Domestic adoption in Ireland has been traditionally extremely controversial and its history, linked to the strong influence of the Catholic Church on the Irish state, has left a difficult legacy. In many respects the topography of contemporary domestic adoption in Ireland is now changing, presenting a critical opportunity for a national paradigm shift. However, while there is some evidence of change, a number of factors threaten the potential for more significant progress. Tensions exist between historical adoption practices in Ireland that continue to affect adopted individuals today, contemporary societal perceptions of adoption, the historical and current legislative basis of domestic adoption and the individual needs of those affected by it. The availability of new, independent methods of tracing birth relatives via the internet is competing with the traditional social worker-led model of tracing, creating unforeseen challenges for adoption stakeholders. This article draws on two recent Irish studies in the area of domestic adoption, which examined the experience of adoption, and its inherent challenges, from the perspective of adoptive families, adopted individuals and practitioners. It considers some of the challenges associated with the closed model of adoption and how those directly affected by adoption have been central in highlighting areas in need of reform. Some of the positive changes that have occurred in adoption practice are discussed, and the ongoing tensions that exist between contemporary adoption practice and law are examined.
This article considers how adoption may develop as viable option for permanency planning for children in care in Ireland following the Constitutional Referendum in 2012 on Children's Rights. The Referendum led to the broadening of the scope for using adoption as an option instead of long-term care. While a common approach used in other jurisdictions for many years such as the UK and the US) this is new for Ireland. , In order to be prepared to consider how adoption can be developed as a viable alternative to long term care, we need to focus on the specific context of Ireland and the learning from elsewhere. t. In the present, opportunities for a different style of adoption influenced by open adoption and concurrency planning are evident and highly appropriate for the use of adoption for children in care. The themes that are central to understanding the Irish context are: the history of adoption in Ireland; the impact of a dominance of a familist ideology underpinned by the Irish Constitution's Article 41 and 42 and the nature of Irish child and family law. With reference to learning from other jurisdictions, we have selected three inter-related themes that are of importance: learning from the development of adoption as a permanency option; critical overview of concurrency planning and a consideration of open adoption. From this discussion, we make some suggestions about the best ways forward in Ireland to inform the development of adoption as a viable option for children in long term care in the present day. This article is intended to be informative and exploratory in recognition that this theme is likely to evolve over a number of years within the system in Ireland. It is based on a seminar series developed to stimulate discussion and debate in light of the potential changes to policy and practice. The article highlights, as a case example, the extent to which the local socio-cultural and historical context influences policy development and should have resonance for both for readers in Ireland and other jurisdictions who are experiencing similar reforms.
Understanding the characteristics, motivations, and experiences of student social workers is important to inform their professional education and support needs. To date, there has been relatively little research about social work students in Ireland, both North and South. This study reports on an all-Ireland survey of students beginning their social work course in Autumn 2018 in the six Universities delivering social work education. It describes the characteristics of the student cohort, examines the motivations behind choosing this career, and highlights some of the potentially relevant life experiences and beliefswhich may have contributed to their ambition to join the social work profession. Implications for social work education, recommendations for curriculum development, workforce planning, and the provision of appropriate support for students are discussed.
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