Jump to the information you need
Children, youth and families Healthcare providers
CHEO’s International Adoption Clinic (IAC) opened in 2003. The clinic supports children in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec, as well some patients from across Ontario. While the clinic mostly sees children who have recently arrived in Canada, we do also accept referrals for children who have been in Canada longer when there are specific medical issues or questions.
About our team
Our team consists of a Medical Director Pediatrician with expertise in global child health and international adoption and is supported by a pediatric nurse.
Information for children, youth and families
| Before your appointment |
| Please sign up for a MyChart account before your first visit. Our scheduling team will contact you by phone to schedule an appointment. Our clinic team will contact you prior to your first visit to arrange the secure transfer of any adoption referral information, growth charts, pre-adoption medical laboratory test and imaging results, and consultations performed in the patient’s country of origin, as well as past immunization records. We will strive to review this information in advance of the first consultation to make our time together more efficient. If something changes and you need to reschedule your appointment, please let us know at least 24-48 hours in advance if you are unable to make it by calling 613-737-7600 x2222. No-shows or frequent cancellations may result in discharge from the service. |
| What to expect during your appointment |
| CHEO’s International Adoption Clinic is located in C1 (Main building, level 2- main floor.) You will need to bring the following items to your appointment:
|
| After your appointment |
| Screening laboratory results will be available on MyChart shortly after your first visit, although some specialized testing takes weeks for the final result to be posted. All results will be thoroughly reviewed with families during their next appointment. |
Frequently asked questions
| How can I make an appointment? |
| All patients must be referred by a physician or nurse practitioner. After a referral is received, we will notify the referring physician or nurse practitioner whether the referral has been accepted or denied, and if accepted we will provide an estimated wait time. This wait time can vary based on demand and urgency. Once we have an appointment spot to offer, our scheduling team will reach you by phone to schedule an appointment. |
| Do you accept referrals for patients from Quebec? |
| Yes, by the referral process described above. |
| Who should I contact if I am worried or have questions? |
| For any emergency, call 911. This includes emergencies involving your child’s international adoption-related concerns.
|
| Does the IAC physician provide review of child referral documentation from adoption agencies, during the time when a family is considering adopting a prospective child (pre-adoption)? |
| No, unfortunately at this time we are unable to provide this pre-adoption service. |
| Can we book the first clinic visit while we are still with our child in their country of origin? |
| Unfortunately, due to many potential changes in travel plans for families, this is not possible. We look forward to booking their first consultation with a referral, shortly after your return to Canada. |
| My child has been in Canada for a few years, but they are experiencing a potential adoption-related medical issue. Will the clinic still assess them? |
| While our clinic’s services may be most helpful immediately after your child’s adoption, yes, we have accepted patient referrals after a period of time home. This also applies to re-referrals for past patients of the IAC who have been discharged from the clinic, for whom new issues have come up. Please contact our clinic if you have a unique scenario to review. |
Sign up for MyChart to access your CHEO health record anywhere, any time.
MyChart is a secure, online patient portal that connects you to parts of your CHEO electronic health record and allows you to send two-way secure communication to your care team, complete any questionnaires your care team sends and much more.
To learn more about MyChart and sign up, visit our MyChart page and fill out the MyChart Access Request Form.
Information for Healthcare Providers
CHEO’s International Adoption Clinic provides pediatric consultation for children adopted from a multitude of countries. We screen for common medical conditions, infectious diseases and complications arising from institutional care. We review past immunization schedules and provide advice to primary care providers for vaccine reconciliation and catch-up immunization planning according to the NACI (National Advisory Committee on Immunization) Canadian guidelines.
We aim to review nutrition, growth, development, attachment,and psychological issues through a minimum of 5 clinic visits over 2 years. We recommend early intervention for development concerns through referral to appropriate local health care providers.
Make a referral
Our clinic is now accepting e-referrals with Ocean!
If you’re already on Ocean, look us up via your account by searching "CHEO".
If you don’t yet have an Ocean account, no problem - signing up is free.
You can make an e-referral using Ocean, or send a referral by mail or fax to our address below.
| Referral criteria and eligibility |
||||||||
Other information If the child has been in Canada for some time, please include interim medical history under your care. |
Other helpful information for providers
The key Canadian publication for International Adoption (Public Health Agency of Canada) was co-authored by CHEO Drs. Hui and MacDonnell as well as Susan Kuhn (Calgary).
There is a section on International Adoption in the Caring for Kids New to Canada publication from the Canadian Pediatric Society, reviewed by CHEO IAC Physicians.
Contact us
International Adoption Clinic
CHEO
401 Smyth Road
Ottawa, ON K1H 8L1
Location: CHEO Clinic C1
Email: iac@cheo.on.ca
Fax written referrals to: 613-738-4292