Sir, - Patricia Casey (November 9th) suggests current the adoption assessment process is different to that of the past. In fact the adoption process has evolved over a number of years. The structure of the assessment for inter-country adoption is similar to that for domestic adoption and fostering with the exception of the obvious extra preparation given to racial and cultural matters.
The article also suggests the assessment is newly intrusive and arbitrary. This only serves to heighten the anxiety of couples considering adoption or commencing an assessment.
What Patricia Casey seems to have forgotten is the child. Adoption is for the child. The aim of assessment is to have prepared, confident and able parents who can meet the needs of the child and make fully informed decisions and plans for the family.
The birth parents, social worker and prospective adopters have a common goal: to provide a safe, secure and loving family life for a child. This is the basis of the current adoption assessment and also the basis from which all parties to adoption can move forward and work together. - Yours, etc., Maura Osborne,
Templeogue, Dublin 16.