The adoption agencies involved in the international placement of children with families should assess prospective parents' ability to manage the distinctive challenges faced by the adoption of a child from another culture, which may include a language barrier. Further, the agency should provide ongoing support and advice for the parents after the child has been placed in the home. Even the best adoption agencies, however, struggle with the conflict between adequately informing prospective parents about the challenges they will face and the desire to find homes for needy children. Pediatricians are another logical source of sound, independent advice; however, relatively few in the United States are trained in how to address the variety of issues that may arise in international adoptions. Although the number of international adoption clinics and pediatricians is increasing, they are not available in all States, and they are located primarily in major metropolitan areas. The school system could be another helpful resource for parents who have adopted children from other countries. These parents are often told, however, that the child should not be evaluated for special services until he/she is proficient in English. Psychological services for children and families are equally problematic. There is a shortage of clinical child psychologists and psychiatrists in the United States, and most of those who are in these professions have not received training in issues related to international adoption in general and postinstitutionalized children in particular. 12 references