| Within this article we talk about the importance of | | | | transferred from the birth parents to the new |
| adopting in your own country and the process | | | | adoptive parents so in every way that child becomes |
| involved when or if you decide to adopt. | | | | the legal child of this new family". |
| It would seem celebrities who adopt children are | | | | In England alone she told us that there are not |
| starting a trend? | | | | enough people coming forward to adopt young |
| In recent years Angelina Jolie and her partner Brad | | | | children. Many prospective parents would like to |
| Pitt have adopted sons Maddox and Pax Thien and | | | | adopt newborn babies but is this an unrealistic goal? |
| daughter Zahara. All three have been adopted from | | | | Mo said, "On the whole it's pretty unlikely but there |
| different countries. | | | | are some categories of people where they could |
| Madonna adopted her son David from Malawi and | | | | have a realistic chance. If they are people coming |
| actress Meg Ryan provided a home to a little girl | | | | from the black and minority ethnic communities there |
| named Daisy whom she adopted from China. | | | | are a good number of children who either have had |
| Do the decisions that these celebrities make influence | | | | two black parents or who are dual heritage and |
| people who are also considering adoption? | | | | require adoptive families. |
| Mo O'Reilly from the British Association for Adoption | | | | The assessment process is thorough and can last for |
| & Fostering said she is undecided. | | | | six to eight months. At the end of the process |
| "It's difficult to tell. I think if it does have an impact, is | | | | people should have a good idea about what age of |
| it likely to make them think about adopting from | | | | child they would be most suited to and interested in. |
| abroad rather than adopting at home, which is a | | | | However, it's worth mentioning that the majority of |
| shame". | | | | children placed for adoption are still under the age of |
| She added: "I think there's quite a lot of controversy | | | | five. They are very young children and absolutely |
| about people generally adopting from abroad and we | | | | delightful and they're in care for absolutely no fault of |
| know there's a place for that but I think I would try | | | | their own and are desperate to have a permanent |
| and encourage people to think about children in their | | | | family. By the time most people come to think about |
| own country first. | | | | adoption they have either failed to conceive through |
| In any one year there are upwards of four to five | | | | fertility treatment so this may be the only route |
| thousand children needing adoption in the United | | | | available to them". |
| Kingdom every year and we have to try and recruit | | | | Mo also said, "social workers also know how difficult |
| new adopters who can meet that need. Sometimes | | | | the adoption process can be but they are there to |
| we fall short on that and those children aren't able to | | | | help you. Honestly, social workers are human beings |
| be adopted. Which is a real shame. | | | | they understand that people aren't perfect, we're |
| I would encourage people interested in adoption to | | | | looking for ordinary, honest folk who have a real |
| try and apply to their local council or government | | | | interest in children and who want to give their best |
| first. Plus, remember adoption is a legal procedure | | | | efforts". |
| which involves going to court. Parental responsibility is | | | | |