Child Protection and Social Work services are provided by the Social Work Team at the Local Health Office.

Intercountry Adoption
Intercountry adoption is were a child living outside Ireland is adopted and brought to live in Ireland. People resident in Ireland who wish to adopt abroad are required to have their eligibility and suitability assessed based on the Standardized Framework for Intercountry Adoption Assessment before they travel abroad, if their adoption order is to be recognised under Irish Law.

Contact the Intercountry Adoption Team at Dartmouth House, Kylemore Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10 Tel: (01) 620 1100

Fostering
Fostering in Irelandmeans taking care of someone else's child in your own home. Children of all ages need foster care – from birth to late teens. Some children need short-term care; others may need long term care. Some children need to find a home that allows them to stay with their brother or sister. But whatever the circumstances, fostering a child is an incredibly rewarding experience. In an ideal situation, the child placed in foster care will return to his or her own family as soon as this is possible.

Fostering Dept.,22 Mountjoy Square,Dublin 1. Tel 01 8556871
Fostering Service, HSE Dublin Mid Leinster, Cherry Orchard Hospital, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10. Tel: 01 206387

Community Mothers
Community Mothers Programme and Family Support Service, Park House, North Circular Road, Dublin 7 Tel: (01) 838 7122, ext. 246/221

The Community Mothers Programme is a Parent Support Programme in which friendly local women known as Community Mothers carry out monthly visits to first and second-time parents in their own homes. These visits are made by appointment and they focus on health care, nutrition and the baby's overall development. The Community Mothers are volunteers and are guided and supported by Family Development Nurses

The Community Mothers Programme recognises parents as being the most important people in their baby's life.

The Programme sets out:
• to recognise that, as a parent, you are the expert with your own baby.
• to help you enjoy your baby.
• to boost your self-confidence.
• to help you develop a wide range of parenting skills.
• to exchange ideas and information.
• to provide you with on-going support during the first two years of your baby's life

Childcare Crisis Intervention Service
Park House, North Circular Road, Dublin 7 Tel: (01) 838 7122

Child Health
Area Medical Teams visit schools in the area to give vaccinations like the MMR, Meningitis C, Rubella etc. They also work with Public Health Nurses to check on a child development from birth onwards, through a series of standard regular checks. Area Medical Officers also play an important role in managing outbreaks of illness like measles or mumps in the area. You can contact the Area Medical Officers at (01) 857 5400

Immunisation
Immunisation is a simple, safe and effective way of protecting your child against certain diseases. Children and young people in Ireland are entitled to certain vaccinations and immunisation services free of charge. These vaccines are provided by your GP, in Hospitals, at Health Centres, at home or at school.

For more information on immunisation talk to your GP, Public Health Nurse at your local Health Centre, call the HSE info line 1850 24 1850 or visit - www.immunisation.ie 

Community Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Services
Access to services at the Mater Hospital and St. Vincent's (Fairview) is through G.P referral initially.

Childminder Advisory Officer Service

Childminder Advisory Officer’s role:

• To provide a free support system for Childminders caring for 3 or fewer pre-school children.
• To promote voluntary notification of Childminders
• To provide advisory visits to Childminders homes.
• To provide information and training for Childminders
• To facilitate the establishment of local networks of such Childminders
• To provide Childminder Vacancy list for parents

Click here for more information on the Childminder Advisory Service