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In reading through the posts, several people have said that agencies aren't likely to be honest about attachment issues b/c they have a vested interest in getting the kids adopted. I would say that if you come across an agency which is discussing an older child adoption (or really any adoption) without actively addressing attachment issues, I would be extremely skeptical (personally I would not go any further with that agency).
There are agencies which have entire staff dedicated solely to readjustment issues, especially attachment issues. If you'd like to PM me, I can give you the name of one agency who is very focused on making sure adoptive parents understand the potential issues, and have the appropriate support from them and any outside help they may need.
We did not adopt an older child--we adopted an 8 month old. However, I did meet many people along the way who were adopting older children from Ethiopia (I mean up to age 13 or so) and they chose Ethiopia specifically b/c most of the older children there have not been in orphanages since birth, as in many countries. Most have been there 0-2 years, as their parents have died or have left them for other reasons (extreme poverty, etc). There can always be attachment issues, so I am not suggesting otherwise, but most of the people I know who adopted older children from Ethiopia said that there was a great deal of grief for these children, as they did remember their loving families. But b/c they had loved and been loved, they did not have trouble loving again once they could work through their grief. The agency I can recommend would discuss this, and the potential for attachment disorders with you--they are very frank about it.
In fact, agencies do have a stake in revealing this information to you. If they tell you all will be well, and a-parents are not prepared, they are likely to disrupt the adoption, which is good for no one, including the agency.
Teranga.
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