A bit of celebrity adoption news starts the week.

Madonna's family is reported to be coming up to the time of home visits from Malawian adoption inspectors, according the the UK tabloid The Sun.

As par for the Sun's slippery course, they are quoting unnamed sources as saying, "This home study is a big deal -- and Madonna and Guy have been absolutely dreading it."

Oh, fercryinoutloud ...

And Celebrity Babies.com has a bit on Michelle Pfeiffer talking about explaining some on-screen bigotry to her kids, one of whom is a transracial adoptee.

Pointing out something we all know, she explains that there's no difference at all between love for bio and adopted kids and that race is so not a factor in what makes a person lovable. (I'm paraphrasing, but that is the gist.)

A report of parents glued to computers and neglecting their kids had me worrying it might be compulsive bloggers (Compulsive? Who's compulsive?) at fault, but in fact online games were to blame for the malnourishment and near death of a 22-month-old and an 11-month-old.

Seems a substantial inheritance allowed the couple to forego much of anything besides spending time in front of new computers and a plasma TV ... waahoo.

Excuse me for flippancy when the subject is so dire, but I'm wondering how they managed to make two babies in the first place. (Okay ... I do know how they did it, so I guess the question would have to be when.)

This week sees the launch of the BBC's "Family Wanted Campaign" in the UK.

Starting off with popular radio presenter and adult adoptee Nicky Campbell tracing the roots of his adoptive family ... he's traced his birth family already ... the next two weeks will see the BBC focusing on issues of children in care, encouraging families to consider fostering and adoption, and will be followed by ten weeks with dedicated phone lines, a website and a series of 20 UK–wide events in September where the public can meet local agencies and people who have fostered and adopted.

The BBC has also supported training and equipment for kids in care and social workers to produce 20 of their own short films for the Video Nation website. Check out some of the amazing videos by and about the kids.

Speaking of kids in foster care, here's the written testimony of a foster child given last week to the US House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support during a hearing on "Children who "age out" of the foster care system.

WIth a compelling personal story and solid suggestions for change in the system, it is well worth a read.

The subcommittee will hold a hearing on health care for children in foster care on Thursday, July 19, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. in room B-318 Rayburn House Office Building. Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA). (The Congressman's site does not encourage email, but his contact info is here.)

Check out this, too, from singer/songwriter Jewel about life on the streets, also delivered to the committee.

More links:

The UK adoption process.
The hoopla over Madonna's adoption.
Foster care and foster adoption.