Help & Support

Adopt NI delivers five core services while actively partnering with sector organisations and key stakeholders to identify emerging needs and provide tailored, impactful support for our service users.

Tracing

REGIONAL ORIGINS TRACING SERVICE (ROTS)

ROTS is a tracing service for Family and Childcare Social Workers in statutory and voluntary organisations across Northern Ireland. It supports social workers searching for adoptees, birth mothers, birth siblings, or looked-after individuals. Social workers can email india@adoptni.org for a referral form and ROTS policies.

OUTSIDE AGENCIES TRACING SERVICE (OATS)

Established in April 2009, this tracing service supports social workers and agencies outside Northern Ireland who don't qualify for ROTS. It functions like ROTS, but fees may apply as it is currently unfunded.

PRIVATE TRACING SERVICE (PTS)

We offer private tracing services for adult adoptees, looked-after adults, and their birth families who don't qualify for statutory or funded services. While we encourage using statutory agencies where possible, fees may apply to cover our unfunded resources.

Transforming lives through our Intermediary Work

After over 40 years of searching for his origins, an older client finally found answers with Adopt NI. Despite years of doors being shut in his face, we met him in person and used his existing information and DNA analysis through our Family Tracing Service to uncover concrete evidence about his birth father and a detailed timeline.

We confirmed his birth mother’s identity and facilitated contact with his half-sister, supporting her as she processed the information. On his milestone birthday, we supported a heartfelt first meeting via Zoom. They remain connected and continued to receive our guidance as they explored their shared history.

His journey exemplifies the transformative impact of our work, bringing closure and joy to those we support.

Support We Offer

We are proud to be able to deliver a varied range of support, to suit individuals who contact or are referred to us. Whatever stage an adult is at during their adoption journey, can be emotionally demanding, whether tracing, lead up to contact or reunion or indeed just dealing with the challenges and questions that adoption can pose. We offer a range of support either face to face, via phone or email:

PEER SUPPORT

Peer support is founded on mutual agreement and respect and based on shared experiences. At Adopt NI we offer peer support on a one-to-one and group basis. Through listening and sharing experiences peers can learn from one another and gain insight and understanding into their own and others' perspectives. Both one-to-one and group support are facilitated by an experienced member of our team

ONE TO ONE

One-to-one support provides a safe space for individuals to connect with peers or experienced Adopt NI team members. We can arrange meetings with others from the adoption or care community, like an adoptee connecting with a birth mother, facilitated by our team. For those not ready for support groups, this open-ended service is here for as long as needed.

SUPPORT GROUPS

Support groups are open to all adults with a connection to adoption or care, i.e. birth parents, their partners, adoptees, their partners, siblings, adoptive parents, etc). Our groups are run by professional and qualified facilitators and / or someone with similar lived experience.

Professional Support

We offer bespoke and holistic professional support to individuals who approach us for help and have a range of qualified sessional staff to draw on to meet the individual needs of our diverse client base.

Specialist Counselling

Counselling is available for those who feel it is right for them. Our counsellors are fully trained and accredited by BACP and specialise in the issues that surround the adoption and looked after communities. (Fees apply but can be discussed if this is an issue)

Intermediary Work

Our intermediary service ensures safe, paced contact between individuals. If a trace or DNA match identifies the person sought, we can reach out to ask if they’re open to contact. If both parties agree, we help decide the type of communication (letter, email, phone, face-to-face) and facilitate reunions if desired. Identifying information is only shared with mutual consent.

For those who prefer no contact, we ensure their wishes are respected and help the other party understand and accept this choice.

Advice & Advocacy

Our advocates empower individuals to ensure they are heard, understood and supported at every step of their journey.

Our advice, signposting and advocacy service is designed to ensure individuals receive support in accessing their adoption or care related records and for information recovery related to historic institutions. Our Advocates are the primary case workers in Adopt NI and will support you across a range of issues including:

Information recovery and family tracing
Intermediary support
Signposting to HSCTs / adoption agencies
Working with you or on your behalf liaising with (and attending meetings where necessary) a range of agencies and organisations
Help with testimony and redress (MBMLW public inquiry).

“Initially I felt a reluctance to speak in the support group, probably as I felt I had little to say or share. Gradually, through listening to other members in the group share their personal experiences and journeys it allowed me to be ‘more myself’. Sometimes I was actually surprised at how much I had been holding back….. I no longer feel ashamed…….I feel I have progressed and could not have done that without the support of this group”.