Post Adoptions Services????

Wow, I am finially into the boards. Thanks Sabra! Post adoption services were non-existant from our agency. We filled out quarterly reports, but never heard a word from them. As the reports started to show problems, noone called or touched base with us. Fortunately I earn a living obtaining services for the disabled, so knew how to find what I needed. My most invaluable resource initially was The Parent Network for the Post Instituitionalized Child. Thais literally spent hours on the phone with me over those first several months of assessment, questions and inquiry. I also have a love for learning and attended many conferences and read everything I could get my hands on in those early days. It seemed like each assessment led to recommendations for another. We saw audiologists, psychologists, OT's, neuro-psychologists. But finially walked away with a fairly accurate idea of what we were dealing with. Lots of wrong diagnosis in there along the way too. ODD was the first wrong diagnosis, but we knew that from the beginning. Another was ADHD. This behavior is really reactive in my son, not true ADHD. He acts ADHD in reaction to stress, sensory overload, anxiety, etc. Would love to hear if anyone out there acutally got help accessing resources from their adoption agency? I am working on my MSW and would love to eventually work with parents, helping them to access the resources necessary to help their children. DimasMom

Your son may have what is called Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and it could possibly be complicated by some of the aspects of Primal Wound and maybe even Bipolar Syndrome.Side effects from the drugs used in treating these things can be difficult to deal with as well.Extreme nausia and drowsiness are quite common,however,the effects don't seem to be quite as bad in children (different drugs and dosages are used).There is no real cure for these things but they can be improved with medication and therapy.My personal adoption agency was more of a hinderance than it was helpful.

"Not in your area. We don't cover your county."....is what our agency told us when we adopted older children. They had placed three children (different adoptions) in our family; and when we 'got vocal' about how bizarre and dangerous one of the kids were, this is the response we got. Thank God.....and I mean just that......for another agency that offered 'post adoption services'. This therapist was newly trained in attachment therapy, and in the past, had been a special ed. teacher. It was she who really got the ball rolling and saved our family. Our son was sorely misrepresented to us. We now have the paperwork which states how severe his problems were. (By law, the state was to have given us this info to begin with.....and had we known, we would have realized he needed to be in a different setting altogether!) He now resides in residential with severe and dangerous behaviors. It was the post adoption therapist who realized what was going on. It was she and she alone that tried to bring in more services and suggestions of therapies. It was also she who supported us in removing him from our home w/o the 'help' of the state system. It continues to be her job by helping families even now, and, if need be, 'bucking the state system' that tries so very hard to turn it's back on children they knew were too severe to place in families. She has been and continues to be 'a Godsend' to us and other familes in need. Sincerely, Linny

Guess I could have included more info in my original post. My son is now 9, has been home for 6 years (in two weeks!). Our journey has taken us thru several therapists until we started with Dr. Art. A little over 1 year ago, my son successfully completed therapy for RAD. I fully believe that RAD is a thing of the past. He's pretty close to a typical kid, yes a little residue, but nothing major. He's also successfully medicated for mild bipolar. Has been getting incredible OT for the past year for sensory integration. School is truly our only source of frustration. My son is a testimony to how wonderfully some kids can heal when they have the drive to get better, and are provided with the right therapies. A little story to share (and yes - some bragging rights). Last week was his first week of YMCA day camp. They have a program on Fridays for the parents. I was telling my son how excited I was to see his skit later that day. This little boy, formerly a violent and out of control radling, says to me "I can't wait to see you laughing Mommy, our skit is really funny". Maybe only the parent of a healed RAD can appreciate the depth of a comment like that - He is excited about making me happy! And maybe that's the silver lining to RAD, I am able to so much more appreciate all those simply little things that I use to take for granted! DimasMom

We were promised the world prior to the placement of our two children and have received nothing but run around since. In our last open meeting, the social worker promised us many things. None were delivered and my husband finally drove to the agency to pick them up six months later. As far as services are concerned, there is a lot of finger pointing between our local agency and the county we adopted through. We have received help with nothing. "Sorry, funds are gone" has been our most recent reply. Luckily, at this point, our children haven't needed many services and I shudder to think what will happen when and if they do.;