Attachment Disorder: "A Cry for Light"

The Painful Secret Life of Some Adoptive Parents

 

LOS ANGELES, May 24 /PRNewswire/ -- It happens all across America. Couples wait endlessly to adopt a child. When the adoption finalizes, and the honeymoon stage is over, some children's behaviors become so difficult that the adoptive parents want to return them. Some do.

In the new book, "A Cry for Light: A Journey into Love," (releases June 2005 www.janetajackson.com), Janet Alston Jackson recounts her struggles to adopt Devon, a three-year-old trapped in the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services. When the child is finally placed in Jackson's home, her family is ripped apart by Devon's condition, Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD).

" RAD is a traumatic experience for many parents. There are thousands of hurt and damaged children who have this disorder. Many come from foster care, and orphanages around the world," said Jackson. "Parents don't know about RAD, let alone how to handle their child with this condition. Many are too embarrassed to talk about it."

Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) is appearing more frequently in society and in children today with individuals who have difficulty forming loving, lasting intimate relationships. The disorder varies in severity. RAD children fail to develop a conscience, are non-compliant, demand to stay in control, and do not trust. Some end up in the justice system. When left untreated, individuals can become sociopaths, and in extreme cases, violent.

Jackson and her husband Walter H. Jackson, adopted two of their three children. Devon fit the classic RAD profile. "He was born with drugs and alcohol in his system, physically and sexually abused, and lived in two foster homes."

The author who took Devon to 25 different therapists before finding help, hopes RAD awareness will bring more available treatment since conventional therapy often fails. Few mental health experts specialize in RAD treatment which makes it difficult for families to find help. Frustrated and angry parents often give up on the child.
" 'A CRY FOR LIGHT' will help prepare families who choose to embark on helping hurt children," says Gregory C. Keck, Ph.D. Founder, Director Attachment and Bonding Center of Ohio. "It will provide a great reality check for those families already in the middle of something they had no idea they would be facing. Professionals placing disturbed children in families will get an inside look as to why so many parents adopting children with high levels of disturbance look so crazy after a placement has been made. Keck is the Co-author of "Adopting the Hurt Child," and "Parenting the Hurt Child."

Jackson who owns Self Awareness Trainings with her husband, facilitates workshops on team building. The former publicist for ABC and CBS Television Networks was a CASA, Court Appointed Special (child) Advocate who saw many RAD children coming through the child welfare system.

" Rapid adoptions," says Jackson, "can minimize RAD."

Source: Self Awareness Trainings

Web site: http://www.janetajackson.com/