Help for the Hopeless Child: A Guide for Families--With Special Discussion for Assessing and Treating the Post-Institutionalized Child

by Ronald S. Federici

This SECOND EDITION of Dr. Federici's book, Help for the Hopeless Child, A Guide for Families (with Special Discussion for Assessing and Treating the Post-Institutionalized Child) has expanded text and updated adoption figures, intensive family treatment program and multi-discipline interventions. Additional discussion regarding more complex child developmental disorders.

Genres: Adoption

200 pages, Paperback

First published October 10, 1998

Reviews

[Naomi Kenorak · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book presents an intensive family treatment program designed to get both parents and children back on track when the children’s behavior is completely out of control. Dr. Federici gets a lot of criticism because he can be harsh in his assessments of post-institutionalized children and because he promotes an almost military-style discipline to get families back on track. The methods he outlines in his book are difficult. They require a tremendous amount of parental involvement and effort, beyond what most people probably think they can do. But if you have been through a period of truly out-of-control behavior and don’t know what else to do – Dr. Federici has very concrete solutions that you can start today and that will yield positive results.

[Aspidistra · Rating 4 out of 5]

My biggest complaint about this book is that it's not long enough. It is an excellent resource, however, on the many issues that can be present in post-institutionalized children, particularly those adopted internationally. Federici is one of the true experts in this field, with a long history of experience at many levels with PI children, including as an adoptive parent himself.

This is not a book for the faint of heart. He does not paint a rosy picture of the issues that PI children and their parents face. He writes about the kids that others have considered hopeless and gives very practical guidance in getting the help that they need.

[Rey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book explains how behaviour issues can be caused by institutionalisation of children. Children who are adopted often seek control as they fear they will die if they do not have control. Dr Fredrici has a system that does not allow the child to have control. The child is also restrained for certain behaviours (screaming loudly aggression) the holds are to gain compliance and safety. There is different levels in the system level one the child must be within 3ft of a parent at all times a child can only have Hess ties in there room a parent is to sleep in the room with them they must ask for the bathroom and to eat the parents control when they can and cannot talk. Level 1 is called adults only. There is sequence 1 and 2 holds sequence 1 holds are floor restraints and sequence 2 is a lap hold. During an incident the child is restrained until there calm plus 5 minutes.
There was a movie made out of the book taming the problem child.

https://m.ok.ru/video/281955994341

[Maureen Flatley · Rating 5 out of 5]

No one knows more about this topic than Ron Federici. I have watched him work miracles for decades. He is driven by one thing and one thing only....the best interests of children.

[Debi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I should have read it before I had the child, not after. Also, everything is downplayed so if your child is actually having certain problems, you may miss the problem.