A new policy report has identified outdated legislation as one of three interlocking constraints to non-kin adoptions in Jamaica .

The others are: an ambiguous governance framework and chronic under-resourcing, which together slow and block adoption.

The findings are contained in “Home Advantage: Reforming Jamaica’s Adoption System,” the first policy report of 2026, released by the Caribbean Policy Research Institute (CAPRI).

CAPRI fellow, Aleem Mahabir says thousands of children are in state care and each year, only about 10 to 20 wards get adopted by non-kin families, while there are 100 to 150 approved adopters who remain waiting.  

According to him, adoption, when done as early as possible, gives children the best chance at a stable life, noting that the longer a child remains in care, the lower the odds of adoption and the higher the developmental risks .

Mr. Mahabir notes that several structural barriers continue to shape adoption outcomes in Jamaica, pointing out that the country’s adoption legislation has not been revised since 1958.

He adds that these issues, among others, contribute to prolonged delays in placing children into permanent family environments.

He was speaking at the launch of the report yesterday.