I'm not equipped to discuss RAD or the effects such disorder may have had on Serenity but I do think some clarification and/or additional factors should be included when assessing Serenity including that she was with her her adoptive parents since the age 3 until 9 when she was placed in the children's home.
I listened to interviews by both bio Mom and bio Dad, and understand Serenity went to foster care at about age 24 months (the terrible two's) when both parents, and grandparents were incarcerated, and the paternal grandmother was mentally unstable to care for Serenity.
Reportedly, there were multiple foster caregivers for Serenity during age 2 but she was actually placed with her adoptive parents at age 3 where she remained until she went to the Children's home.
At the time, Serenity's adoptive parents also adopted a boy same age as Serenity -- who reportedly bonded with Dad while Serenity did not.
From the time Serenity was placed with her adoptive parents, her initial adoptive mother continued the therapeutic practice Serenity had been receiving to soothe her including holding and rocking her daily but this was disrupted when the adoptive parents separated within 15 months, and Serenity was the custody of her adoptive father. There's no confirmation whether the special, time consuming care continued or was followed by Dad or his girlfriend. Reportedly, there was also no routine visitation schedule for the initial adoptive mother with Serenity and her brother.
I don't believe it's fair to center blame on RAD, 12 foster homes, or the children's home for what happened to Serenity.
Just the same, I believe it's also fair to consider whether Serenity would have thrived if at age 3, she was placed in a different, consistent family environment -- possibly as a single child.
We will never know, and I will always wonder about what happened to this special girl.
MOO