1. Faith Hill

Faith is a well-known country music singer who married fellow musician Tim McGraw. She was born in Ridgeland, Mississippi, and was adopted as an infant into a home with two brothers. She became a household name in 1993 with the release of her debut album.

2. Jesse Jackson

The former preacher and presidential candidate, Jesse Jackson was adopted as a child by his stepfather. His mother was 16 years old and in high school when she gave birth. She married Charles Henry Jackson a year after Jesse was born. Charles later adopted Jesse, giving him his surname.

3. Jordan Fisher

Achieving fame as both an actor and singer, Jordan Fisher is also an adopted child. He was born to a 16-year-old girl with substance abuse problems. Jordan was adopted by his parents along with his two younger siblings. He has starred in recurring episodes of Liv and Maddie and was part of the cast of Teen Beach Movie among other roles.

4. Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman

These two were well-known celebrities before they married each other. Even though the marriage didn’t last, the couple adopted two children during this time. They adopted a daughter named Isabella Jane who was born in 1992 and a son named Connor Anthony who was born in 1995.

5. Kristin Davis

Kristin was a single woman when she adopted her daughter, Gemma Rose, in 2011. According to Kristin, this was something she had wanted to do for a long time.

6. Denise Richards

Denise Richards is an actress who was known for marrying Charlie Sheen. They had two biological children together before divorcing. Richards then adopted a third child on her own in 2011. She added daughter Eloise Joni to the family after a two-year process for international adoption.

7. Angelina Jolie

Angelina is well-known for her international adoptions and efforts for children in other countries. She first adopted a child in 2002, a son from Cambodia. After getting involved with actor Brad Pitt, he also adopted the boy. They adopted a daughter from Ethiopia in 2005 and a son from Vietnam in 2007.

8. Katherine Heigl

Heigl is another famous actress who has turned to adoption to expand her family. She and her husband, Josh Kelley, adopted a little girl from South Korea. This country is the same place where Katherine’s adopted sister was born. The couple also adopted a second daughter from the U.S.

These names are just a few of the hundreds of famous people who have been touched by adoption either as an adoptee or as an adoptive parent. Many others were birth parents who made the difficult choice to give their children better lives through adoption.

What other famous people in adoption have we missed? Let us know in the comments!

The post 8 Famous People In Adoption appeared first on Adoption Week Online Magazine | News, Articles, Awareness.

The Beginnings of Legal Adoption

In 1850, a law was passed in Massachusetts which recognized the legality of adoption. Technically, all that was required were willing adoptive parents, a child, and consenting biological parents. However, the statute wasn’t followed in most cases. Many times, the infant was treated as property. In fact, many adoptions focused around older children who were looked upon as labor for the families.

Adoption records were open during this time, and often no information was kept at all. Birth certificates weren’t changed and nothing remained secret in the process of adoption. Birth parents could easily find their children and the adoptive families, which often created more confusion.

Closing Records

During the 1930s and the decades following, changes in the system and process of adoption began. Records became sealed to protect the privacy of the birth family, the adopted child, and the adoptive family.

Social workers decided who was given which child. No information was shared with them about the child, and if any was provided, it was often made up. An adoptive child’s search for their biological parents was discouraged and touted as the path to unhappiness.

Changes to Adoption

Major changes began in the 1960s and 70s as fewer women had babies to give up. The stigma of raising a child alone lessened and adoptees were able to begin searching for their birth families. During this time, birth families and adoptive families began sharing information with each other though most adoptions were still closed.

Today, infant adoption in the US has changed radically from its beginnings. Not only do the birth parents and adoptive parents have the right to get to know each other, the potential birth mother may select the parents who will take her child. She even has the right to maintain contact with the family and be part of their lives in many situations.

Adopt infants may be handled through private agencies, by private adoption, or through public agencies. It may be voluntary or involuntary, depending on the birth family’s circumstances. While the adoption process is still not perfect, it has come a long way from the early days. In today’s adoptions, the concerns and rights of all parties involved are considered and protected.

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