has an acute illness when you arrive home, please contact your primary care pediatrician or bring your child to the Urgent Care or Emergency Department at Nationwide Children’s Hospital for immediate treatment.
At your first post-adoption visit, your child will be seen by a multidisciplinary team, which includes evaluation by a pediatrician who specializes in adoption medicine, psychologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist and speech therapist. The first post-adoption visit takes about 2 hours and includes:
- A review of all medical information provided about the child
- A complete physical examination
- Growth and nutritional evaluation
- Evaluation of the child’s immunization status
- Basic health evaluation based of your child's feeding, sleeping and adjustment to new environment.
- Screen for infectious diseases and other lab tests including immunology antibodies for vaccine response
- Review test results and create a care plan
- Assessment of your development including cognitive, language, motor, and social-emotional skills to identify any gaps
- Consultation with our psychologist to help monitor the child for any developmental or behavioral health concerns
- Consultation with our occupational, physical and speech therapists
- Facilitate visits to any pediatric specialists needed
- Links to community resources
Follow Up Visits
We usually like to see families at 6 months and 1 year post adoption for follow up assessments. We occasionally recommend families come back at 3 months if specific concerns or needs come up at the initial visit.
We will work closely with your child’s pediatrician, who will remain the main provider of medical care for your child. All details of the visit will be communicated with your pediatrician.
The above services are offered for children adopted domestically and also for children who have been with their adoptive families for months to years and have new onset or ongoing behavioral/developmental or medical concerns.
Meet Our International Adoption Clinic Team
Aarti R. Chandawarkar
Aarti R. Chandawarkar, MD, is a Primary Care Pediatrics physician and Director of the International Adoption Clinic at Nationwide Children's Hospital.