30 Children in Quintana Roo Need Families

Chetumal — "Every girl, boy, and adolescent deserves a home,” a principle driving coordinated efforts by various agencies to shorten timelines and eliminate barriers in the adoption process, always centering on the best interests of the child. Currently in Quintana Roo, 328 children and adolescents are in public and private social assistance centers, of which 30 are legally eligible for adoption, including sibling groups and children with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, or ADHD.

According to the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH), International Adoption Day is celebrated every November 9, a date established in 2014 to raise awareness and promote the right of children to grow up in a family environment. Adoption is thus considered an act of love that creates an irreversible bond between children and adolescents and the people willing to integrate them into their family nucleus.

Although November 9 is a date to raise awareness about adoption, for the Quintana Roo Office for the Protection of Girls, Boys, Adolescents, and the Family, it is highly significant because through adoption, the right to family life can be restored for children and adolescents who lack a family support network, stated the head of the Office, Cecilia Bardales May.

She explained that under the care of Quintana Roo, there are 328 children and adolescents in public and private social assistance centers, of which 30 are legally eligible for adoption, including sibling groups and children with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, or ADHD.

“We have 302 children and adolescents in public social assistance centers belonging to the System for the Integral Development of the Family (DIF) and 26 in private assistance centers, which are, for example, civil associations,” she elaborated.

Although there are more than 300 minors, not all are in a condition to be adopted, as the State DIF provides residential care for those who are in a situation of vulnerability, either as victims of crime or having been abandoned. When a minor arrives, a process begins to search for support networks; if none are found, a process to "release" them is carried out under current regulations and with close accompaniment from the Office, as this humanist government works to shorten times and eliminate barriers, always prioritizing the best interests of the child.

The official mentioned that the children and adolescents eligible for adoption range from one to 17 years and 11 months old.

Although several children and adolescents are eligible for adoption, if a home cannot be found for them in Quintana Roo, they are listed nationally to broaden the possibilities of finding them a family.

However, when an adoption cannot be finalized, the Quintana Roo DIF works on an independent life plan so that upon reaching the age of majority, they have the tools to function autonomously. This means that upon turning 18, young people can no longer stay in DIF homes, but during this independent life process, the DIF System continues to support them with housing, food, and medicine, reaffirming the State Government's commitment to their comprehensive well-being.

From 2022 to date, 61 adoptions have been registered in Quintana Roo through the State DIF, of which 24 are institutional, meaning minors who were under DIF care in social assistance centers. The remaining 37 are adoptions carried out among relatives.

Civil Code Reforms Allow for Improved Adoption System

With the creation of the Specialized Adoption Court, promoted during this administration, processes have been significantly expedited, as hearings for full adoption are held in a single proceeding where a sentence is issued and becomes final.

However, there is no exact time for either the process of releasing a child or adolescent to become eligible for adoption, nor for the applicants to complete the procedure, as the time also depends on the willingness of the requesting persons regarding the submission of documentation, psychological assessments, and social work.

These actions reflect the vision of the Government of Mara Lezama, which places people at the center and prioritizes the right of girls, boys, and adolescents to have a family.

The requirements that families interested in adopting must meet are outlined in the Adoption Law of the State of Quintana Roo, Articles 16 and 18. Generally, married persons, those in a concubinage relationship, or single persons of legal age and in full exercise of their rights can adopt.

Among the main requirements are: being at least 15 years older than the child or adolescent intended for adoption; having sufficient means for their sustenance and education; obtaining the certificate of suitability; as well as presenting medical studies, non-criminal records, and administrative documentation, in addition to completing the induction to the adoption process provided by the Quintana Roo DIF.

All of this is established in the Protocol for the Evaluation and Determination of Suitability, published in the State Official Gazette on May 30, 2025. The objective is to ensure that every child arrives in a loving, stable, and safe environment.

The prosecutor for the Protection of Girls, Boys, and Adolescents in the state reported that during the current administration, they have received 100 applications, a figure that remains constant over the years. However, the most important thing is to follow up on each application, as some are not finalized due to failure to meet the requirements.

Therefore, an Adoption Induction Course is provided, which sensitizes applicants about the great responsibility and love involved in opening their home to a child or adolescent. This responds to the commitment of the Quintana Roo DIF, led by Verónica Lezama, to build families based on love and empathy.

In addition to the Induction Course, awareness and orientation campaigns are promoted, inviting families to broaden their perspective regarding the age or conditions of the minors they wish to adopt. The goal is to guarantee the human right of every child and adolescent to live in a family, with a humanist, inclusive, and feminist vision that transforms realities.

It is also worth mentioning that in April 2023, the XVII Legislature approved a reform to the Quintana Roo Civil Code regarding family law, which, among other points, now allows the adoption of minors by homosexual couples and even by a single person.

"Single-parent and same-sex parent, both; single-parent means that there is only one person who takes care of a child or adolescent, same-sex parent means people of the same sex, and what will be generated in upcoming meetings with the Civil Registry is that the acts are modified and instead of saying mother or father, it says mothers or fathers, to be inclusive, because otherwise we are contrary to the principles in matters of human rights," according to what was stated at the time by Deputy Hugo Alday Nieto.

People interested in adopting must submit their application at the offices of the Office for the Protection of Girls, Boys, Adolescents, and Family, located on Bugambilias Street S/N corner of Juana de Asbaje in the Miraflores neighborhood, in Chetumal; thereafter, they will be subject to socioeconomic and psychological studies, and if they comply with the provisions of the Adoption Law, they could be candidates to give a new hope to a child or adolescent to live in a family.