Dear Friends, 

My name is Nancy Reffsin. I have been a social worker for over 40 years. I have worked with Natasha Shaginian-Needham for 25 years assisting families with adoptions and working with the children in need of prosthetics as well. My heart has always been taking care  of children, providing services for children with emotional, medical, and special needs. Through Life in Motion International - China we have begun our work with “Children Left Behind” and other children who are in need of our services in China. 

“Children Left Behind” are children who remain in the care of grandparents, friends, neighbors or older siblings after their parents have left the rural areas to find work. Many of these children have not seen their parents for over 6 years.. Their needs are great, their feelings of abandonment often lead to depression making them available for child trafficking, sexual abuse and suicide as well. Throughout China, in Anhui, Nanjing and in Tibet we find these children are in great need of our help by providing nutritional, medical and emotional support. 

In May 2018  Natasha, myself and, my daughter, Anni traveled to China and began our work in more depth. We are very pleased to begin these new programs together and have many plans for our future work.

Nancy Reffsin LICSW, LCSW, DCSW

China Program Coordinator

According to the Chinese authorities there are 60 million children who are considered “left behind.” Most of the children in Nanjing live with local families or elderly grandparents. The quality of life in the region is severely affected by poverty. The children have not seen their parents in years and there is very little optimism about the parents returning. 

Without a supportive social environment, these children are unlikely to succeed in the future. The goal of the “Children Left Behind” program is to provide an environment that helps children in need, through financial and social support.