Fortunately, most adoption tales end happily, with loving parents taking in a child who they raise and love as their own. However, many children who are neglected as children or grew up in difficult orphanages, don’t have it so well. Many of these kids become quite troubled and develop behavioral problems, fall into drug and alcohol abuse and have difficulty trusting anyone, causing enormous difficulty for the adoptive parents.
Recent news about the Tennessee woman who sent her adopted child back to Russia sparked a lot of controversy and anger. Everyone points fingers, but what about the child?
In order to focus on the children, rather than the system, governments or parents, Joyce Sterkel started Ranch for Kids. The nonprofit takes in troubled adopted children, largely from Russia, and provides them with a structured environment while experiencing nature, animals and fresh air.
Many of the youngsters have emotional issues, self-destructive behaviors, health conditions, psychiatric disorders and post-traumatic stress, which are found to be associated with children who experienced isolation as an infant.
The children being hosted at the Montana ranch are usually sent there by parents who can’t handle them anymore. Some parents offer to pay to have the children remain at the ranch.
“That’s when it’s sad — they haven’t exhausted all the possibilities,” Ms. Sterkel told The New York Times.
Sterkel’s program does have its critics who say that being there does nothing to improve the child’s condition as it is similar to being on vacation, and not real life. Though this may be true, time on the ranch is structured. Responsibilities and duties provide stability.
About 70 percent of the ranch-goers go back to their adoptive parents while others go directly into the workforce. Others still, end up coming back to help out and mentor those living on the ranch.
Because of Sterkel, these children are beginning to understand what it means to be a part of something larger than themselves. They are given another shot at overcoming traumatizing life circumstances and learning to love and be loved.
Photos courtesy of Ranch for Kids.