Editorial Reviews of Federici's book

Editorial Reviews

Review

An intelligent and insightful book that examines the special problems of the post-institutionalized child. Dr. Federici's personal and professional experience with this population adds a dynamic dimension to this work which reaches well beyond a dry medical text. -- Lois Hannon and Thais Tepper, Co-Directors, Parent Network for Post-Institutionalized Child

For most adoptive parents, the addition of a new child to the family is one of life's high points. Sadly, this joy is not a universal experience. Children who have suffered extreme deprivation and/or abuse within institutional care settings often arrive with a spectrum of problems that overwhelms most parents. As a drowning person reaches for a lifeline, parents of severely disturbed post-institutionalized children should reach for this book. Guided by his extensive professional and personal experience with these "hopeless" children, Dr. Federici helps parents navigate through the complexities of medical and behavioral services for children with complex problems to help their child reach his or her full potential. -- Dana E. Johnson, M.D., Ph.D., Director, Division of Neonatology, Co-Director, International Adoption Clinic, The University of Minnesota Hospital and Clinic

I feel privileged to call Dr. Ronald Federici my friend. I have traveled with Ron to Romanian orphanages on two occasions this past year and his work is remarkable. His drive to save the lives of the "the forgotten" is inspirational. After reading his book I am convinced that families and adoption professionals all over the country will get the passion that flies off of every page. Ron's efforts to save children who ordinarily would have been abandoned is truly unique. His depth and breadth of experience with older adopted institutionalized children has served to help thousands of families over the last 10 years. No one knows the effects of institutionalization on the neuropsychological development of children like Dr. Federici. His guidelines for evaluating and managing newly adopted institutionalized children are invaluable to adoptive parents and adoption professionals. We thank you Ron! -- Dr. Jane Ellen Aronson, Director, International Adoption Medical Consultation Services, Chief, Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Health Sciences Center-Stony Brook, Winthrop-University Hospital

Product Description

Designed specifically for families that have struggled for many years with an unmanageable child, this book focuses on innovative and aggressive assessment and treatment strategies for the most difficult child who has not responded to previous mental health interventions. Specialized sections of this book focus on dealing with the complexities of the internationally adopted child who has survived years of institutionalization. Clear and specific treatment strategies for all families are outlined in a very practical approach.

From the Author

The most common complaint parents present to a mental health professional is that their child's behavior is inappropriate and in need of treatment. It is extremely common nowadays to hear parents describe their children as being completely out of control--often to the point where parents feel they are no longer able to manage the child within the home. The most common presenting problems are defiance of authority, uncontrollable temper tantrums and aggressive behaviors, manipulative and deceitful actions, substance abuse and sexual acting out, and chronic academic underachievement. Family relationships have become strained or everyone may have "given up" and become disengaged within the home.

This book consists of a very comprehensive, aggressive and innovative assessment and treatment program for those families having children who have been deemed "hopeless" or "untreatable." There has been a tremendous increase in the amount of children, both biological and adopted (United States and internationally) who have presented with significant cognitive, emotional and behavioral disorders; including "reactive attachment disorders" based on the profound effects of severe medical, nutritional, environmental and social-emotional neglect.

"Help for the Hopeless Child:A Guide for Families" offers a somewhat controversial and provocative approach in dealing with the most difficult children and their troubled families. Let me forewarn readers that my treatment program can be very rigorous and require great patience, diligence and dedication toward the concept of recreating family cohesiveness and unity.

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