Church alliance backs planned adoption law reforms

The Watchman Church Leaders Alliance (WCLA) has welcomed the Government’s move to amend Jamaica’s adoption laws as well as the plans to establish a formal fostering framework.

The church group commended Education Minister Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon for the initiative, describing it as “a vital step toward ensuring every Jamaican child has a permanent, loving home”.

The WCLA said the proposed amendments to the Adoption Act and the Child Care and Protection Actaligned with its previously announced “Season of Family Focus”, which advocates placing family stability at the centre of national development policies.

“The planned focus on moving children from state institutions into stable family environments is welcomed,” the alliance said in a statement on Monday. 

The group also referenced international models, noting that “foster-to-adopt” systems in countries including the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States had reduced the time children spend in state care. It further argued that family-based care systems in parts of Eastern Europe and Asia have produced better developmental outcomes for children than institutional care.

The alliance said it also looked forward to continued national efforts to reduce domestic violence, which it described as “a known pipeline for state care of children”.

Last week, Morris Dixon said amendments to the law and administrative changes at the Child Protection and Family Services Agency would help make the adoption process less burdensome and faster.

She also announced plans for a Joint Select Committee of Parliament to review the proposed legislative changes and receive public input.