Medical and social information on the child is important! The medical/social area is the third major pitfall into which prospective adoptive parents often fall. Consider medical tests, physical measurements (normal for age?), developmental information, social development, pictures and/or video tape of child, if older school information, other data on social development.
It is important to gain as much insight as you can into the child's socio-emotional developmental and mental health status.
Due to issues related to separation, loss, grief, as well as abandonment, abuse, neglect and multiple disruptions in the lives of some children, they may have special emotional or mental health needs. A quality assessment in this area can help you to determine the types of services and supports you will need upon bringing the child into your family.
For a better interpretation of the child's referral, see list of international adoption clinics at Families Thru International Adoption. There are additional steps that you can use to ensure undiagnosed problems are revealed - please check these steps out in the beginner's guides. For more information on Medical and other issues, see the Medline Plus Site by National Library of Medicine and National Institute of Health.