The International Adoption Project originated from a series of discussions with colleagues at the CSC and is aimed at understanding the consequences of institutional rearing on child mental health and development.

The project will involve several stages and includes a detailed assessment of psychosocial and motor development, attachment and behavior problems with further follow-up of 150 children from three orphanages in Arkhangelsk, Russia, aged 1 to 4 years, and age-matched control groups raised by their biological parents in the same area.

Collaborations are anticipated with Drs. Charles Zeanah and Anna Smyke (Tulane University), who are conducting a similar project in orphanages in Romania; Dr. Robert McCall (University of Pittsburgh), who is organizing a longitudinal study assessing the effects of early intervention provided in orphanages (St. Petersbourg, Russia) for future psychosocial functioning of children after adoption in the US; and Dr. Arthur Eidelman (Israel), who is organizing a follow up of children from Romania and Russia, adopted in Israel.