e-mail
On Wednesday, Miles Harrison was acquitted of any wrongdoing the death of his adopted Russian-born son, Chase, who died of heatstroke after being left in the car unattended in front of Mr. Harrison’s workplace.
In recent years, the death of Russian-born adopted children has had far reaching implications on the process of adoptions in Russia as well as Russia’s willingness to continue to work with families from the U.S. who are interested in adopting one of the thousands of children currently living in orphanages throughout Russia. This recent case is no different.
A senior official with the Russian Education and Science Ministry stated that Russian officials are “Outraged by the court ruling and believe it to be totally unjust and unacceptable”. Alina Levitskaya went on to say that “It questions the reliability of the U.S. system of protection of adopted children’s [sic] rights, and will lead to tougher requirements for U.S. nationals in Russia.”
This leaves many families wondering what will happen next. The death of Russian-born adopted children has prompted many in Russia to demand tighter controls on the process with more U.S. oversight on Russian-born children once they land on U.S. soil. Russia has even gone as far as demanding that all agencies who place children in U.S. homes be accredited to do so by the Russian government and as a result, three U.S. agencies have been banned from providing adoption services for Russian children, including the agency that was used in the Harrison adoption.
The agency that was used for the Harrison adoption was not and is not banned from doing adoptions in Russia. We are right in the middle of one right now with this agency and they are fabulous.
Ronald Steven Federici is often described as “the country’s expert in the neuropsychological evaluation and treatment of children having multi-sensory neurodevelopmental impairments.”
He is best described as a “developmental neuropsychologist,” specializing in the treatment of “institutional autism” (which he also calls “post-traumatic autism,” or “post-institutional autistic syndrome”).
Dr. Federici is licensed by the Virginia Board, and is the holder of a Psy. D. degree.
Dr. Ronald Federici is the author of “Help for the Hopeless Child: A Guide for Families, With Special Discussion for Assessing and Treating the Post-Institutionalized Child” and is the founder of Neuropsychological and Family Practice Associates, in McLean, Virginia.
He has worked with adopted children from Russia, Romania, Ukraine and Belarus. He is also the father to seven adopted children of his own.
Federici is also an outspoken opponent of dangerous practices, such as those resulting in the death of Candace Newmaker. In addition, he has also sought to provide as much assistance as possible to children living in orphanages and other institutions with deplorable conditions.
More information about Dr. Federici and his work can be found at:
http://ronaldfederici.wordpress.com (Ronald Federici blog)
http://ronfederici.wordpress.com (Ron Federici blog)
http://childrenintherapy.wordpress.com (Children in Therapy)
http://advocatesforchildrenintherapy.wordpress.com (Advocates for Children in Therapy)
http://angelinajolieadoptions.wordpress.com (Angelina Jolie’s adoptions; Dr. Federici is Angelina Jolie’s adoption consultant)