DoS Adoption Alert: International Families, Inc. Hague Accreditation canceled

March 28, 2014

On March 27, 2014, the Council on Accreditation (COA) canceled the Hague accreditation of International Families, Inc. for failing to maintain substantial compliance with the U.S. accreditation standards at 22 Code of Federal Regulations Part 96 Subpart F. Prior to this date, International Families, Inc. was a Hague accredited adoption service provider authorized to operate in both Hague and non-Hague countries.

As a result of this cancellation, International Families, Inc. must cease to provide all adoption services in connection with cases covered under the Hague Adoption Convention. This adoption service provider currently operates in India and China. Please note that this cancellation will not affect International Families, Inc.’s ability to work in non-Convention countries until the entry into effect of the Universal Accreditation Act on July 14, 2014. Persons with an open case with International Families, Inc. may contact the adoption service provider directly to find out whether and how the cancellation affects your adoption services. 

The cancellation of accreditation for International Families, Inc. is effective on March 27, 2014. International Families, Inc. may submit a petition within 10 days of the cancellation if it wishes to challenge the cancellation as unwarranted. Updated information will be provided on the adoption.state.gov website as appropriate.

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Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/

Adverse Action: Children of Africa Enterprises/Hope Adoption Agency loses Hague Accreditation

DOS Notice: Children of Africa Enterprises/Hope Adoption Agency loses Hague Accreditation

November 20, 2012

On November 8, 2012 the Council on Accreditation (COA) canceled the Hague accreditation of Children of Africa Enterprises/Hope Adoption Agency (“Hope”) for failing to maintain substantial compliance with the U.S. accreditation standards at 22 Code of Federal Regulations Part 96 Subpart F.  Prior to this date, Hope was a Hague accredited adoption service provider authorized to operate in both Hague and non-Hague countries.

As a result of this cancellation, Hope must cease to provide all adoption services in connection with cases covered under the Hague Adoption Convention.  This adoption service provider currently operates in Ethiopia.  Please note that according to U.S. regulations, this cancellation will not affect Hope’s ability to work in non-Hague countries.  Persons with an open case with Hope may contact the adoption service provider directly to find out whether and how the cancellation may affect your adoption services.

The cancellation of accreditation for Hope was effective on November 8, 2012. Updated information will be provided on the adoption.state.gov website.

http://adoption.state.gov/about_us/children_of_africa_loses_accreditation.php

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Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/

COA's Latest Substantiated Complaint and Adverse Action Report

COA released an updated Substantiated Complaints and Adverse Action Report today, September 28, 2012. One agency, Vista Del Mar is listed as having an additional Substantiated Complaint since the publication of the last report in August 2012. No other new complaints appear in the report.

COA's Substantiated Complaint and Adverse Action Reports can be found on the COA website: http://coanet.org/programs/hague-accreditation-and-approval/monitoring-and-oversight/
Scroll down the page and click on the red highlighted link: "Substantiated Complaints and Adverse Actions"

PEAR's previous post, listing all agencies with Substantiated Complaints
http://pear-now.blogspot.com/2012/09/september-2012-update-to-coa.html

As we have previously stated, being that COA can take 12-23 months to investigate complaints and that the specifics of corrective actions and complaint facts are not published, we do not believe the information provided through COA is sufficient to provide protection to potential adoptive parents, families of origin, or children. We suggest that families looking to use the services of a Hague accredited agency thoroughly research every agency and use the COA reports only as a starting point.

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Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/

September 2012 Update to COA Substantiated Complaints and Adverse Action Report

In August of this year, PEAR published a list of agencies which had substantiated complaints under the COA's Hague Monitoring and Oversight provisions. The Council on Accreditation subsequently published a more recent collection of reports of Substantiated Complaints and Adverse Actions for Hague Accredited Agencies and Approved Persons. The Reports are available via the COA's website under the category Monitoring and Oversight. http://coanet.org/programs/hague-accreditation-and-approval/monitoring-and-oversight/

The following agencies are listed in the report as having one or more substantiated complaints. Please use the COA link to view the specifics of each report. Also, please note that COA does not publish the specifics of corrective actions, those are considered "confidential" and can only be disclosed by the agency itself. Agencies in red below are additions to the list previously published by PEAR (http://pear-now.blogspot.com/2012/08/coa-substantiated-complaints-and.html)

Adoption Advocates International
Adoption Ark (on previous list, new report contains additional Substantiated Complaint filed in 2011)
Adoption Associates
Bethany Christian Services
Building Arizona Families
Christian World Adoption
Heartsent
Huminskas Anioly
Joshua Tree
St Mary International
Small World Adoptions - Missouri
The Datz Foundation
Vista Del Mar
Wide Horizons for Children

Being that COA can take 12-23 months to investigate complaints* and that the specifics of corrective actions and complaint facts are not published, we do not believe the information provided through COA is sufficient to provide protection to potential adoptive parents, families of origin, or children. We suggest that families looking to use the services of a Hague accredited agency thoroughly research every agency and use the COA reports only as a starting point.

*As reported to PEAR by complaining parties.

Edited 09/10/2012 to correct time range and source of reporting information.

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Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/

Suspension of Huminska's Anioly, Inc. lifted

Suspension of Huminska's Anioly, Inc. lifted

The Council on Accreditation (COA) has announced that effective April 13, 2012 it has terminated the suspension of the Hague accreditation of Huminska's Anioly, Inc. that was imposed effective March 6, 2012. Huminska's Anioly, Inc. completed its corrective action plan to COA’s satisfaction and COA has determined that Huminska's Anioly, Inc. is now in substantial compliance with applicable U.S. accreditation standards. Huminska's Anioly, Inc. may resume providing adoption services in Hague Adoption Convention cases as of April 13, 2012.

If you have further questions, please contact LaTina Woolen, the Accrediting Entity Liaison, who may be reached at (202) 663-3119 or at WoolenLA@state.gov in the Office of Children’s Issues.

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Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/

Huminska's Anioly Faces 30 Day Suspension

PEAR has received a confirmed report that Huminska's Anioly, an agency providing adoption services for families adopting from Poland, has received a temporary suspension from COA. The suspension is for 30 days during which time HA may not assist in any Hague adoptions. HA is making arrangements under the Hague Regulations to transfer cases to another provider if client's adoption plans will be negatively impacted by the suspension. If you have any problems or questions that HA is not adequately addressing, please contact Jayne Schmidt: 866-262-8088 ext. 203.

Notice of the suspension should be published on the DOS adoptions webpages shortly under "News": http://adoption.state.gov

Update 3/7/2012 3:42 pm EST: The following Notice was published on the DOS website today, please note that the DOS Notice does not specify a 30 day suspension, it states the suspension will continue until corrective action has been completed:

Adverse Action taken by Council on Accreditation towards Huminska's Anioly, Inc.

On March 2, 2012, the Council on Accreditation (COA) made the decision to temporarily suspend Huminska's Anioly, Inc. for failing to maintain substantial compliance with the Hague accreditation standards. Huminska's Anioly, Inc. is a Hague accredited adoption service provider; however, they are authorized to operate in both Hague and non-Hague countries. This agency currently operates in Poland. During this suspension, Huminska's Anioly, Inc. must cease to provide all adoption services in connection with cases covered under the Hague Convention. If you have an open case with this agency, please contact the adoption service provider directly to find out how the suspension will affect your adoption services. Please note that according to U.S. regulations, this suspension will not affect this adoption service provider's ability to work in non-Hague countries.

The suspension will begin on March 6, 2012 and conclude when the accrediting entity has determined that the adoption service provider has completed the corrective action. Updated information will be provided on the adoption.state.gov website.

http://adoption.state.gov/about_us/adverse_action_towards_huminskas_anioly.php

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Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/

COA Lifts Temporary suspension of St Mary's International and Joshua Tree Adoptions

Suspension of Saint Mary International Adoption lifted

The Council on Accreditation (COA) has announced that effective October 2, 2011 it has terminated the suspension of the Hague accreditation of Saint Mary International Adoption that was imposed effective August 27, 2011. Saint Mary International Adoption completed its corrective action plan to COA's satisfaction and COA has determined that Saint Mary International Adoption is now in substantial compliance with applicable U.S. accreditation standards. Saint Mary International Adoption may resume providing adoption services in Hague Adoption Convention cases as of October 2, 2011.

If you have further questions, please contact Miki Stebbing, the Accrediting Entity Liaison, who may be reached at (202) 736-9119 or by email at StebbingMD@state.gov or LaTina Woolen, who may be reached at (202) 663-3119 or at WoolenLA@state.gov in the Office of Children's Issues.

http://adoption.state.gov/about_us/suspension_saint_mary_lifted.php

Supension of Joshua Tree Adoptions Inc. lifted

The Council on Accreditation (COA) has announced that effective September 27, 2011, it has terminated the suspension of the Hague accreditation of Joshua Tree Adoptions Inc. that was imposed effective August 27, 2011. Joshua Tree completed its corrective action plan to COA’s satisfaction and COA has determined that Joshua Tree is now in substantial compliance with applicable U.S. accreditation standards. Joshua Tree may resume providing adoption services in Hague Adoption Convention cases as of September 27, 2011.

If you have further questions, please contact Miki Stebbing, the Accrediting Entity Liaison, who may be reached at (202) 736-9119 or by email at StebbingMD@state.gov or LaTina Woolen, who may be reached at (202) 663-3119 or at WoolenLA@state.gov in the Office of Children’s Issues.

http://adoption.state.gov/about_us/suspension_joshua_tree_lifted.php

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Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/

Alert: Adverse Action taken by Council on Accreditation towards Saint Mary's International Adoption

Alert: Adverse Action taken by Council on Accreditation towards Saint Mary's International Adoption

On September 2, 2011, the Council on Accreditation made the decision to temporarily suspend Saint Mary's International Adoption for failing to maintain substantial compliance with the Hague accreditation standards. Saint Mary's International Adoption is a Hague accredited adoption service provider; however, they are authorized to operate in both Hague and non-Hague countries. This agency operates in Bulgaria, Poland, and Ukraine. During this suspension, Saint Mary's International Adoption must cease to provide all adoption services in connection with cases covered under the Hague Convention. If you have an open case with this agency, please contact the adoption service provider directly to find out how this will affect your case. This suspension does not prohibit the adoption service provider from providing adoption services in connection with cases involving non-Hague countries.

The suspension will begin on September 2, 2011 and conclude when the accrediting entity has determined that the adoption service provider has completed the corrective action. Updated information will be provided on the adoption.state.gov website.

http://adoption.state.gov/about_us/saint_marys_adoption_agency.php

Edited 9/9/11 by PEAR: St Mary's International has filed suit in federal court for review of COA's decision to temporarily suspend the agency. The suit was reported on Justia.com: http://dockets.justia.com/docket/north-carolina/ncwdce/3:2011cv00433/64334/ and a media report may be found here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/09/09/2591088/adoption-agency-sues-to-stay-open.html

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Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/

DOS Adoption Alert: Equador & Joshua Tree Adoptions

Ecuador

August 29, 2011

Alert: Adverse Action taken by Council on Accreditation towards Joshua Tree Adoptions, Inc.

On August 26, 2011, the Council on Accreditation temporarily suspended the accreditation of Joshua Tree Adoptions, Inc. for failing to maintain substantial compliance with the Hague accreditation standards. This agency operates in Ecuador. During this suspension, Joshua Tree Adoptions, Inc. must cease to provide all adoption services in connection with cases covered under the Hague Convention. If you have an open case with this agency, please contact the adoption service provider directly to find out how this will affect your case. This suspension does not prohibit the adoption service provider from providing adoption services in connection with cases involving non-Hague countries.

The suspension will begin on August 27, 2011 and conclude when the accrediting entity has determined that the adoption service provider has completed the necessary corrective actions. Updated information will be provided on the adoption.state.gov website.

http://adoption.state.gov/country_information/country_specific_alerts_notices.php?alert_notice_type=alerts&alert_notice_file=ecuador_1

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Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/