History ISS USA
About ISS USA
International Social Service (ISS) is a nonsectarian, nonprofit international social work agency. ISS provides services to children, families and adults who encounter sociolegal problems around the world. It is composed of an international network of over 150 national branches, affiliated bureaus and correspondents, with its General Secretariat in Geneva. Each of the ISS units operates as an individual, autonomous entity within a federated structure. This network expedites communication among social service agencies in different countries in order to resolve sociolegal problems of individuals and families. The reach of the ISS federation is worldwide. In 2001 International Social Service—United States of America Branch (ISS—USA) provided intercountry casework services on five continents. In all, the federation served more than 20,000 households last year.
Our History
During the early part of the 20th century, concern was mounting around the world for women and children separated from the heads of their families who had migrated to America. The women and children attempting to reunite their families faced long journeys, health problems, exploitation, difficulties in finding accommodation, confusing regulations and language barriers. These circumstances, and the need for an organized response, were the subject of two international conventions convened by the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), the first in 1914 in Stockholm, the second in 1920 in Chambery, France.
In 1921, the YWCA undertook a survey of the needs of migrating persons and set up service bureaus in several countries where cooperative action at two or more points might be achieved. Offices were established in Prague, Warsaw, Paris, Athens and Constantinople; in the main European departure points of Piraews, Antwerp, Cherbourg, Le Havre and Marseilles; and on Ellis Island. The service bureaus found themselves dealing with a gamut of human problems requiring service between countries. The World YWCA recognized that the need was for service to families, rather than to young women only, and that such service could be given most effectively through a nonsectarian international organization.
International Social Service (ISS) is a nonsectarian, nonprofit international social work agency. ISS provides services to children, families and adults who encounter sociolegal problems around the world. It is composed of an international network of over 150 national branches, affiliated bureaus and correspondents, with its General Secretariat in Geneva. Each of the ISS units operates as an individual, autonomous entity within a federated structure. This network expedites communication among social service agencies in different countries in order to resolve sociolegal problems of individuals and families. The reach of the ISS federation is worldwide. In 2001 International Social Service—United States of America Branch (ISS—USA) provided intercountry casework services on five continents. In all, the federation served more than 20,000 households last year.
Our History
During the early part of the 20th century, concern was mounting around the world for women and children separated from the heads of their families who had migrated to America. The women and children attempting to reunite their families faced long journeys, health problems, exploitation, difficulties in finding accommodation, confusing regulations and language barriers. These circumstances, and the need for an organized response, were the subject of two international conventions convened by the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), the first in 1914 in Stockholm, the second in 1920 in Chambery, France.
In 1921, the YWCA undertook a survey of the needs of migrating persons and set up service bureaus in several countries where cooperative action at two or more points might be achieved. Offices were established in Prague, Warsaw, Paris, Athens and Constantinople; in the main European departure points of Piraews, Antwerp, Cherbourg, Le Havre and Marseilles; and on Ellis Island. The service bureaus found themselves dealing with a gamut of human problems requiring service between countries. The World YWCA recognized that the need was for service to families, rather than to young women only, and that such service could be given most effectively through a nonsectarian international organization.