American Torry-Ann Hansen SENDS BACK Adopted Russian Son Artem

[Fatal1913]

Do they tell you if a child is mentally challenged prior to the completion of an adoption?

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by Fatal1913

Do they tell you if a child is mentally challenged prior to the completion of an adoption?

This is part of the problem. A lot of orphanages and agencies aren't disclosing known mental OR physical health problems with the kids, especially when foreigners are adopting the kids. Do you remember what happened when Americans adopted the children from Romanian orphanages after the fall of Communism?

There was a similar case in Minnesota, where the adoptive parents went to the state and shared their concerns. In this case, the parents had already adopted a Russian baby with little problem; the orphanages were different.

Also, let's not forget that many, if not most, of the kids in these orphanages aren't orphans at all and were just dropped off by their parents for whatever reason. Who knows what they saw and experienced before being dropped off?

[DaffyKD]

We have a family member who was adopted from Russia. At the time the child was 7 months old. The adoptive parents were sent a tape of the child to be reviewed by doctors. They knew that there might be some developmental delays since he was turned over to the orphanage by the mother the day he was born and thus not given the attention necessary for proper development. Once the child turn 4 the parents were informed by doctors here that many of the child's problems were because of attachment disorders. There is no way the child is going to be returned to Russia, the parents spend lots of money on therapy and special school in order to help the child become successful in life.

To send the child back after 6 months because of behavior is awful. A 7 year old come with lots of baggage, and that means it will take time to adjust, learn a new language, not feel as if they are abandoned, and feel loved. There is no way this child will develop instant love and respect for the adoptive family. He is still trying to figure out what is going on.

DaffyKD

[deepimpact2]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

Do you remember what happened when Americans adopted the children from Romanian orphanages after the fall of Communism?

I don't. What happened?

And thanks everyone for your insightful posts. I find the story to be disturbing on so many levels.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by deepimpact2

I don't. What happened?

And thanks everyone for your insightful posts. I find the story to be disturbing on so many levels.

Basically, the Communist dictator (Ceausescu) ordered kids in orphanages to undergo regular blood transfusions so they would look "healthier," and thus more attractive to potential adoptive parents. Basically, they didn't look healthy because they were malnourished, not held, and all of the other important things you need to do to take care of a small child. It's not surprising, then, that their medical records were doctored so the Americans, who came in to adopt in droves after Ceausescu was executed, would have no problems adopting a cute white baby whose parents were MIA.

When the kids just couldn't shake colds and always seemed sick, the confused parents took kids to the doctor, where they were diagnosed with AIDS. The kids who were adopted by Americans were lucky in that they had access to better medical care.

I vividly remember the "black backlash" about White parents adopting Black babies, and I ignored it back then too. People who complain about a problem without offering a solution suck. I know of a handful of black families who have adopted; most often it tends to be within the family or the community, or even within a church.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

I vividly remember the "black backlash" about White parents adopting Black babies, and I ignored it back then too. People who complain about a problem without offering a solution suck. I know of a handful of black families who have adopted; most often it tends to be within the family or the community, or even within a church.

Yep.

deepimpact, when I type about Blacks and the Black community, I am speaking generally. It doesn't matter what's going on at the individual-level in terms of some people's jobs, some people's neighborhoods, and among some people's friends and families. These are the exceptions. The "rule" is that adoption is more uncommon (and tends to hold a stigma) among Blacks and that is definitely correlated with the higher fertility rate and disproportionate poverty of Blacks.

There are Black adoption agencies and Homes for Black Children has a 2005 article online (I doubt much has changed since 2005) where they think they are disspelling myths about Blacks and adoption. I won't get into the other stuff, but:


"Reality: African American families are willing and able to adopt
At the time Homes for Black Children was formed, the prevailing belief in child welfare was that African American families were poor and already had as many or more children than they could afford. For some, that belief remains. We, however, knew that there were black families who were financially, emotionally, and spiritually capable of adopting. We knew about families who postponed having children to build a solid economic foundation for their lives, and then found they could not give birth.
In our first six months of operation, more than 700 families from across the U.S. called or wrote to us about adopting. In our first year, with a staff of six, Homes for Black Children placed 135 African American children in adoptive homes—more than the other 13 metro Detroit child welfare agencies combined."
Source: http://www.nacac.org/adoptalk/blackadoptionmyths.html

Sure, this may be true, but that doesn't translate to "many" Black families in comparison to the total pool of Black families. It also doesn't mean that adoption is a common (non-stigmatized and non-secretive) practice in the larger Black community. Moreover, having 700 families inquire about adoption (for whatever reasons) doesn't mean that the majority of those families would make it past the first two rounds of screening (hopefully, there is rigorous screening) and be found suitable.

This doesn't mean that the majority of white inquirers are suitable, but the pool and probability are larger due to the larger population size of whites (white families) as compared to Blacks.

[christiangirl]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

This doesn't mean that the majority of white inquirers are suitable, but the pool and probability are larger due to the larger population size of whites (white families) as compared to Blacks.

Good point and well said.

[ThetaPrincess24]

I heard back from my friends this morning who left last week to finalize their adoption in Russia. They were able to process the adoption through 1 hour BEFORE Russia officially stopped adoptions to the United States. They will get custody of her on APril 27th, get all of her paperwork and then bring her home to Kentucky on May 3rd.

God is so great!!!

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally Posted by Fatal1913

Do they tell you if a child is mentally challenged prior to the completion of an adoption?

I am unsure as to what all Russia discloses. I know that Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a huge issue in a lot of the orphanages, and it does an adoptive family well to request current weight and measurements and allow a doctor who is experienced with foreign adoptions to review the medical history they send you. This helped my friends avoid some trouble. They were up for a brother & sister adoption. Once they got the current measurements back on the boy, it was clear he had fetal alcohol syndrome which was something that wasnt disclosed initially on the paperwork. It is not uncommon for adoptive parents to bring children back here from a foreign adoption, get checked out by an American doctor, and discover other problems. If the problems are intentially left out of the paperwork or not is speculation. Failure to thrive is a major issue with children from a lot of foreign countries because there are so many children and not enough help.

With Russia anyway you do have to make a trip to Russia to meet your child for a few days, and then in a few months you go back for about 28 days or so to pick them up and finalize the adoption process. Atleast that is how my friends have done it/are doing it.