The director of Child of the Heart - Russian Adoption Specialists.

Child of the Heart is a non-profit, licensed adoption agency that specializes in placing children from Russia in loving homes in America.

Elena M. Strehle, J.D., Ph.D.

Executive Director

Charleston School of Law graduate.
Over 14 years of adoption experience.
Seven years of experience teaching at colleges and Universities.
English/Russian translation of books and magazine articles in Russia.
Interpreter of arts course for the American Embassy in Moscow.
Lecturer on the life and works of Leo Tolstoy at the Literary Museum of Tolstoy's Estate and completed major course work about him.
Ph.D. in Linguistics and Logic from the Moscow State University.
Dissertation on language and its relationship to logic.
Three related articles published based on dissertation.
B.A. and M.A. in English and German. Course work also in child psychology, pedagogic, teaching methods, medicine, logic, Russian and foreign literature, philosophy and art.

A message from the Executive Director:

Dear Parents:

Since I know that you are probably very apprehensive about this whole process, it might be helpful if you knew more about me and had a word or two from those who have adopted through Child of the Heart.

I am from Tula, Russia which is about 120 miles south of Moscow. Tula was the home of our great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy. In fact, in my college days I worked as a guide at his home which is a wonderful museum that you must visit when you travel to Russia. In college I studied many subjects related to child development and psychology. Eventually I received a Ph.D. from Moscow University.

After the collapse of the Iron Curtain, I met and married an American and came to live in beautiful and warm Charleston, SC.

Being Russian, I know the hardships and reality of my country only too well. This is why it is so rewarding to be a part of bringing these innocents to this wonderful country where they have so many opportunities and where their frowns turn into smiles.

The people who work with us in Russia, many of whom are my family and close friends, are very conscientious, honest, reliable and highly professional.

Announcement:

We are in a process of updating the documents for the Russian Government. We are currently not taking any new clients but planning to resume taking new applications in a few months. We do accept applicants adopting domestically or through various foreign countries for the home-studies and post-placement reports .