The story of the young Russian boy whose American adoptive mother sent him back to his birth country has sparked seemingly countless stories about adoption, and U.S.-Russia relations. But there’s another story emerging: one of adoption agencies glossing over the medical and mental conditions of children they’re trying to place.

“In the first videos her future parents saw, Abby looked like a sweet timid child. The couple expected some challenges but didn’t realize how much Abby suffered from attachment disorder. After the adoption was completed, the orphanage gave the couple more videos showing a very different child – much angrier, almost menacing.” [Source: BBC]

In other instances, full medical recorders aren’t released to adoptive parents until the day the adoption in finalized. U.S. and Russian officials are working together to create a more open adoption process, and to make support systems more readily available to parents who are having trouble. Though Abby’s parents were surprised by what they saw in the second group of videos, they say Abby has adjusted well to her new life in the U.S.

Labels: international, Russia, parental_rights

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton