[tammyBoyer]

Does anyone know if there is an online chat support groups for Los Angeles and/or Orange County adoptive families with children from Russia who are having attachment and/or developmental problems? Also, has anyone any knowledge about dev. pediatricians and/or treatment centers in So. Cal? I know of a couple but am trying to expand the list.

Many thanks
Tammy
MSW in post-adoption services

[iammonikasmom]

I have a daughter from Romania with developmental, fetal alcohol to name a few. We went and saw a Dr. Federicci in Virginia. He is a neuropsychologist and is superb. It was worth the time and flight for what you walk away with. He specializes in Romania, Russian children and goes to the orphanages all the time. I know he is no in California but he is world reknown.

[tammyBoyer]

Yes, I've heard of Dr. Federici and know his work. I've uncovered some excellent specialists here in the So. Cal region too, including FAS. We're gathering parents and I've met with some agencies to get support and let parents know. It should be really fun and helpful; we'll have experts come and talk about therapies that work, OT therapy and Sensory Integration and much more. There will be plenty of time too, to talk about our families and I'll be on hand to help find referrals for parents. All of this is free of charge - it's part of my training for my therapist license and free for me advice on parenting because I want to adopt too!Esp. Russian because I can speak it a little.

Please join our group!
Tammy

You can reach me at infantmentalhealth@verizon.net

[KAJ]

i live in LA and am planning on adopting a boy and girl under age 4 from Russia. with a pre-adoption medical review and possibly an additional medical exam before the actual adoption, is there still a good chance that the children could have irreversable delays? I am not interested in a child with medical/mental problems that are permanent.

[tammyBoyer]

How exciting for you! Don't worry, there are lots of ways to minimize, if not eradicate the possibility that you'll choose a daughter only to discover on arrival that she is too sick for you to care for her.

I would recommend corroborating any info you have on your prospective children by seeking second opinions from doctors not affiliated with the agency. And you're in luck, because we have one of the world's best cadre of IA Medical, therpaeutic and social work experts in the county.

Now, to allay your worries, you should get get a photo, a medical chart or med history of the child, any info on child's orphanage, family history and if possible a video on her. Then RUN to your nearest and best qualified developmental pediatrician (not just a pediatrician because you need a developmental assessment as well as medical assessment.)

My Heartfelt plea and if I need to, I'll provide a donation, is to get you into see Gary Feldman. Dr Feldman and I have worked together a long time he is is prized as one of the nation's foremost International Adoption developmental pediatricians -having worked at Rainbow Babies in Cleveland before opening the brand new IA Adoption Program at Miller's Children's hospital here in Long Beach. Gary will astonish you with what he can tell you about your daughter just by looking at records, stories, photos and/or videos. He'll also tell you what to expect upon the child's arrival so you can plan an easy transition and bonding process. Gary will tell you if the child has potential serious medical or behavioral issues. Of course, the diagnosis can't be complete until he can see her in person.

As for developmental delays or medical issues - almost all IA kids have some concerns. usually, they're fairly healthy but will be about 2 or 3 years behind their chronological age in development.

But happily, these problems often disappear within a year. Better nutrition, techniques to improve their sensory experiences and self regulation by taking it all very slowly (easing the child into school after a few months, not right away; keeping their world contained and not too stimulating since they 've never had that much stimulation before in their life); a little help with family parenting tips or if some intervention is necessary - using proven short term work (not attachment or holding therapies. These therapies have no scientific standing in the professions and the federal government has banned support for them).

But there are great services out there. Sesnory integration is oftena highly recommended short term program that helps IA kids catch up on developmental delays (motor coordination, integrating sight sound smell, fine motor skills etc. Sounds simple but if you've been a child locked away in an institution - there's no one to teach you these things!)

My job as future mom and specialist in this area as well as my many colleagues who can help is just to help you make informed decisions and support you with services to ensure your child will be just fine. You'll be well supported throughout the process but make sure you turn to the professionals for advice before taking parent support group advice. They mean well, but there's a lot of misinformation out there.

Ok so Gary Feldman can be reached at:
562-424-4815. or gfeldman@memorialcare.org. TELL HIM I SENT YOU. Even if you already have a doctor assisting you on pre-evals through your agency, trust me on this one and invest in seeing Gary for asecond opinion, at least for the pre eval. He's just the best expert you could find in the U.S.

Sorry for long missive. Hope this eases your mind.
Feel free to stay in touch. My email is: infantmentalhealth@verizon.net

Best
Tammy Boyer
MSW, MA