Adoption in the US and Abroad

Some U.S. celebrities, such as Madonna, have been receiving flack for adoption outside of the country. Save the Children has been very vocal on the matter:

"The best place for a child is in his or her family in their community," Save the Children spokesman Dominic Nutt said in a statement. "Most children in orphanages have one parent still living, or have an extended family that can care for them in the absence of their parents."

He warned that international adoption could actually worsen the problem it sought to solve, and said the practice could be "big business" for "unscrupulous adoption agencies."

Nutt said: "If the celebrity really wants to help children in poor countries, they should support charities like Save The Children and others who seek to improve the quality of children's lives in their own countries and communities."

The truth is adopting children in the U.S. for many people can be like trying to learn home dentistry through a mail order foreign exchange program. It's expensive, time consuming, terribly unclear, and heart rendering. Single persons are not readily considered viable parents either.

My neighbor adopted a boy from Central America because of these very reasons. They tried and waited and were heart broken more than once. Taking a chance on a foreign adoption became what they felt to be their best and only option. They have an adorable young son now who is very loved and well cared for.

It's fine to think that something should happen here in the states, however, before the actions can truly be done it might be wise to make the laws change to where such things can be possible.

I agree with Roland Martin, whom also addresses this issue, states:
"Don't just bang out an e-mail or blog and get caught up in the celebrity hype.

If you think it should be easier to adopt American children, demand that your local, state and federal election officials clear the pathway to make the process easier. And let's have more consistency. Having 50 different states set their own policy, is frankly, nonsense. With so many rules, no wonder folks throw their hands up and move on.

The goal of adoption is to put children in loving homes and not have them be the responsibility of the state. Making it harder to adopt affects you in your pocketbook because taxpayer money is spent to care for the children. So changing the laws not only helps the child, but also is fiscally prudent."

When we look at children in the US, we need to look more at the entire picture. If we are looking to create a more favorable economy we should look at all aspects that can be changed. Several small changes can turn into a major savings.

So, today, I am going to write my congressman and do something. How about you?