Approved adoption agencies

•  Northern Ireland Adoption and Foster Care

Voluntary bodies

• Adoption Routes
• Family Care Society
• SSAFA Forces Help

Other organisations

Adopt NI
Independent N Ireland charity providing support for adults from the adoption and looked-after population. Includes counselling and a tracing service. 

APAI
Adoptive Parents Association of Ireland (email only).

Children in Northern Ireland (CiNI)
Umbrella organisation for the children's sector in Northern Ireland - represents the interests of the sector and provides support services to member organisations in their work with children and young people.

Children's Law Centre
Provides information and advice on children's rights and the law as it relates to children in Northern Ireland.

General Registrar Office
Office in Belfast Tel: 0300 200 7890 
- Visit the website
- Takes applications for birth and adoption certificates
- Tracing and contacting birth relatives and adopted adults

NI Commissioner for Children and Young People
Includes information on children's rights.

Northern Ireland Court Service
Includes contact details for all courts.

Northern Ireland Guardian Ad Litem Agency
Information about guardian ad litems - independent officers of the Court who are experienced in working with children and families. Under the Children (NI) Order 1995, a guardian ad litem is appointed to safeguard the interests of children who are the subject of Court proceedings. This may be either adoption or care proceedings.

Parenting NI
Provides help and support to parents facing any family difficulty, includes a parents helpline, specialist parenting courses. Also runs The Men's Project - to increase awareness of the issues facing men and boys (especially within families) and to promote their social inclusion; and a parenting forum - a platform for the needs and aspirations of parents to be heard.  

Therapeutic Education Support Services in Adoption – TESSA project

Relate NI