Though the process is rigorous, interested couples or single women have been urged to consider the life-changing effect adoption has on children's lives.

Winston Bowen, director of child and family programmes, said, "Adoption is important because it gives a child who is an orphan or had to be removed from their parents, a chance of permanency in a stable and nurturing environment. That is critical to that child's growth and development."

Adoption in Jamaica

The Adoption Board issues a pre-adoption form, which should be completed by all applicants, and returned to the board by post or in person.

The completed pre-adoption form is reviewed by the board. An applicant deemed suitable in the initial review is provided with another application form, a medical form and a listing of documents required. Responses to pre-adoption applications usually occur within four weeks of submission.

Upon submission, satisfactory requests are assigned to assistant adoption officers for further vetting and processing.

The consent of parents of prospective adoptees is required.

A home study/assessment of the applicant is done in the form of home visits, interviews, counselling, etc.

The Adoption Board assists applicants in identifying children who are available for adoption.

Before the adoption is completed, locally placed children, and their prospective adoptive parents, are supervised by social workers from the Adoption Board's office for a period of three to four months.

Cases that appear to be satisfactory are submitted to a Review Committee of the Adoption Board.

An applicant approved by the committee is required to make a formal application to the court. The applicant's case worker will provide guidance on this process.

A court hearing is arranged for the family's parish of residence, which decides the fate of the applicant.

The applicant and the child to be adopted are required to meet with their case worker for a briefing prior to the court hearing.

The applicant and the prospective adoptee are required to attend the court hearing. The child, who is always required to attend court, may be accompanied by a guardian.

The Registrar General's Department issues adoption birth certificates. These can be applied for four weeks after the court hearing.

Source: Child Development Agency

Get involved

For more information, contact the Child Development Agency at 48 Duke Street, Kingston; tel 948-7206/948-7067; fax 924.9401; email info@cda.gov.jm; website www.cda.gov.jm.