Pre-Adoptive Child Health Counseling

Q: I have just received my referral, now what do I do?

A: Referral materials may be sent to the International Adoption Clinic via a courier service (FedEx, UPS, DHL), US Mail, or dropped off in person.  Clinic staff make every attempt to call you within four working days.  Consultations are typically provided via telephone by Laurie Miller, MD or Linda Tirella.  Please include the following with each referral:

1. Completed request form.   
2. A donation check (payable to Pratt Pediatrics and mailed to International Adoption Clinic) to defray costs of professional time, telephone expenses and postage.  Unfortunately, we cannot take credit cards at this time.  We suggest a $300 donation for all countries.  Additional donations are appreciated for unusually complex material, referrals requiring input from additional medical specialists, and/ or extensive follow-up contacts (videos, medical details).  Consultations are typically provided via telephone by Laurie Miller or Linda Tirella. 
3. When available, copies of medical reports; photos; VHS video or original (which can be returned to you); DVD or VCD (brief clips should be formatted as: .mpg, .wm, .wma, .wmp, .wmv).
4. Alternately, you may wish to discuss your child's referral in person for a clinic donation of $350.  Please call 617-636-4285 if you would like to schedule an in-person consult.
5. We are typically able to respond within 12 hours on a business day.

E-mail Referrals or Photos

Due to the large volume of e-mails we receive, please follow these instructions for referrals you e-mail:

1. Complete the request form and attach it to your initial e-mail.
2. Mail donation check (payable to Pratt Pediatrics and mailed to International Adoption Clinic Box 190).  Additional donations are appreciated for unusually complex material, referrals requiring input from additional medical specialists, and/ or extensive follow-up contacts.   
3. SUBJECT line: your last name, indicate if this is a "new" or "follow-up" referral.
4. Confirm your donation in the first e-mail for administrative and filing purposes.  
5. Please keep digital photo files to a manageable size and quantity (mail printed photos if there are 5 or more images).  
6. E-mail to Laurie Miller (lmiller1@tuftsmedicalcenter.org) AND Linda Tirella (ltirella@tuftsmedicalcenter.org) to assure a timely response.  Consultations are typically provided via telephone. 

Medical Reviews While Overseas

Q: I will not be receiving a referral until I travel overseas. What do I do?

A: In some regions of Eastern Europe, minimal information is provided prior to travel. We are happy to support families and make every effort to accommodate schedules for such "blind referral" overseas consults.

1. Mail us a completed request form and a $300 donation (payable to Pratt Pediatrics and mailed to International Adoption Clinic) BEFORE traveling.  Indicate that you are considering a "blind referral" and we will prepare your consultation files upon receiving these items.
2. Call us at 617-636-4285 when you know your specific travel and meeting dates.
3. On the first day of meeting your child, e-mail lmiller1@tufts-nemc.org and ltirella@tufts-nemc.org with medical records, observations, questions, and photographs.  Add SUBJECT line: In [country], [last name].  Photos should capture the child at play, in full body, close-ups of the face (preferably not smiling), facial profile, and other features of concern.  Typically 5-10 photographs provide us with enough information to evaluate. If no e-mail is available, fax information to 617-636-8388.
4. We will e-mail initial impressions and questions to pursue on day two, and our available phone consult times. Please be specific about your phone, room numbers, and availability (Monday through Friday). We ask you to call us OR return our call to help cover phone expenses. Due to time differences families typically call on their second night (mid-day Boston/EST).
5. Day three provides another opportunity to pursue questions with orphanage staff, and to solicit our ongoing advice. We understand the time pressure to make decisions, and do our best to accommodate families in a timely fashion while they are away.
6. Many families mail us a videotape upon return to the U.S. following their first trip.  Please transfer videotapes from your camera into standard VHS format.