| Celebrities are in the news with the international | | | | recently imposed tougher restrictions on adoptive |
| adoptions of their children. Angelina Jolie, Madonna | | | | families including body weight, age and marital status. |
| and Meg Ryan are all seen with their African or Asian | | | | This could make it more difficult to adopt a baby |
| children. Approximately 20,000 children are adopted | | | | from China. The emphasis may shift to Ethiopia it |
| internationally each year from Americans. An average | | | | continues to make the news for the horrible living |
| wait is one to two years. Do celebrities get special | | | | conditions that exist there and the need to help the |
| treatment? Actually, celebrities must go through the | | | | children is shown. |
| same adoption process as everyone else. In their | | | | Do celebrity adoptions help the rest of us? YES! Their |
| case, however, the beginning of the process is | | | | adoptions may look easier than that of the normal |
| hidden from public view. The public sees them at the | | | | public, but because they get into the news media it |
| end of the process where they are in the country | | | | opens up the topic of Adoption to the rest of the |
| with their adopted child. | | | | world. There are millions of children waiting to be |
| Celebrities do have it easier when it comes to | | | | adopted. If the media makes one more family take |
| handling the cost of adoption, which can range from | | | | notice of adoption as another way to form a family, |
| $15,000 to $50,000. But just like everyone else they | | | | then more power to it. Another child may get a |
| must go through the intensive home-study process. | | | | family because it spurred someone to action on |
| A home study must show that you can financially | | | | adoption. All families that adopt a child from |
| afford a child, that you have a stable family, and that | | | | international countries should be treated like celebrities |
| you have room for this child in your home. | | | | as it is not an easy way to build a family, but a very |
| In past years China has been the favorite country | | | | worthwhile journey that more people need to hear |
| for most foreign adoptions by Americans. China | | | | about. |