Celebs and Adoption

Bringing attention to international adoption should be a good thing. There are plenty of children worldwide who need loving and caring families. Unfortunately, researchers are finding that celebrity adoptions that shine a spotlight on certain countries are having a devastating effect on kids.

According to recent studies from psychologists at the University of Liverpool, the “Madonna-effect” (named for the singer who is trying to adopt a boy from Malawi) is causing parents in poor areas to give up their children in the hopes that they will be adopted by a western family who can provide them with a more abundant lifestyle.

A whopping 96% of children in orphanages across Europe are not true orphans—they have at least one parent often known to the local authorities, one researcher claims. International adoption guidelines set forth by the UN call for all intra-country resources for foster care and adoption be exhausted first, but that isn’t always the case—especially when wealthy Americans come calling.

International adoption isn’t wrong, but individuals or couples considering bringing home a baby from another country should make sure they have all the facts surrounding a child before they commit to adopting! [Science Daily]