Taking Care of Yourself and Your Family

Finding Emotional Support

Abduction can take a huge emotional and financial toll on left-behind parents. You may experience a wide range of emotions including betrayal, anger, anxiety, depression, and a sense of loss. You may also feel helpless as you tackle the unfamiliar legal and cultural practices of a foreign country. It is important to take care of yourself as you work to secure your child’s return. We encourage you to seek counseling or support services where you can.

 

You may find emotional and practical support through the following channels, however please note: Inclusion of non-U.S. Government links does not imply an endorsement of their contents

Peer Support Groups 

Organizations like Take Root or Team Hope can connect you to other left-behind parents who can provide invaluable support during this painful period.

    • Take Root – 1-800-Root-Org (1-800-766-8674) or www.takeroot.org
    • Team Hope – 1-866-305-HOPE (1-866-305-4673) or www.teamhope.org

Support Organizations: 

America's Stolen Children Network: www.stolenchildren.net
 

Bring Sean Home Foundation:  http://bringseanhome.org/contact.html
 

Child Abduction Resource Center:  www.globalmissing.com
 

Child Find of America, Inc.:  www.childfindofamerica.org
 

Child Protection Education of America:  www.find-missing-children.org
 

Child Quest International:  www.childquest.org
Committee for Missing Children, Inc.:  www.findthekids.org
 

Find the Children:  www.findthechildren.com
 

Lost Children's Network:  www.lostchildren.org/
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children:  www.missingkids.com/
 

National Fathers' Resource Center:  www.fathers4kids.com/html/home.htm
 

National Missing Children Center:  www.childsearch.org/
 

Parent International, Inc.:  www.parentinternational.com/
 

Polly Klaas Foundation:  www.pollyklaas.org/
 

Sanctuary for Families:   www.sanctuaryforfamilies.org
 

The National Center for Refugee & Immigrant Children (U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants)

www.refugees.org/article.aspx?id=1260&subm=75&area=Participate&
 

The Office of Refugee Resettlement Administration for Children and Families www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/

 

Respond to Abduction: Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5