Effects of International Parental Child Abduction on Abducted Children and Left-Behind Parents

The Bureau of Consular Affairs under the Department of State is seeking to fund a single research study titled Effects of International Parental Child Abduction on Abducted Children and Left-Behind Parents to examine the multifaceted impacts of international parental child abduction on both the children taken and the parents who remain behind in the United States. The study aims to identify short- and long-term consequences across psychological, developmental, economic, social, legal, and governmental domains, providing a comprehensive understanding of how IPCA disrupts lives and systems. It will also assess existing support structures to uncover critical gaps in services and resources available to affected families in the U.S., with the ultimate goal of proposing actionable, evidence-based solutions to strengthen support networks and improve outcomes for children and left-behind parents. The solicitation, identified as DFOP0019391 and posted on July 15, 2026, has a submission deadline of September 16, 2026, and is open to researchers or organizations capable of conducting rigorous, multidisciplinary analysis. The study must be designed to generate findings that directly inform policy, program development, and community-based interventions at the national level. Funding will support research that not only documents the human and systemic toll of IPCA but also translates data into practical recommendations for federal, state, and local agencies as well as private and nonprofit service providers. The Bureau of Consular Affairs is the sole point of contact for inquiries, and the research must be conducted with a focus on the United States context, ensuring relevance to domestic legal frameworks, child welfare systems, and support services.