[NancyAshe]

Masha, the young girl adopted from Russia who was horrifically abused and sexually exploited with photos on the Internet by her adoptive father, Matthew Mancuso, will be back in the spotlight this week. She will appear today (Jan. 17) on Oprah, live at 4PM EST. Her advisor, James Marsh, Esq. and Maureen Flatley, will appear on CNN with Nancy Grace tomorrow (Oct. 18) at 8PM EST. On the 19th, ABC PrimeTime (which initially aired the story last December) will present an update at 10PM EST, and on Saturday the 20th, Oprah After the Show will air on the Oxygen Network at 7PM EST with more about the story.

When Masha's story first went public, it generated a huge amount of discussion including concerns about Masha's emotional well-being, and questions about other children who may be abused, the future of Russia adoptions and about the manner in which homestudies and followup reports are conducted.

In the wake of that initial wave of publicity, Masha herself wrote to Russian President Putin to ask that adoptions not be stopped, and earlier this month, she appeared with Massachusetts Senator John Kerry to promote a bill that would radically increase penalties for those who download child pornography from the Internet.

In November 2005, Mancuso was sentenced to life in prison. Masha has been readopted, and is living in a warm and loving home.

For ongoing updates, a copy of Masha's letter to President Putin, and more, visit http://www.mashastory.info/.

[Opus]

I know that a lot of people in the adoption community did not think highly of the first television special regarding her case. Most of the concern was that it would contribute to the elimination of the adoption of Russian children to US citizens. I remember the special being described as exploitive of Masha. I wasn't able to watch the whole show, but from what I did see I didn't find it that way at all. I was glad to hear that Masha herself wrote President Putin that US adoptions of Russian children not be adversely effected.

This is an issue of child abuse and I truly admire Masha's ability to discuss her case, as well as her new adoptive family for supporting her through her interactions with the media. Mr. Manusco truly deserved his sentence.

[Kippa Herring]

"This is an issue of child abuse . . . "

It is, but it's more than just that.
It's about corrupt and lazy adoption practices in both Russia and America, and the attempt made by the US side to censor Masha's story in order to protect its interests.

". . . and I truly admire Masha's ability to discuss her case, as well as her new adoptive family for supporting her through her interactions with the media. Mr. Manusco truly deserved his sentence."

Amen to all that.

[Opus]

Originally Posted by Kippa Herring

"This is an issue of child abuse . . . "

It is, but it's more than just that.
It's about corrupt and lazy adoption practices in both Russia and America, and the attempt made by the US side to censor Masha's story in order to protect its interests.

Agreed. I wrote that post in a hurry. Thanks for bringing up a very good point - it is very much about political corruption.

[Kippa Herring]

Originally Posted by Opus

Agreed. I wrote that post in a hurry. Thanks for bringing up a very good point - it is very much about political corruption.

Thursday's Nancy Grace interview on CNN with James Marsh, Masha's attorney and advisor, and Maureen Flatley, child advocate, can be found on CNN.com transcripts.
Maureen Flatley makes the point that there's no federal regulation of adoption of any kind. Furthermore, the standards for adopting from a foreign country are extraordinarily low, vary from state to state and in some cases are practically non-existent. She advocates developing a single national standard to protect children wherever they come from.

[grace19]

I saw Masha's story on Oprah earlier this week. It was the first time I heard about the terrible ordeal she had been through. Her story was so upsetting to me that I physically felt sick to my stomach. My heart just broke for Masha and others like her. It's so cruel to adopt just to sexually abuse someone like Matthew Mancuso did. The frightening thing is that this is probably not the first time or the last something like this has happened to innocent children. The children have already been through enough and deserve a loving adoptive family. I feel very passionate about this story and learning about it impacted me deeply. All this week it keeps coming back to mind. I have to remind myself all single or married people are not sick like this man is and they want to be the best adoptive parents they can be. I agree that there should be much stronger laws to protect children and prevent this from taking place again. I'm so glad to hear that Mr. Mancuso got a life sentence. He derves so much more than a life sentence but that's what he got. ok I'm off my soap box now.

[CeltiaSkye]

Originally Posted by Kippa Herring

Thursday's Nancy Grace interview on CNN with James Marsh, Masha's attorney and advisor, and Maureen Flatley, child advocate, can be found on CNN.com transcripts.
Maureen Flatley makes the point that there's no federal regulation of adoption of any kind. Furthermore, the standards for adopting from a foreign country are extraordinarily low, vary from state to state and in some cases are practically non-existent. She advocates developing a single national standard to protect children wherever they come from.

If the standards from adopting from a foreign country are so low, why have I just spent the past five months of my life submitting to a homestudy, doctors exams, criminal background checks by my local police, state police, and FBI, review of my finanacial records, etc? Between my husband and I we have over 60 separate documents that we must submit to the Russian government. Please explain to me how that is nonexistant!

[Kippa Herring]

Originally Posted by CeltiaSkye

If the standards from adopting from a foreign country are so low, why have I just spent the past five months of my life submitting to a homestudy, doctors exams, criminal background checks by my local police, state police, and FBI, review of my finanacial records, etc? Between my husband and I we have over 60 separate documents that we must submit to the Russian government. Please explain to me how that is nonexistant!

Well, you'd have to ask Maureen Flately about that.
But as far as I know (Nancy might need to confirm or correct this), the only accreditation process for adoption agencies is voluntary, and pursued by a small minority of agencies.
I believe Russia now allows adoption only through agencies the Russian government has accredited.
Your agency may be one of these. If that's the case, be glad, not mad :-) It's the right thing.

[Kippa Herring]

Originally Posted by CeltiaSkye

If the standards from adopting from a foreign country are so low, why have I just spent the past five months of my life submitting to a homestudy, doctors exams, criminal background checks by my local police, state police, and FBI, review of my finanacial records, etc? Between my husband and I we have over 60 separate documents that we must submit to the Russian government. Please explain to me how that is nonexistant!

I've just read the report about the recent crackdown on Russian and US child traffickers.
I think that gives some weight to Maureen Flately's remarks.
Remember, she didn't say standards were "completely" non-existent. She said they were "practically" non-existent.
Standards vary from state to state, which is why a single national standard is such an important goal.

[Southernroots]

Standards vary from state to state, which is why a single national standard is such an important goal.

I believe that is true for domestic and international adoptions. Currently, there is not enough accountability - adoption agencies and/or lawyers have too much leeway and are not regulated enough. That will continue for as long as we allow it to happen.

[Kippa Herring]

Originally Posted by Southernroots

I believe that is true for domestic and international adoptions. Currently, there is not enough accountability - adoption agencies and/or lawyers have too much leeway and are not regulated enough. That will continue for as long as we allow it to happen.

Right. What you say is true of both domestic and international adoptions, and it allows for confusion at best and criminal abuse at worst.

Editedthe organization cited in the Adoption News article about the Russian/U.S child trafficking exposé, used a loophole in California law that allowed it to connect foreign children with prospective adoptive parents without obtaining a licence as an adoption agency. Other states have more restrictive laws.

Edited was involved in the adoption of Alexei Geiko, who was killed in the US by his adoptive mother, Irma Pavlis.

[BrandyHagz]

Folks, while I appreciate the fact that there is a lot of news going on regarding an organization here in the US in regards to International Adoption – our Agency Discussion Guideline clearly prohibits the discussion of agencies by name, even if they are the subject of many news reports.

[lovestruck]

I think people need to be careful when talking about things they do not know about. Including the media. Masha was abused. How her father got through the system leaves all of us who are adopting from Russia and who have adopted from Russia speechless. The amount of background checks, medical histories, visits by social workers, and follow up visits that are required are mandated not by just our agencies but Russia. Day by day Russia requirements become more stringent. What Masha's father did was unspeakable!! He deserves the harshest punishment!! HOw he slipped through the system we would love to know!! How there were no follow up visits to his home and post placement reports due is a mystery because I can't reiterate enough, those of us adopting have had our lives investigated thouroughly and are continuing to once our children are brought home. Adoptions recently slowed down and stopped in some cases because of families not completing post placement reports. I could go on and on.

[kretzklan]

I'm really trying to control myself right now. But, threads like this are exactly the way that mis-information gets spread...beyond the media...and I could go on and on about the media in general.

The bottom line here is that this situation with Masha is a travesty - on all levels...but to make a sweeping comment or comments about an entire sector of adoption (international) is ignorant at best. There is a strict accrediation process for agencies in Russia now. In fact, they are not allowing independent adoptions any longer. If a post-placement report is missed (ONE MISSING REPORT for a whole agency...that agency can and will lose their re-accrediation). As someone who just returned home with our two children from Russia and someone very involved in that particular sector of adoption...I am bothered that this thread is making it sound as though all parents adopting from Russia (or internationally in general) are "cheating the system" in some way. Celtia made a valid point...we jump through a million hoops for both the US and the Russian government. Yes, it's the right thing - we don't expect to have a child handed to us...but we do the work and our agencies do the work.
This man who adopted Masha - broke a lot of rules...so did his agency and social worker.
Just, please, don't stand up on a soap box when you don't know who's under it.

[Kippa Herring]

Originally Posted by lovestruck

I think people need to be careful when talking about things they do not know about. Including the media. Masha was abused. How her father got through the system leaves all of us who are adopting from Russia and who have adopted from Russia speechless.

But get through he did.

Originally Posted by lovestruck

The amount of background checks, medical histories, visits by social workers, and follow up visits that are required are mandated not by just our agencies but Russia. Day by day Russia requirements become more stringent.

Without the media attention that has been focused on some of these cases, it's not likely the requirements would ever have been tightened.

Originally Posted by lovestruck

What Masha's father did was unspeakable!! He deserves the harshest punishment!! HOw he slipped through the system we would love to know!! How there were no follow up visits to his home and post placement reports due is a mystery because I can't reiterate enough, those of us adopting have had our lives investigated thouroughly and are continuing to once our children are brought home.

It may be a mystery, but it's also a fact.
I'm sure the majority of people who adopt from abroad are thoroughly monitored and investigated, but surely that is a good thing thing if it helps prevent further abuse.