Firefly is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with a vision of securing a healthy, productive life for all disadvantaged children. In order to achieve this goal, Firefly’s mission is to prevent children from being raised in institutions.

The facts are simple. Children who are raised in institutions suffer severe developmental delays, experience extreme emotional and mental trauma, and are positioned to lead lives of abuse, addiction and crime. The best solution is for children to be raised in a home setting by birth, foster or adoptive families. Firefly has been working to make this a reality in Russia since 2000.

Firefly specifically seeks to help Russian families who are socially at-risk, raising children with disabilities, and fostering or adopting children from institutions. To make an immediate impact, Firefly and its volunteer teams of US healthcare, educational and social services professionals teach the latest techniques and tools to their Russian counterparts:

Child psychologists Directors of hospitals, clinics and rehabilitation centers Pediatric doctors and nurses

Physical, occupational and speech therapists Social workers

To date, Firefly has provided this in-depth training in Vladivostok, Kazan, and Nizhny Novgorod. For a longer-term impact, the Firefly team also educates government officials and policy makers on overall reform in the cities where it conducts training programs, as well as St. Petersburg and Moscow.

Moving forward, Firefly’s goals are to broaden its reach geographically, prepare teams of Russian trainers of trainers, and continue working with regional and federal government officials to reform the child welfare system. To make an even greater impact, Firefly also seeks to develop more partnerships with corporations whose social responsibility programs align with its mission.

Learn more about Firefly’s History, Strategic Plan, Partners, Board, Volunteers and Staff.