Celebrity Adoptions
Post Date: July 1st, 2011
Celebrity adoptions get attention from a lot of media outlets, and the Adoption STAR blog is no different as just last week I wrote a blog post about Nia Vardalos’ foster-care adoption.
Many of the stories that we hear are about celebrities adopting internationally, but actress Denise Richards recently domestically-adopted her daughter Eloise Joni, named after Richards’ mother who died in 2007.
This is a trend that is happening across the country as international adoption totals have dropped significantly from a high in 2004 of 22,991 international adoptions to 11,058 in 2010 according to the Bureau of Consular Affairs – US Department of State.
This drop can be attributed to many factors including stricter regulations, and developing stories in countries such as China where there are claims that babies available for adoption were forcefully taken away from parents, along with many other reasons.
It will be interesting to see if more celebrities begin to look to domestic adoption as the international adoption totals continue to decline.
Tags: Celebrity adoption, Decrease in International adoptions, Denise Richards, Denise Richards adoption, domestic adoption, international adoption
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2 thoughts on “Celebrity Adoptions”
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This post was written by Adoption STAR CEO and Founder, Michele Fried While checking out at a local retail store, the cashier noticed an Adoption STAR envelope with the purchaser. She asked, “Do you work at Adoption STAR?” To whic
Yes, it is true that international adoptions have become more restrictive, more difficult and have declined. This is not, in my opinion, due to other countries suddenly meeting the needs of their children but due to international regs and US pressure to follow our lead and to implement laws that were designed to help kids, birth families, adoptive families but have not done so at all.
There have always been many, many children in our domestic system who need loving families. It is sad that the general population takes its lead from celebrities but then again, if celebrities have the visibility that raises awareness in this case, it is probably a good thing.
I founded and directed an adoption agency for nearly 30 yrs, have been a foster and adoptive parent and am a life coach. One of my specialty areas is helping people clarify their desires, goals and needs re parenting and adoption, as well as working with other people in the adoption community (adoptees & loss issues, birthparents, raising multicultural families, etc.) Many people do not really understand the long term issues or even what to expect when they start the adoption process and journey. Agencies don’t always help them and often focus on fulfilling requirements, rather than preparing and educating.
So if those in the limelight help the general population to begin forming a new awareness, then this is good. The average person does not have the resources celebrities possess but sure, I hope that they will increase interest in domestic adoption and will assist others in doing so too.
Iris you make a lot of great points. I agree with you about the reasoning for the decline in international adoptions.
At Adoption STAR we pride ourselves on educating and preparing both adoptive parents and birth parents for what to expect throughout their adoption journeys, and are here for support and counseling at any time through our family advocates and support groups.