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NEW YORK, Sep 14, 2005 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Many children adopted in the United States from abroad have physical and emotional problems hidden in brief visits to orphanages.
More U.S. families are learning that children adopted from Eastern Europe have startlingly common behavior problems. Many of the problems arise because the children have spent long periods of time in poorly run orphanages without much attention, education or proper nourishment
Russia is a top nation for Americans who adopt abroad. Last year U.S. parents brought home more than 5,000 Russian children. Of those, 14 have been killed because the parents lost control as they tried to cope with unruly children.
Victor Groza, a social work professor at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, told USA Today that 20 percent need lifelong help, and anther 60 percent have serious problems the first year.
These kinds of problems led Congress to pass a law in 2000 to ratify an international agreement known as The Hague Treaty. It would mandate standards for adoption agencies, but is waiting for rules from the State Department.
Copyright 2005 by United Press International.
