Adoption is easy; simply select a child from some Third World, poverty-stricken country, then bring them home to raise as part of your own family. This recent media perception of some high profile adoption cases concerning celebrities such as Angelina Jolie and Madonna, has been refuted by an Omagh-based social worker who believes "nothing could be further from the truth".

Katherine McElroy, the team manager of the family placement team within the Sperrin Lakeland Trust (SLT) stated, "Adoption in the celebrity world has become the new accessory that totally undermines the real story."

As Adoption Awareness Week kicks off – running from today (Thursday) to November 12 – this local registered adoption agency is looking to highlight the message that there are children locally that require a family for life.

Katherine says, "While inter-country adoption has risen in popularity within Northern Ireland, there are increasing numbers of young children, brothers and sisters from our own communities who need the opportunity to share family life. There are a whole range of families that could meet their needs and we need those people to come forward. It is about finding families for life for children that need them."

Nevertheless, if you do choose to pursue the overseas adoption route, Katherine says her family placement team can provide advice and assistance on the risks involved in this process but she emphasised again that "there are children in this community that equally need those families".

There are many misconceptions concerning the adoption process, with many believing that only well-off and married applicants will be considered to adopt and that it is really difficult to qualify as an adoptive parent. Katherine however is hoping to quash these notions through this information week that is offering the public the opportunity to learn more about all aspects of the adoption process.

"A lot of people think that to be eligible to adopt a child you have to be a married couple, own your own house and have a really good income, and that is not the case at all," Katherine says. "The children that we have come from such a vast array of backgrounds and situations that their needs can be met by a vast array of different types of families.

"A misconception up until around five years ago was that it was married couples with no children of their own who applied to adopt. All we ask is that the family has the time and the space in their life to accommodate and meet the needs of that child."

The misapprehension that many applications are rejected and you have to be from a certain background to be considered as a candidate to adopt was also rebutted by Katherine.

"It is not a case of us saying you are not suitable; we look to see if your situation would allow you to adopt a child, and a lot of people through the training process come to realise perhaps their position at that time doesn't put them in the right situation to adopt a child.

"It is very rare that we say no sorry, we provide all the necessary information and allow them to make up their own minds," emphasises Katherine.

"We don't apologise for the rigorous nature of our assessment. We need to make sure that children who have had an unfortunate start to life will have an excellent family to compensate for the difficulties they have encountered.

S"There are families out there for every child and should they live in a council estate or their own house, should they have a low income or high income, should they be two parents or one, it is not about that. It is about your parenting abilities and your skills to be able to meet the needs of that child."

Since 1987, adopted adults have been able to find information about their birth history. Since then, social workers have helped adults who were adopted look for records and possibly trace birth family members. Over the years, the number of adopted adults who choose this path has increased and just this year SLT appointed Clare Scallon as a dedicated social worker to undertake this post adoption work.

Alongside adults who were adopted Clare is also engaging with adults who were in foster or residential care as children and who may have lost contact with their birth families.

Clare notes that this search can be frustrating, lonely and it can sometimes end in disappointment.

"Many adopted adults who wish to trace their birth families feel their is no service out their for them, it is all for younger children, but this new service by the SLT I feel is a positive step in terms of funding for adoption.

"We have a duty of care to adopted adults and want to assist them as much as possible, making that initial contact on their behalf, providing a mediator service so that the interaction runs smoothly."

Urging anyone who finds themselves in this position to contact them, Clare says, "We would encourage anyone who is looking to trace their birth families to use us in that respect because you would find more successful outcomes, as we offer that support network."

She also maintains that it is a fine balance and they don't simply give out personal information without considerably assessment.

Clare says, "We also still feel we have a duty of care to the birth family, and certainly we wouldn't simply be giving out names and addresses and saying away you go start knocking on doors, as this situation can be an extremely stressful time for both parties."

Both social workers stress upon how their number one aim is for children to remain with their birth families, offering a counselling service for anyone who is considering relinquishing their child for adoption, providing them with as much support and information as possible.

Katherine concludes by commenting how "adoptive parenting is a rewarding but demanding job. There are children in our local communities who need families like you to offer them a second chance."

If you would like to find out more about adoption and what it may mean for you do not hesitate to contact the Family Placement Team in the Community Services Department, Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital, Omagh. Tel: 028 82835114. There will be dedicated adoption social workers available to speak to you directly from 2pm - 5pm on Thursday November 9, and 2pm-4.30pm on Friday November 10.

There will also be an information session where it is possible to meet face to face with adoption workers to discuss any queries you may have and find out more about the adoption process. This session is being held at the Tyrone County Hospital on November 28 between 10am and 12pm.

m.mckelvey@ulsterherald.com