Celebrities are in the news with the international adoptions of their children. Angelina Jolie, Madonna and Meg Ryan are all seen with their African or Asian children. Approximately 20,000 children are adopted internationally each year from Americans. An average wait is one to two years. Do celebrities get special treatment? Actually, celebrities must go through the same adoption process as everyone else. In their case, however, the beginning of the process is hidden from public view. The public sees them at the end of the process where they are in the country with their adopted child.

Celebrities do have it easier when it comes to handling the cost of adoption, which can range from $15,000 to $50,000. But just like everyone else they must go through the intensive home-study process. A home study must show that you can financially afford a child, that you have a stable family, and that you have room for this child in your home.

In past years China has been the favorite country for most foreign adoptions by Americans. China recently imposed tougher restrictions on adoptive families including body weight, age and marital status. This could make it more difficult to adopt a baby from China. The emphasis may shift to Ethiopia it continues to make the news for the horrible living conditions that exist there and the need to help the children is shown.

Do celebrity adoptions help the rest of us? YES! Their adoptions may look easier than that of the normal public, but because they get into the news media it opens up the topic of Adoption to the rest of the world. There are millions of children waiting to be adopted. If the media makes one more family take notice of adoption as another way to form a family, then more power to it. Another child may get a family because it spurred someone to action on adoption. All families that adopt a child from international countries should be treated like celebrities as it is not an easy way to build a family, but a very worthwhile journey that more people need to hear about.