Current Services

• We run support groups for anyone whose life has been touched by adoption.  This is essentially peer group support and our groups are a mixture of all members of the adoption triangle and their families or friends.  We have three groups running at the moment - Belfast, Ballymena and one for birth mothers only.  We aim to expand this provision right across N Ireland.  We are also setting up more specialised group meetings to take place from time to time e.g. a meeting for adoptive parents only and adoptees only.

• The BELFAST group meets on the FIRST TUESDAY of the month at 7 University Street, at 7.30pm.

• The BALLYMENA group meets on the THIRD WEDNESDAY of every month in Ballymena Council Offices, Ardeevan, 80, Galgorm Road, Ballymena at 7.30pm (opposite the bus & train station).

• The BIRTHMOTHERS ONLY group meets on the THIRD TUESDAY of every other month in Belfast at 7.30pm.  Please contact the office for details.

• We are currently exploring the setting up of two more support groups - one for adoptive parents only and one for older teenagers and young adopted adults living with the challenges of FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder). Anyone who is interested, please contact us.

One-to-one  Support

• We provide one-to-one support (telephone, email, letter or face-to-face support) for those who need to talk to someone.  We can also arrange for you to meet with someone like yourself e.g. birth or adoptive parents to speak with other birth or adoptive parents, adoptees with adoptees etc.

Counselling/therapy

• We can now offer counselling at a cost of £25 per session for all those who feel they need that little bit more.  If you feel you would prefer a different type of support, please let us know and we will help you find the support you think would best suit you.

Tracing 

• The Regional Origins Tracing Service (ROTS), has been operating very successfully from 1 October, 2003 and will continue to operate subject to funding.  Through ROTS, we provide tracing support for adoption agencies.

• We also have our own Record Scan Service for those who prefer a completely private and independent search. Through this service we can help people find missing family members and provide ongoing support while the work is being carried out.  We can search public records throughout the UK and Southern Ireland.  We also have contacts abroad.  This service costs £50 for an initial 'assessment of information' and one hour of search time.  If more than one hour is required to complete the search each additional hour will be charged at £25 per hour.  If the client requires documents such as birth certificates, they will be charged for these separately.

·      We also offer an intermediary service to help individuals establish contact in a safe way and at their own pace.  This serivce costs £25 for an initial contact letter and £10 for each additional letter sent.

• There is a special adoption section in Newry and Dungannon libraries devoted entirely to books on adoption issues, including a section for children.  Portadown library has adoption books dispersed through all sections.  We supply the books and the libraries see to the 'lend and return' side of things.