Head of adoption agency knows what she's talking about Sun, Feb. 26, 2006
BY MAUREEN HOUSTON
News-Democrat
Brenda Henn didn't set out to run an adoption agency. "I was a speech therapist from the Midwest. I went to Hungary to get my child (in July 1993)." When Russian doctors (Slava Platonov and Yelena Kogan) who had emigrated to St. Louis read her adoption story in a newspaper, they wanted to do something for the orphans of Russia. The result is Small World Adoption Foundation of Missouri Inc., based in Ballwin, Mo. "When people come in our little office, they say, 'Do you have any other offices?' 'No, this is world headquarters,'" said Brenda 49, director of operations. "I have the best job in the whole world. It's the most fabulous experience. I feel like I have 1,500 to 1,600 children floating around the United States." [More...]

Albers couple open their hearts to adopted family Sun, Feb. 26, 2006
BY MAUREEN HOUSTON
News-Democrat
The front door is open, but no one responds to the ring of the doorbell. A few moments pass. A voice from inside calls, "Come on in. Come on in." Cindy Heimann is leaning over a crib in a room off the foyer, changing her 2-year-old's diaper. Dark-eyed Katrina smiles angelically as Dad Tim rushes in to grab the dirty diaper. Six months ago, the baby room with the crib was Cindy's office. She and Tim were self-described high-energy workaholics, running Heimann Contracting, a construction business they had merged four years ago when they married. [More...]

Orphanages stunt growth, foster care better: study 17 February, 2006
Staff and agencies
ST. LOUIS - Children raised in orphanages are stunted physically, emotionally and intellectually but good foster care can help orphans start to grow again, researchers said on Friday. An experiment in which foster homes were set up in Romania showed that children taken out of the country‘s notorious orphanages began to grow taller and put on weight, gain intellectually and lose the most marked symptoms of depression and anxiety. [More...]

Couple granted adoption of 4-year-old Russian girl Saturday, February 18, 2006
BY JIM MUIR
THE SOUTHERN
"Masha is sitting on my lap as I write this ... SHE IS OURS!" That was the first line of an e-mail scores of Southern Illinois residents received Thursday morning from an excited Sharee Langenstein, who has finally, after a nearly three-week battle with governmental red tape, completed the adoption of Masha, a 4-year-old Russian girl in need of medical treatment. [More...]

Woman indicted in adoption scam 02/16/06
By William Fouts|Staff writer
Carmel woman accused of defrauding couples wanting kids from Russia
A Hamilton County woman has been charged in what federal prosecutors describe as a scheme to defraud couples seeking to adopt children from Russia. A federal grand jury in Indianapolis returned charges against Victoria Farahan, 42, of Carmel. The 12-page indictment filed Feb. 14 alleges Farahan falsely claimed that she could arrange adoptions of children from Russia through contacts she had in that country. She collected approximately $97,500 from six couples interested in adopting children. Farahan faces two counts of mail fraud and five counts of wire fraud. [More...]

Prosecutors suspend activity of Russia adoption agency 16.02.2006
ROSTOV-ON-DON, February 16 (Itar-Tass) - The Rostov regional prosecutor’s office has passed a decision to suspend the operation of an agency that handled the adoption of a four-year boy from Taganrog’s s orphanage by an American family. The American couple Jane and Timothy Cochran systematically beat the adopted boy Kuzma for his “reading prayers in the English language badly”. Jane also threatened to mutilate the boy. Authorities took him from the Cochran family on January 31 and turned him over to the Child Protection Service. The boy is an invalid with an inborn arm amputation [More...]

Russian media floods Wellsville, Alfred over abuse story Wednesday, February 15, 2006
By JOHN ANDERSON/Daily Reporter
WELLSVILLE — A child abuse case out of Alfred has turned into the top story in Russia as the Russian Parliament is split on the adoption issue. On Thursday, the Wellsville Daily Reporter was contacted by five television networks and two Russian newspapers. One made the trip to Wellsville and Alfred on Thursday night, the others say they will be in town this morning starting at 10 a.m. [More...]

Adoption heartache
Sandra Chapman/Eyewitness News
The Meyers say they were victimized by Farahan in 1995. Carmel, February 15 - Ten years ago a Geist couple went through the heartache of seeking to adopt, only to have those hopes dashed. Allen and Diane Meyer say they understand what six other couples seeking to adopt are experiencing. Allen says, "For the families that went through it, it was very devastating." Diane adds, "I'm so sorry they would have to go through this." [More...]

Woman Indicted in Adoption Scheme Feb 15, 2006
A federal grand jury has indicted a Hamilton County woman in a Russian children adoption scheme. Authorities say 42-year-old Victoria Farahan told six couples that she had contacts in Russia. They say she told them last July that she could travel abroad and bring Russian kids back to the United States for adoption. The couples paid Farahan a total of $100,000 in adoption fees, but the indictment says she never traveled and no adoptions ever took place. "It tugs at the heart strings. If you're trying to have a child and you can't and want to adopt a child and this appears to be an avenue that's legitimate and you pay money and you're told that this child is gonna be here and they're not, it's pretty sad,” said Timothy Morrison, assistant US attorney. [More...]

Carmel woman indicted in adoption fraud case February 15, 2006
By Kevin Corcoran
kevin.corcoran@indystar.com
Feds allege 6 couples paid $97,500 in fees after being falsely told of Russian children
A federal grand jury Tuesday indicted a Carmel woman who allegedly persuaded six couples to give her nearly $100,000 after falsely telling them that she would help them adopt Russian children. Victoria Farahan, 42, 9700 block of Summerlakes Drive, was charged with two counts of mail fraud and five counts of wire fraud. Federal prosecutors allege she told the couples that she worked with an international agency and could use her Russian "contacts" to help them adopt children from that country. [More...]

Woman Faces Charges In Connection With Adoption Scheme Wed Feb 15
A Carmel woman faces federal charges after authorities said she took money from couples looking to adopt a child. Victoria Farahan, 42, is being charged with mail and wire fraud. Investigators said Farahan told six couples she could use contacts in Russia to bring children to the U.S. for adoption. Officials said the couples paid Farahan more than $97,000 in adoption fees, which she took without intention of providing the children. [More...]

Murphysboro couple can proceed with adoption Monday, February 13, 2006
by jim muir, the southern
MURPHYSBORO -- Baby Masha will soon be coming home - and "home" in the eyes of Mike and Sharee Langenstein is Murphysboro. During the past two weeks, the Langensteins have been embroiled in an international game of red tape and nerves as they've tried to complete an overseas adoption and take custody of Masha, a 4-year-old Russian girl in need of surgery. The Langensteins, both attorneys, had visited with Masha at an orphanage in December and thought they had cleared all the necessary obstacles to ensure a speedy trip to Russia to complete the adoption. [More...]

Belarus Officials Interview Local Parents 2/13/2006
By Rebecca Wu
(KSDK) The St. Louis area has the greatest number of adopted children from Belarus, a former Soviet Union Republic. But in October 2004, the country suspended all international adoptions. Sunday, Belarus officials were in St. Louis to determine whether or not to reopen the process. St. Louis was one of 6 cities in the country where Belarus officials were interviewing adoptive families. Julie Kennedy and dozens of other local families showed up at Small World Adoption Foundation of Missouri to show Belarus officials why adoptions should be reopened. [More...]

Adoptive families urge Belarus to open doors 02/12/2006
By Aisha Sultan
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
BALLWIN
Julie Kennedy feels like her second baby girl, Anna, was snatched from her arms. In October 2004, she was in Belarus, a former Soviet republic, to complete an adoption and bring a little girl home. After three of days of bonding with Anna, the Belarusan government changed its mind. It planned to shut down any international adoptions the next month, and even though Kennedy was there a month earlier, she would not be allowed to take Anna with her. [More...]

Russia Probes Adoption by U.S. Couple Charged With Child Abuse 11.02.2006
MosNews
Russian prosecutors are investigating the legality of the adoption of a disabled Russian boy by a western New York couple who have been accused of abuse, the Interfax news agency reported Friday. The 4-year old was repeatedly beaten by his adoptive mother, who cut his ear with scissors and threatened to cut out his tongue for not reading his prayers correctly in English, according to prosecutors in Allegany County, The Associated Press reported. [More...]

Russian media floods Wellsville, Alfred over abuse story Saturday, February 11, 2006
By JOHN ANDERSON/Daily Reporter
WELLSVILLE — A child abuse case out of Alfred has turned into the top story in Russia as the Russian Parliament is split on the adoption issue. On Thursday, the Wellsville Daily Reporter was contacted by five television networks and two Russian newspapers. One made the trip to Wellsville and Alfred on Thursday night, the others say they will be in town this morning starting at 10 a.m. [More...]

Lawyer: Abused boy doing great Saturday, February 11, 2006
By JOHN ANDERSON - THE SECTATOR
BELMONT - As the Russian media and government sort out the abuse against an adopted Russian child in Alfred, the attorney for the 4-year-old child said the boy is doing well. “He's doing great, he's recovered very well,” said Thomas Fuoco of Angelica, the law guardian for the child. “I would say he's doing well physically and mentally.” [More...]

Interfax: Russian prosecutors investigating adoption by WNY couple February 10, 2006,
MOSCOW (AP)_ Russian prosecutors are investigating the legality of the adoption of a disabled Russian boy by a western New York couple who have been accused of abuse, the Interfax news agency reported Friday. The 4-year old was repeatedly beaten by his adoptive mother, who cut his ear with scissors and threatened to cut out his tongue for not reading his prayers correctly in English, according to prosecutors in Allegany County. [More...]

Napa Police, FBI investigate fraud at Yunona adoption firm; victims continue to emerge Friday, February 10, 2006
By DAVID RYAN, Register Staff Writer
More than 90 families across the country were duped by defunct Napa adoption firm Yunona USA for total losses of more than $750,000, according to local police. Those allegations are part of a widening probe into the actions of Yunona. Napa Police said they met Thursday with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and plan to cooperate together as authorities continue to chase down the path of thousands of dollars collected by the firm. [More...]

U.S. Woman Charged for Beating Adopted Russian Handicapped Child 09.02.2006
MosNews
43-year-old woman from the city of Alfred (ME) has been charged with assault for allegedly beating her four-year-old adopted son from Russia and cutting his ear with a pair of scissors. Jane Cochran was charged with second-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child. Her husband, Tim Cochran, 48, was also charged with endangering the child’s welfare, Olean Times Herald reported. [More...]

Couple's international adoption may be in jeopardy Thursday, February 09, 2006
BY JIM MUIR
THE SOUTHERN
What began as a mission of love by Michael and Sharee Langenstein of Murphysboro has turned into a mission of despair bound tightly in international red tape in Russia. Moreover, this time the red tape is generated from Chicago, not Moscow. [More...]

KidsFirst service creates families, bonds February 7, 2006
Gatherings get word out about adopting children from Russia, China.
By Gretchen Becker
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP -- Before adopting a child from another country, Michael and Michelle Marker of Washington Township in Marion County advise talking to as many people as possible. The couple adopted a boy and a girl from Russia nearly a year ago through KidsFirst Adoption Services in Indianapolis. Michelle met other adoptive families while working at a dentist's office in Fishers. [More...]

American adoptive mother on the restrictions made by Ukraine 7 February 2006
Dear Editor,
I have been reading a great deal of press about the new constraints on American families that have or will adopt from Ukraine. We adopted our son in November of 2000. We are of the almost 90% of American families that not only submit annual reports to the Ukrainian Embassy here in Washington DC but also maintain contact with friends in Ukraine. [More...]

U of M clinic helps adoptive families February 6, 2006
by Greta Cunningham, Minnesota Public Radio
Minneapolis, Minn. — Oliver is an adorable, dark-haired toddler with an easy smile. He and his parents, Briana and Matt Begansky, are in an exam room playing with a ball and eating animal crackers. They're waiting for a nurse from the International Adoption Clinic. Oliver spent the first 18 months of his life in a Chinese orphanage. It's rare that a male Chinese child is put up for adoption. In fact, statistics show that 95 percent of Chinese children adopted in the U.S. are female. [More...]

New State Adoption Department announced 02/05/2006
The Minister for family affairs, youth and sport announced the creation of a State Department on Adoption and Protection of Children's Rights on Monday. Yuri Pavlenko explained that the department will replace the government Adoption Center currently responsible for bringing together orphans and prospective parents. [More...]

Worldwide messages flood newsroom after international adoption story Tuesday, February 7, 2006
Denisa Maruntoiu
Following the publishing in the Bucharest Daily News' issue on February 2 of the special report on international adoptions, "The orphans of our discontent", people all around the world have written to us, expressing their opinions and feelings. In today's issue you can read fragments from all their letters. [More...]

Ukraine to control children adopted by US citizens 6 February 2006
Ukraine and the USA are to sign bilateral agreement on control over children adopted by UA citizens by the Ukrainian party. Yuri Pavlenko Minister for Family and Sport informed journalists that the issue was agreed during his meeting with US Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Maura Harty. [More...]

U.S. determined to protect Russian children adopted by Americans Feb 3 2006
MOSCOW. Feb 3 (Interfax) - U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Maura Harty has said that the United States "regretted any tragedy that has occurred" involving Russian children adopted by Americans. [More...]

Perils of buying a baby February 02, 2006
(Daily Mail Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)Baby Be Mine (BBC1); Hyperdrive (BBC2)
JUDGING by gossip columns, Hollywood stars do it with monotonous frequency, and 300 British couples a year embark on the same quest - to adopt a baby from another country. China is the favourite destination for finding an unwanted, abandoned or orphaned child, according to last night's Baby Be Mine. Because of the government's attempt to keep down the population through the restrictive 'one child' policy, and a cultural preference for boys, China apparently has many thousands of unwanted girls. But Paul Woolwich's documentary paid little attention to Chinese adoptions, focusing instead on Russia and Cambodia. [More...]

A girl adopted, a sister waiting February 2, 2006
Marblehead mom takes quest as far as Siberia
By Kay Lazar, Globe Correspondent
The frail-looking girl with sad blue eyes didn't speak a word of English. She had lived most of her 12 years in a Russian orphanage after being removed from her home and an abusive mother, according to an adoption agency file. And, the file said, she had epilepsy. Yet when Keri Cahill gazed at the picture of the girl as it slowly loaded on her e-mail, she knew her destiny. The Marblehead teacher who longed to be a mom would travel thousands of miles to Siberia and spend nearly $30,000 to adopt Anastasia, nicknamed ''Nastia," and bring her home
To read more about Anastasia, Anya and other Russian orphans : http://www.russianfamilysearch.com/keri_nastia_anya/keri_nastia_anya.htm [More...]

The orphans of our discontent Thursday, February 2, 2006
Denisa Maruntoiu
While parents and the Romanian authorities are struggling over the 1,100 orphans still caught in the middle of the convoluted international adoptions conflict, high ranking European officials including the Council of Europe's Deputy Secretary Maud de Boer-Buquicchio and European Parliament Member Baroness Emma Nicholson, are gathering in Bucharest for the annual International Conference on Children's Rights. [More...]

The orphans of our discontent:Romanian adopted children express the joy of belonging to a family Thursday, February 2, 2006
Denisa Maruntoiu
The lives of two Romanian little girls changed forever the day they were adopted by two families living in the U.S. Former lonely and neglected orphan babies, Laura and Simona are now to happy and vivid seven-year old girls who believe every child is entitled to a "forever family," no matter the nationality. Linda Robak, a single mother living in Connecticut, U.S., adopted her daughter Laura in May 2001, just two weeks before the moratorium banning all inter-country adoptions had been enforced in Romania. [More...]