Building Blocks
Hyre’s arrest this week came as a surprise for officials with Building Blocks Adoption Service, Inc., the Medina agency through which they adopted Kelsey…and Nathan…
Denise Hubbard, the agency’s executive director, started the business after she adopted a Russian girl.
“She’s as upset about this as you get,” said Richard Marco, the agency’s attorney.
Hyre, who has worked as a stocker for Giant Eagle for 12 years, pleaded not guilt in Akron Municipal Court to charges of felonious assault and felony child endangering. He is being held at the Summit County Jail on a $10,000 bond.
The 32 year old told police and doctors that Kelsey was accidentally injured Sept. 25 in the family’s 18th Street home. Police say he gave two different accounts, including that he dropped the girl on the rail of her crib…
The Hyres adopted Kelsey and Nathan in January. While officials with Building Blocks were unwilling to discuss details of the Hyres’ adoption – because of confidentiality guidelines – they did discuss the process that adoptive parents must undergo.
Would-be parents must first have a licensed social worker perform a home study, which includes a review of their criminal history, financial situation and other personal details. Anyone with a felony or child abuse conviction is ineligible, Marco said.
Next, the parents must meet several standards required by both this country and the country from which they hope to adopt.
Marco said these steps are designed to make sure prospective parents are capable of caring for a child.
“We don’t want some guy with an abuse conviction to be adopting a child,” he said.
Building Blocks facilitates the adoption of orphans in Russia, Bulgaria, Guatemala, Kazakhstan, Romania and Cambodia. The agency places about 60 children a year, Marco said.
Adopting a Russian child can take up to a year and cost between $9,000 and $15,000 – not including travel expenses, Marco said.
The adoption agency will not be involved with the future placement of Kelsey and Nathan, who are both now in the custody of the Summit County Children Services Board….