Mendoza launches reform to accelerate adoption processes

The Government of Mendoza has introduced a legislative project to streamline the adoption process in response to a significant gap between applicant expectations and the needs of children in the system. Currently, 264 children and adolescents are declared adoptable in the province. Data indicates a mismatch in profiles: while most applicants seek infants aged 0 to 3, the majority of children awaiting placement are over five years old. The waiting population includes 103 siblings, 83 adolescents, and 93 children with disabilities.

The proposed reform seeks to modify the Family and Family Violence Procedural Code and coordinate with the Provincial Temporary Family Foster Care System. A key component of the initiative is the creation of a specialized interdisciplinary team within the Judiciary, known as the EIDAAE, to evaluate and support applicants specifically interested in adopting older children, sibling groups, or children with disabilities.

Verónica Álvarez Ocampos, the Undersecretary of Childhood, Adolescence, and Youth, clarified that adoption is not administratively impossible and emphasized that single-parent adoption is legally supported. Requirements for applicants include being over 25 years of age, having stable employment, and the ability to guarantee care. The government aims to reduce delays and provide better tools for complex cases where traditional family pairings are difficult to establish.