You are here: Home > Jamaica

All posts from cda.gov.jm

cda.gov.jm Adoption Procedure Jamaica : Child Development Agency

Organization : Child Development Agency
Facility : Adoption Procedure
Country : Jamaica
Website : http://www.cda.gov.jm/adoption/

CDA Jamaica Adoption Procedure

The Adoption Board is the only body that has responsibility for adoption of children in Jamaica. This service is undertaken for the Board by the Child Development Agency who processes all applications.

Related : Child Development Agency Foster Care Service Jamaica : www.statusin.org/28811.html

Adoption is the process by which a child’s biological parental rights are transferred to the adopted parents.

To be adopted a child must

** Be over 6 week’s and under 18 years old.
** Applications must be received at least six (6) months before a child attains their eighteenth (18th) birthday.

Birth parents have to agree by giving their consent to adopt, unless :
** They are dead, with evidence of their death
** Children who are wards of the State.

** They cannot be found, evidence of attempts made to locate them eg. Newspaper advertisement.

** They are incapable of giving consent e.g. Due to mental disability with supporting evidence.
** Withholding consent unreasonably.

Who can adopt a child?
** Applicants who are 25 years old and over. If they are related to the child being adopted they can be under 25 years old but over 18 years. (There is no upper age limit).

However applicant would be approved based on age of child being adopted, medical conditions of applicant and family support available for child being adopted.
** Single person
** Married

** Two parents married to each other, one can adopt with the agreement of the other (singly.)
** Applicants should be domiciled in Jamaica.
** A parent can adopt his or her own child.

Part Two –

Early stages of adoption

** To adopt a child you should visit the CDA website, click on Adoption and Forms, download the forms complete and return them to any Child Development Agency office island wide.(see listing and addresses of CDA offices)

** You will receive a response to your application within 4 -6 weeks.
** This is necessary as sometimes based on the information provided an investigation may need to be done before an acceptable response can be provided.

** A response will be provided acknowledging receipt of form as well informing whether your application was denied or approved.

** If your application was approved you will be sent electronically a second package with the formal application and a booklet with all documentation that are required.

** When you have obtained all documents required you will return the completed package to the Child Development Agency who will provide a receipt for your application.

Part Three :

Adoption Processing

** You will be provided with a case number and the name of your Case Worker who will advise you of appointments that will be scheduled in order to process your case.

** Arrangements will be made for an officer to visit your home to check to determine its suitability.

** For those applicants requesting a child you will be placed on a waiting list which is arranged based on a first come first serve basis and on the specification of your request.

** After all documentation required is obtained, all consents and interviews gathered, the case is now ready for the Case Committee report to be prepared.

** A Case Committee Report will be prepared by the case worker and submitted through the Adoption Coordinator to the Adoption Board for approval.

** After a case is submitted to the Case Committee of the Adoption Board and decision is made the case will return from the Case Committee with a decision which will be relayed to applicant.

** Approved cases are then prepared for court. Applicants have to attend an interview and have dialogue with their case worker to make the necessary arrangements for Court.
** To make an adoption legal, a Court has to grant an Order.

** Persons who complete the adoption of children become the legal parents of the children they have adopted and all the legal rights of biological parents are transferred permanently to the adoptive parents.

** After the order is issued by the Court the Adopter will take this document to the Registrar General Department (RGD) where they will apply for the child’s adopted birth certificate.

It should be noted that once a child has been adopted their former identity is no longer admissible and their former birth record is sealed.

Part Four :

Children who go abroad on a Licence

** The Licence gives prospective adoptive parents the right to take the child with them in the country where they reside.

** This Licence should be kept for immigration purposes.
** The Licence has some expectations as with the child’s arrival in the country the adopter has a responsibility to notify the social work agency who will be supervising the placement.

** It is expected that the necessary placement reports will be submitted at the required intervals as stated on the Licence to the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA).

** It is also expected that the adoption will be completed within two years.
** A child who goes abroad on a Licence keeps their original identity until they are adopted by the applicant.
** After obtaining an Order a copy should be sent to the Adoption Board.

Information Persons overseas wishing to adopt should consider.
** Not all children in Children’s Home are available for adoption.
** Applicants are not allowed to visit Children’s Home to select children.

** Each country has specific immigration requirements that are enforced and applicants are advised to check with their countries’ adoption requirements prior to submitting an application for adoption.

** Adoption should be in a child’s best interest and therefore should not be seen as a means for migration, trafficking or removing children from their stable family setting to one of uncertainty and unfamiliarity.

Application Form

Please download the Adoption Guidelines below which are intended to assist you with the completion of your Application Form.
You are required to complete and enclose the following documents :
** Application Form (s)
** Child’s Medical Form (s)
** Adult’s Medical Form (s)
** Any other information relevant to your case such as affidavits, birth certificates, death certificates and court orders.

Please note that an application form is to be completed for each child to be adopted. In many instances, original or notarized documents are required. Failure to provide all the necessary documents, properly notarized, will result in delays in processing your application.

Contacting the Adoption Unit :
** All queries are to be directed to our Adoption Unit by calling (876) 922-1751 or via email adoption@cda.gov.jm. Completed applications are to be submitted to our Corporate Office, 48 Duke Street, Kingston. However, local packages can be dropped off at our parish offices and will be forwarded to the Corporate Office.

Author : Regina