DOS Alert: Faith International Adoption Accreditation Suspended

On January 6, 2015, the Council on Accreditation (COA) suspended the accreditation of Faith International Adoptions for a minimum of 15 days and until appropriate corrective action has taken place. COA is the Department of State’s designated accrediting entity for adoption service providers under the Hague Adoption Convention (Convention), the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 and the Intercountry Universal Accreditation Act (UAA).  The suspension is due to COA’s finding that Faith International Adoptions failed to maintain substantial compliance with the accreditation standards at 22 Code of Federal Regulations Part 96 Subpart F. For more information regarding this suspension please refer to information on substantiated complaints and adverse actions on the Council on Accreditation’s website. 

As a result of this suspension, Faith International Adoptions must cease to provide all adoption services in connection with intercountry adoption cases for the period of suspension and until corrective action has been taken.  Please note that this suspension affects Faith International Adoptions ability to provide adoption services in both Convention cases and non-Convention cases subject to the UAA. Faith International Adoptions has adoption programs in Ghana, China, India, and Japan, and has provided adoption services in a number of other countries in which it does not have an established program. Persons with an open case with Faith International Adoptions should contact the adoption service provider directly to find out how the suspension will affect their adoption services.  

The suspension will begin on January 6, 2015, and will last for at least 15 days. In order for the suspension to be lifted at the end of the 15 days, Faith International Adoptions must complete corrective action required by the accrediting entity. Updated information will be provided here on adoption.state.gov.

http://travel.state.gov/content/adoptionsabroad/en/about-us/newsroom/Faith-International-Adoption-Accreditation-Suspended.html

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

DOS Adoption Alert: Serbia Adoption

March 29, 2013

Alert: Serbia Adoption

U.S. Embassy Belgrade has received reports that one or more U.S. adoption agencies may be giving prospective adoptive parents misleading information about the process of adoption in Serbia.  
Serbia places a priority on domestic adoption.  The only children who are generally available for intercountry adoption are children with special needs.  There are no adoption agencies authorized to offer adoption services in Serbia, and families should not seek to work with an intermediary.  You are strongly encouraged to read the Serbia adoption country information, which outlines the only way to adopt children from Serbia.

There is no legal alternative to the Serbian adoption process outlined in this adoption country information page on Serbia.  If you have received contradictory or misleading information from a U.S. accredited or approved adoption service provider, you can register a complaint with the Hague Complaint Registry (HCR), which is administered by the Council on Accreditation (COA).

To report such activity by a non-accredited or approved agency, you may contact the licensing authority of the state where the agency is located.  You can also contact the Office of Children’s Issues via email to AdoptionUSCA@state.gov  and have your complaint recorded.

http://adoption.state.gov/country_information/country_specific_alerts_notices.php?alert_notice_type=alerts&alert_notice_file=serbia_1

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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/

COA Substantiated Complaints and Adverse Action Reports

The Council on Accreditation has published the most 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 newly revamped 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.

Adoption Advocates International
Adoption Ark
Adoption Associates
Bethany Christian Services
Building Arizona Families
Heartsent
Huminskas Anioly
Joshua Tree
St Mary International
Small World Adoptions - Missouri
The Datz Foundation
Vista Del Mar

Being that COA takes 12-18 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/

UPDATE: Kyrgyzstan - US Special Advisor for Children's Issues Travels to Kyrgyzstan

The following press release was made yesterday by the Office of Children's Issues. We are assuming this in response to the recent scandal in Kyrgyzstan involving misconduct by US adoption agencies and the subsequent suspension of their accreditation in Kyrgyzstan. We request the US DOS to disclose the identity of the agency alleged to have given bribes to the Kyrg Minister and that the DOS will ensure that the Counsel on Accreditation thoroughly and effectually deals with any agency who has participated in this scandal. The families who have been waiting for years to complete adoptions in Kyrgyzstan need the full assistance of ethical agencies. Further delays caused by the misconduct of US Hague accredited agencies are unconscionable.

Special Advisor for Children's Issues Travels to Kyrgyzstan

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

August 13, 2012

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Special Advisor for Children’s Issues Ambassador Susan Jacobs will visit Kyrgyzstan from August 13-15. As part of the State Department’s commitment to facilitating ethical and transparent intercountry adoptions, she will discuss the protection of children and the intercountry adoption process. This is the Special Advisor’s fourth trip to Kyrgyzstan to discuss these topics.

In 2008, Kyrgyzstan suspended intercountry adoptions, and many U.S. families who began the adoption process prior to the suspension are still waiting for their adoptions to be finalized. As part of her trip, Ambassador Jacobs will urge the Government of Kyrgyzstan to resolve these adoptions as quickly as possible, keeping the best interests of the children in mind. She will also meet with other organizations interested in child welfare issues.
For more information about children’s issues, please visit: ChildrensIssues.state.gov
For updates on Special Advisor Jacobs’ trip, follow her on Twitter: @ChildrensIssues
For press inquiries please contact CAPRESSREQUESTS@state.gov or (202) 647-1488.

*******For further information on this scandal, please see:
http://pear-now.blogspot.com/2012/07/update-kyrgyzstan-reportedly-revokes.html
http://pear-now.blogspot.com/2012/07/kyrgystan-investigating-allegations-of.html

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

Opportunity for comment and participation: COA List of ASPs Seeking Hague Accreditation, Hague Approval, or Renewal of Hague Accreditation or Approval

As of May 1, 2012, the following individuals and organizations are seeking Hague Accreditation, Hague Approval, or Renewal of Hague Accreditation or Approval from the Council on Accreditation. To provide feedback, comment or information regarding any of these adoption service providers, please visit COA's website at: http://www.coanet.org/front3/page.cfm?sect=54&cont=4251, then click on the ASP's name to provide your comments. Please let your voice be heard!

The list below provides the Applicant Name, Mailing Address, and date of Active Consideration


ABC Adoption Services, Inc.
c/o Carolina Adoption Services, Inc.
301 N. Elm Street, Suite 500
Greensboro, NC 27401
6/17/2011

About A Child
556 Keelson Circle
Redwood City CA 94065
3/7/2012

Across The World Adoptions
395 Taylor Boulevard, Suite 116
Pleasant Hill CA 94523
12/16/2011

Adopt! inc.
135 Lackawanna Road
Lexington KY 40503
10/4/2011

Adopt International
1000 Brannan Street, Suite 301
San Francisco CA 94103
2/13/2012

Adoption Associates
1338 Baldwin
Jenison MI 49428
2/22/2012

Adoption Options
411 Camino del Rio South, Suite 200
San Diego CA 92108
2/22/2012

Adoptions Together
10230 New Hampshire Avenue, Suite 200
Silver Spring MD 20903
2/28/2012

Advocates for Children & Families
16831 NE 6th Avenue
North Miami Beach FL 33162
1/17/2012

A Helping Hand Adoption Agency
1510 Newtown Pike, Suite 152
Lexington KY 40511
1/31/2012

All God's Children International (AGCI), dba Families are Forever International
3308 NE Peerless Place
Portland OR 97232
8/9/2011

American Adoptions
9101 West 110th Street, Suite 200
Overland Park KS 66210
9/27/2011

Americans Adopting Orphans Placement Agency
12345 Lake City Way NE, #2001
Seattle WA 98125
4/6/2007

Americans for International Aid and Adoption
2151 Livernois, Suite 200
Troy MI 48083
2/7/2012

America World Adoption
6723 Whittier Avenue, Suite 202
McLean VA 22101
3/27/2012

Associated Services for International Adoption (ASIA)
215 SW Hooker Street, Suite 100
Portland OR 97201
4/11/2012

Baker Hall dba Baker Victory Services
780 Ridge Road
Lackawanna NY 14218
8/10/2011

Bal Jagat - Children's World, Inc.
5199 East Pacific Coast Hwy, Suite 204
Long Beach CA 90804
7/8/2011

Bay Area Adoption Services
465 Fairchild Drive, Suite 215
Mountain View CA 94043
4/3/2012

Bellefaire Jewish Children's Bureau
22001 Fairmount Boulevard
Shaker Heights OH 44118
2/24/2012

Bethany Christian Services
901 Eastern Avenue, NE
Grand Rapids MI 49503
11/15/2011

Buckner Adoption and Maternity Services
5200 South Buckner Boulevard
Dallas TX 75227
3/27/2012

Building Arizona Families
18355 West Ivy Lane
Surprise AZ 85388
2/7/2012

Carolina Adoption Services, Inc.
301 N. Elm Street, Suite 500
Greensboro NC 27401
6/28/2011

CASI Foundation For Children, Inc.
2308 N. Cole Road, Suite E
Boise ID 83704- 7361
2/22/2012

Catholic Charities of Tennessee
30 White Bridge Road
Nashville TN 37205
5/18/2011

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Greensburg, PA
711 E. Pittsburgh Street
Greensburg PA 15601
3/27/2012

Celebrate Children International
1757 W. Broadway, Suite 5
Oviedo FL 32765
3/15/2011

Children's Aid Society in Clearfield County
1008 South 2nd Street
Clearfield PA 16830
5/20/2011

Children's Home Society & Family Services
1605 Eustis Street
St. Paul MN 55108- 1219
10/24/2011

Children's Hope International
11780 Borman Drive
St. Louis MO 63146
2/22/2012

Children & Families of Iowa
1111 University Avenue
Des Moines IA 50314
8/9/2011

Children At Heart Adoption Services, Inc.
254 N. Front Street, Suite 200
Wilmington NC 28401
1/24/2012

China Adoption With Love
251 Harvard Street, #19 - 20
Brookline MA 02446
4/10/2012

Christian Social Services of Southern Illinois
8601 W. Main Street, Suite 201
Belleville IL 62223
5/18/2011

Christian World Adoption
777 South Allen Road
Flat Rock NC 28731
3/6/2012

Creative Adoptions, Inc.
8808 Centre Park Drive, Suite 208
Columbia MD 21045
11/8/2011

Crossroads Adoption Services
7600 Parklawn, Suite 352
Minneapolis MN 55435
3/13/2012

Dillon International, Inc.
3227 E 31st Street, Suite 200
Tulsa OK 74105
3/27/2012

Dillon Southwest
3014 North Hayden Road, #101
Scottsdale AZ 85251
3/30/2012

Dove Adoptions International
180 North Maine Street, Suite A
Banks OR 97106
7/8/2011

European Children Adoption Services
6050 Cheshire Lane North
Plymouth MN 55446
3/7/2012

Families Thru International Adoption, Inc.
401 SE 6th Street, Suite 202
Evansville IN 47713
11/2/2011

Family & Children's Agency, Inc.
9 Mott Avenue, 4th Floor
Norwalk CT 06850
4/3/2012

Family Connections Christian Adoptions
1120 Tully Road
Modesto CA 95350
2/14/2012

Forever Families Through Adoption, Inc.
62 Bowman Avenue
Rye Brook NY 10573
4/10/2012

Frank Adoption Center (NC)
2840 Plaza Place, Suite 102
Raleigh NC 27612
4/13/2012

Generations Adoptions
400 Schroeder Drive
Waco TX 76710
12/2/2011

Grace International Adoption Agency
306 Chauncey Avenue E
Bradenton FL 34208
4/17/2012

Great Wall China Adoption, dba Children of All Nations
248 Addie Roy Road, Suite A102
Austin TX 78746
4/17/2012

Hands Across the Water
2890 Carpenter Road, Suite #600
Ann Arbor MI 48108

3/9/2012
Heart of Adoptions Alliance, Inc.
418 W. Platt Street, Suite C
Tampa FL 33606
11/30/2011

Heartsent Adoptions
140 Brookwood Road, Suite 100
Orinda CA 94563
2/22/2012

Hillcrest Family Services
2005 Asbury Road
Dubuque IA 52001
8/23/2011

Holston United Methodist Home for Children, Inc.
P.O. Box 188
Greeneville TN 37744- 9982
7/19/2011

Holt International Children's Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 2880
Eugene OR 97402
1/18/2012

Home at Last Adoption Agency, Inc.
1727 N. Atlantic Avenue
Cocoa Beach FL 32931
7/12/2011

Homeland Children’s Foundation, Inc., dba Homeland Adoption Services
99 Main Street, Suite 310
Nyack NY 10960
3/7/2012

HOPE Adoption & Family Services International, Inc.
5850 Omaha Avenue North
Oak Park Heights MN 55082
3/27/2012

Hopscotch Adoptions, Inc.
1208 Eastchester Drive, Suite 120
High Point NC 27265
11/18/2011

Illien Adoptions International
1250 Piedmont Ave, NE
Atlanta GA 30309
1/25/2012

International Adoption Guides, Inc
1530 N. Fant Street
Anderson SC 29621
3/20/2012

International Assistance Group
531 5th Street
Oakmont PA 15139- 1626
11/4/2011

International Christian Adoptions
41745 Rider Way #2
Temecula CA 92590
2/22/2012

International Family Services, Inc.
700 South Friendswood Drive, Suite F
Friendswood TX 77546
7/6/2011

James Fletcher Thompson, LLC
302 E. Saint John Street
Spartanburg SC 29302
2/14/2012

Jewish Family Service of Rochester
441 East Avenue
Rochester NY 14607
6/17/2011

Journeys of the Heart Adoption Services
P.O. Box 39
Hillsboro OR 97123
3/20/2012

KidsFirst International Adoption, Inc.
9135 N. Meridan Street, Suite B-4
Indianapolis IN 46260
12/2/2011

Lifeline Children's Services
2104 Rocky Ridge Road
Hoover AL 35216
12/22/2011

Lifelink International Adoption
329 South York Road
Bensenville IL 60106
3/27/2012

Little Miracles International, Inc.
600 S. Tyler, Suite 1302
Amarillo TX 79101
11/22/2011

Living Hope Adoption Agency
P.O. Box 579
Fort Washington PA 19034
3/28/2012

Love Basket
10306 Business 21
Hillsboro MO 63050
2/24/2012

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
2400 Park Avenue
Minneapolis MN 55404
4/10/2012

Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin & Upper Michigan, Inc.
647 W. Virginia Street, Suite 200
Milwaukee WI 53204
3/6/2012

Madison Adoption Associates
1009 Woodstream Drive
Wilmington DE 19810
10/21/2011

Michael S. Goldstein, Esquire
62 Bowman Avenue
Rye Brook NY 10573
3/23/2012

Miriam's Promise
522 Russell Street
Nashville TN 37206
7/12/2011

New Horizons Adoption Agency
P.O. Box 188
Blue Earth MN 56013
3/6/2012

Nightlight Christian Adoptions
4430 E. Miraloma Avenue, Suite B
Anaheim Hills CA 92807
2/14/2012

Open Seas Adoption Services, Inc.
270 Madison Avenue, Suite 1410
New York NY 10016
1/4/2012

Orphans Overseas
3300 NW 185th Street, #127
Portland OR 97229
3/27/2012

Partners for Adoption
800 South Broadway, Suite 210 B
Walnut Creek CA 94596
1/27/2012

Pearl S. Buck International
520 Dublin Road
Perkasie PA 18944
3/2/2012

Premier Adoption Agency, Inc.
590 West Mesquite Boulevard, Suite 202 B
Mesquite NV 89027
4/17/2012

Shepherd Care Ministries, dba Adoption by Shepherd Care
5935 Taft Street
Hollywood FL 33021
8/30/2011

Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children
410 East 92nd Street
New York NY 10128
2/7/2012

Sunny Ridge Family Center, Inc.
270 Remington Boulevard, Suite C
Bolingbrook IL 60440
3/27/2012

The Baby Fold
108 East Willow Street
Normal IL 61761
4/3/2012

The Barker Foundation
7979 Old Georgetown Road
Bethesda MD 20814
3/13/2012

The Cradle Society
2049 Ridge Avenue
Evanston IL 60201
3/9/2012

The Gladney Center for Adoption
6300 John Ryan Drive
Fort Worth TX 76132
2/22/2012

The Home for Little Wanderers
271 Huntington Avenue
Boston MA 02115
10/31/2011

The Open Door Adoption Agency
P.O. Box 4
Thomasville GA 31799
1/18/2012

Villa Hope International Adoptions
6 Office Park Circle, #218
Birmingham AL 35223
2/7/2012

Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services
3200 Motor Avenue
Los Angeles CA 90034
9/9/2011

WACAP (World Association for Children and Parents)
P.O. Box 88948
Seattle WA 98138
2/14/2012

Wasatch International Adoptions
1140 36th Street #204
Ogden UT 84403
3/6/2012

Wide Horizons For Children
38 Edge Hill Road
Waltham, MA 2451
3/9/2012

World Links Association, Inc.
418 Jefferson Avenue
Scranton, PA18510
1/27/2012

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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/

UPDATE on Temporary Suspension of Huminska's Anioly

On Wednesday, March 7, 2012, we reported that Huminska's Anioly had their accreditation suspended for 30 days (see: http://pear-now.blogspot.com/2012/03/huminskas-anioly-faces-30-day.html)

Today we received the following report from COA concerning the basis for the suspension:
The complaint on which this suspension is based was filed in November 2010.

Nature of the Substantiated Violations:

96.35(a) & 96.44(a) - The agency provided a referral to a family prior to the family’s completion of the homestudy and receipt of approval of its 1800 A application from US Citizenship and Immigration Services, failing to take into consideration the best interests and safety of the child.

96.42(c) - Confidential information about a prospective adoptive parent’s children was released without the prospective adoptive parent’s written authorization.

96.40(a) - The written fee information provided did not provide a clear breakdown of fees regarding expected total fees and estimated expenses and an explanation of the conditions under which fees or expenses may be charged, waived, reduced, or refunded and of when and how the fees and expenses must be paid.

96.40(b)(1-7) & 96.40(c)(1-2) - The written fee information provided did not conform to the categories and details defined in the standards.

96.40(g) - The agency charged additional foreseeable fees beyond what was disclosed in the adoption contract.

96.35(a) - The agency requested and received payment from a prospective adoptive family for an activity unrelated to their adoption which it planned to deduct from their legitimate adoption fees. I'm wondering if this is too specific.

96.49(a) & 96.49(b) - The agency failed to provide a prospective adoptive family their referred children’s medical records.

96.49(d)(2-4) - The information contained in the agency’s records did not demonstrate that the agency employed reasonable efforts on behalf of the family to obtain medical information and information that was provided did not fully address the standards.

96.49(f)(1)(2) - The information contained in the agency’s records did not demonstrate that the agency

employed reasonable efforts on behalf of the family to obtain social information and information that was provided did not fully address the standards.

96.49(g) - The agency failed to document in the record the efforts made to obtain medical and social information and why it was not obtainable.

96.49(k) - A prospective adoptive family was not given two weeks to consider the needs of the children that were referred to them and their ability to meet those needs.

Status of the Adverse Action: Huminska’s Anioly’s Hague Approval is suspended from March 6, 2012 through April 5, 2012 or until such later date when corrective action is complete.

A copy of this report should be available today at COA's website:
http://www.coanet.org/front3/page.cfm?sect=54&cont=4439

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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/

Adoption Service Providers Seeking Hague Accreditation, Hague Approval or Renewal of Hague Accreditation or Approval as of 10/1/2011

The Council on Accreditation, one of two agencies appointed by the US DOS to accredit adoption service providers (ASPs) under the Hague, has published it's latest list of ASPs under consideration for Hague Accreditation, Approval or Renewal of Accreditation or Approval. If you have a comment concerning any ASP under consideration, please submit it to the COA by visiting their website: http://www.coanet.org/front3/page.cfm?sect=54&cont=4251 click on "click here" for a list of agencies, then click on the agency name to submit a comment. Or, you may mail or call in your comment to COA:

Jayne Schmidt, Hague Accreditation Project Manager
COA
45 Broadway, 29th Floor
New York, NY 10006
FAX: (212) 797-1428
Phone: 866-262-8088 ext. 203

Information is presented in this order:

Applicant Name
Mailing Address
Under Active Consideration Since

**PEAR has added information on whether each organization is a new applicant, is seeking renewal, or has been previously denied accreditation.

Adoption Service Providers Seeking Hague Accreditation, Hague Approval or Renewal of Hague Accreditation or Approval as of 10/1/2011

ABC Adoption Services, Inc. (reaccreditation)
c/o Carolina Adoption Services, Inc.
301 N. Elm Street, Suite 500
Greensboro NC 27401
6/17/2011

Adopt-A-Child, Inc. (reaccreditation)
6315 Forbes Avenue, Suite L-120
Pittsburgh PA 15217
7/12/2011

Adoption & Beyond, Inc. (new applicant)
16236 Metcalf Avenue
Overland Park KS 66085
5/6/2011

Adoption Advocates International (reaccreditation)
709 South Peabody
Port Angeles WA 98362
6/3/2011

Adoption Assistance, Inc. (new applicant)
306 East Lexington Avenue, #3
Danville KY 40422
5/3/2011

Adoption Resource Center, dba Adoption ARC (reaccreditation)
4701 Pine Street J-7
Philadelphia PA 19143
6/28/2011

All God's Children International
(AGCI), dba Families are Forever International (reaccreditation)
3308 NE Peerless Place
Portland OR 97232
8/9/2011

American Adoptions (reaccreditation)
9101 West 110th Street, Suite 200
Overland Park KS 66210
9/27/2011

Baker Hall dba Baker Victory Services (reaccreditation)
780 Ridge Road
Lackawanna NY 14218
8/10/2011

Bal Jagat - Children's World, Inc. (reaccreditation)
5199 East Pacific Coast Hwy, Suite 204
Long Beach CA 90804
7/8/2011

Carolina Adoption Services, Inc. (reaccreditation)
301 N. Elm Street, Suite 500
Greensboro NC 27401
6/28/2011

Catholic Charities of Tennessee (new applicant)
30 White Bridge Road
Nashville TN 37205
5/18/2011

Catholic Social Services of Southern Illinois (new applicant)
8601 W. Main Street, Suite 201
Belleville IL 62223
5/18/2011

Celebrate Children International (previously denied accreditation)
1757 W. Broadway, Suite 5
Oviedo FL 32765
3/15/2011

Children's Aid Society in Clearfield County (new applicant)
1008 South 2nd Street
Clearfield PA 16830
5/20/2011

Children's Home Society of West Virginia (reaccreditation)
P.O. Box 2942
Charleston WV 25330
5/27/2011

Children & Families of Iowa (new applicant)
1111 University Avenue
Des Moines IA 50314
8/9/2011

Christian Family Services of the Midwest, Inc. (new applicant)
10500 Barkley, Suite 216
Overland Park KS 66212
7/8/2011

Community Residences, Inc. (new applicant)
732 West Street
Southington CT
5/20/2011

Dove Adoptions International (reaccreditation)
180 North Maine Street, Suite A
Banks OR 97106
7/8/2011

European Adoption Consultants, Inc. (reaccreditation)
12608 Alameda Drive
Strongsville OH 44149
5/20/2011

Families United Network, Inc. (reaccreditation)
P.O. Box 264
Muncy PA 17756
12/30/2010

Family Resource Center (reaccreditation)
5828 N. Clark Street
Chicago IL 60660
4/5/2011

Hillcrest Family Services (new applicant)
2005 Asbury Road
Dubuque IA 52001
8/23/2011

Hillside Family of Agencies (reaccreditation)
1180 Monroe Avenue
Rochester NY 14620
9/15/2011

Holston United Methodist Home for Children, Inc. (reaccreditation)
P.O. Box 188
Greeneville TN 37744- 9982
7/19/2011

Home at Last Adoption Agency, Inc. (new applicant)
1727 N. Atlantic Avenue
Cocoa Beach FL 32931
7/12/2011

International Adoption Services, Inc. (reaccreditation)
4940 Viking Drive, Suite 7B
Minneapolis MN 55435
5/27/2011

International Family Services, Inc. (reaccreditation)
700 South Friendswood Drive, Suite F
Friendswood TX 77546
7/6/2011

Jewish Family & Career Services of Louisville (new applicant)
2821 Klempner Way
Louisville KY 40205
5/10/2011

Jewish Family Service of Rochester (reaccreditation)
441 East Avenue
Rochester NY 14607
6/17/2011

Miriam's Promise (new applicant)
522 Russell Street
Nashville TN 37206
7/12/2011

Saint Mary International Adoption (reaccreditation)
1515 Mockingbird Lane, Suite 204
Charlotte NC 28209
5/24/2011

Shepherd Care Ministries, dba Adoption by Shepherd Care (reaccreditation)
5935 Taft Street
Hollywood FL 33021
8/30/2011

The Datz Foundation (reaccreditation)
311 Maple Avenue W, Suite E.
Vienna VA 22180
12/29/2010

The Sacred Portion Children's Outreach (new applicant)
7104 Bristol Lane
Bozeman MT 59715
2/23/2011

Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services (reaccreditation)
3200 Motor Avenue
Los Angeles CA 90034
9/9/2011

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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/

List of US Agencies Up for Re-Accreditation in 2011

The following agencies will be going through the process of re-accreditation under the Hague Regulations this coming year. If you have comments about an agency, please contact COA's Hague Project Manager, Jayne Schmidt, jschmidt@coanet.org


Baker Hall / Baker Victory Services
780 Ridge Road
Lackawanna, NY 14218 New York
Accredited COA
Non-Profit Agency 04/01/2008 - 08/31/2011 Incoming

Families United Network, Inc.
P.O. Box 264
Muncy, PA 17756 Pennsylvania
Accredited COA
Non-Profit Agency 04/01/2008 - 11/30/2011 Incoming

Family Choices, NFPC
1513 University Drive
Charleston, IL 61920 Illinois
Accredited COA
Non-Profit Agency 04/01/2008 -05/31/2011 Incoming and Outgoing

Irene Steffas, PC
4343 Shallowford Road, H-1
Marietta, GA 30062 Georgia
Approved COA
Attorney 02/24/2009 - 09/30/2011 Incoming and Outgoing

The Datz Foundation
311 Maple Ave, W.
Vienna, VA 22180 Virginia
Accredited COA
Non-Profit Agency 04/01/2008 - 12/31/2011 Incoming

Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services
3200 Motor Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90034 California
Accredited COA
Non-Profit Agency 04/01/2008 - 08/31/2011 Incoming

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

COA Releases Updated List of Agencies Seeking Hague Accreditation/Approval or Renewal

The following is a list of agencies seeking Hague Accreditation, Hague Approval or Renewal of Hague Accreditation or Approval by the COA as of August 15, 2010. COA invites the public at large to provide comment on intercountry adoption service providers seeking Hague Accreditation, Hague Approval, or Renewal of Accreditation/Approval. Please consult the COA's website for instructions on how to comment on an applicant agency (link below).

The list below uses the following format:

Applicant Name
Mailing Address
City
State
Zip
Under Active Consideration Since


Adoption Advocates
11407 Seminole Boulevard
Largo
FL
33778
9/25/2009

Adoption Choice
924 East Juneau Avenue, Suite 410
Milwaukee
WI
53202
3/6/2009

Adoption-Link
1113 South Boulevard
Oak Park
IL
60302
1/29/2010

Adoption Services of America, Inc. dba ASW, Inc.
7300 Blanco Road, Suite 206
San Antonio
TX
78216
3/18/2009

Agape Adoptions
1003 1/2 Main Street, Suite 5
Sumner
WA
98390
7/20/2010

Alaska International Adoption Agency
308 G Street, #225
Anchorage
AK
99501
1/27/2010

Beacon House Adoption Services, Inc.
5917 Jones Creek Road, Suite 100B
Baton Rouge
LA
70817
7/27/2010

C.C.M.S. dba Community Counseling and Mediation
1 Hoyt Street, 7th Floor
Brooklyn
NY
11201
3/13/2009

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington, Inc.
200 North Glebe Road, Suite 506
Arlington
VA
22203
8/26/2009

Embraced by Grace, Inc.
447 South Nova Road
Ormond Beach
FL
32174
5/20/2009

Jewish Family Service, Inc.
2370 Park Avenue
Bridgeport
CT
06604
10/13/2008

New Hope Christian Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 310
Rumney
NH
03266
8/3/2010

With Hope and Love Adoption Agency, Inc.
53 Margaret Drive
Somerset
NJ
08873
2/12/2009

Wyoming Children's Society
314 East 21st Street
Cheyenne
WY
82001
6/8/2010

The list and instructions on how to file a comment can be found at COA's website:
http://www.coanet.org/front3/page.cfm?sect=54&cont=4251
http://www.coanet.org/files/HagueComments.pdf

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

PEAR's Response to "The Baby Business"

The Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism asked a number of experts, practitioners, and advocates in international adoption to respond to “The Baby Business,” Democracy Journal, Summer 2010 by E. J. Graff. You may read all the responses .

This is PEAR's response:

It is an unfortunate truth that international adoption is plagued by corruption. We appreciate E.J. Graff’s coverage of the issues leading to corrupt practices and her well-thought-out solutions. Parents for Ethical Adoption Reform (PEAR) appreciates the opportunity to share our comments. As an organization dedicated to reforming adoption law and policy, we would like to focus our comments on the eight proposed improvements to international adoption.

Our current system of adoption policy and regulation is too often reactionary rather than preventative, increasing the risk of corruption and adoption failure. PEAR believes that by requiring federal licensing/accreditation and oversight of agencies; criminalizing the purchase and sale of children for adoption; and severely curtailing fees by limiting to them to true costs for services and eliminating mandatory donations, international adoption has the best chance of becoming ethical and transparent.

1. Prohibition against cash transfers.

PEAR agrees that prohibiting cash transactions in payment for adoption-related services can go a long way to eliminating corrupt practices. Eliminating cash transactions and requiring receipts for all payments as well as requiring adopting parents to provide a sworn accounting during their I600 process would help clean up corruption on the foreign side of the adoption process. Untraceable sums can delay or prevent investigative bodies from connecting the perpetrators to any child-trafficking crime.

2. Hold U.S. adoption agencies accountable for all their overseas partners’ actions.

PEAR believes that adoption agencies need to be responsible for the actions of their overseas providers whether they are “supervised” or “unsupervised” under U.S. State Department regulations.

That all agencies do not thoroughly investigate documents submitted by independent parties, which can identify irregular documentation, promote the reunification of children with their families of origin, and eventually prevent the improper separation of children from their families, is unconscionable.

Fraudulent documentation—either declaring an identified child as an unknown abandoned child, or with falsified birth parent information—has been proven in Vietnam¹, Cambodia², India³, Guatemala⁴, Nepal⁵, Samoa⁶, Ethiopia⁷, and China⁸. Adoptees are doubly victimized by these practices. First, they denied their natural right to be raised by their willing and capable birth families; second, they are robbed of the opportunity to find or know their birth family and medical histories due to the obliteration of their identities.

3. Third, limit and track adoptions’ overseas fees in more detail.

PEAR also believes that changes need to be made where there are mandatory donations required of adopting families. First, we disapprove of mandatory donations. We believe that mandatory fees create a dependency upon international adoption and encourage corruption in how children enter the adoption system. We also believe that these mandatory donations are unethical in that countries are charging a fee and being relieved of the financial obligation of raising parentless children. It is a win-win situation for the governments that often provides little benefit to the children residing in institutional care. However, as a realistic response to the existence of these fees, where these fees exist as part of a foreign government’s adoption law (such as in China), we believe that all “mandatory” donations should be payable through an NGO or government entity with full accountability for the disbursement of these funds.

Without any transparency about how much money goes directly to foreign governments and/or orphanages, PEAR is concerned that it becomes impossible to discover what percentage of adoption fees ever reaches its intended destination. It is imperative that there is complete transparency with all adoption fees, and that agencies disclose exactly where all adoption fees are spent.

4. Fourth, limit and track how much agencies can pay their overseas partners, workers, and independent contractors.

PEAR believes that fee transparency would prevent overcharging of clients. Financial gain from the large amount of untraceable in-country payments is the source of many “paper orphans.” Since these sums can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, far in excess of normal fees to child-welfare workers, corruption often soon follows. It is very difficult for those who are paid a pittance in difficult circumstances to resist the temptation of large amounts of cash, but child-welfare workers should not be motivated by profit to steal, purchase, or solicit children for placement.

5. Fifth, earmark some small amount of federal funds for CoA investigations.

PEAR believes that accrediting bodies need to be appropriately funded so they may thoroughly investigate agencies, their in-country partners, and the complaints submitted. They need to have funding beyond the application fees and adoption lobby support to do so. Otherwise, regulations are meaningless.

6. Sixth, inform the American public about individual adoption agencies’ records.
Pre-adoptive parents can be either unaware of the corruption in international adoption or in denial about it even when documented by media or other adoptive parents. Parents are hindered by the lack of unbiased and publicly provided information about the records and histories of agencies, their employees, and in-country partners. PEAR believes that the U.S. State Department should provide information about each agency’s history of orphan visa denials.


In addition, the State Department should require accrediting bodies (The Council on Accreditation and The Colorado Department of Human Services) to reveal the status of all accreditation applications. Currently, only approved and denied agencies are reported, not new, pending, or withdrawn applications. An agency’s application for accreditation can be pending for months or years, indicating potential issues, but this information is not publicly available.

Furthermore, under current COA practices, previously filed complaints are disregarded when reviewing a new accreditation application of a previously denied agency. This is counterproductive. Families need the ability to see the status of all applications so that they can file or re-file their complaints.

We also suggest that Congress amend the current regulations to allow public record of the reasons for denial of Hague accreditation. Under the current regulations, reasons for denial are kept confidential between the agency and the accrediting body. Prospective adoptive parents adopting from non-Hague countries and the public are kept in the dark as to the reasons for denial and often misled by denied agencies concerning the denials. It is impossible for prospective clients to make informed decisions about agency selection without having full information concerning the agency.

7. Seventh, enable the State Department to heighten the scrutiny of, or suspend accepting, an individual adoption agency’s visa applications from a particular country, whether that country is “Hague” or not.

The State Department should be expressly authorized by Congress to investigate adoptions by specific agencies, facilitators, or orphanages that have shown patterns of problems. The State Department should be able to restrict or eliminate orphan visas from agencies, facilitators, or orphanages known to have produced fraudulent documentation for visa applications. Problems or patterns should be publicly reported so that prospective parents can make informed choices. If adoption agency personnel or contractors have been associated with trafficking or other criminal behavior involving adoptee identity issues, the State Department should be required to inform U.S. citizens who used their services, even if the findings come many years after the adoptions took place.

Lastly, we believe that all immigrant orphan visas, not just Hague country visas, should go through State Department investigation prior to a family traveling overseas. We recognize that this limitation is in place because there is no agreement between the sending country and the U.S. which authorizes the State Department to investigate. We suggest that the U.S. enter into bilateral agreements with all non-Hague countries authorizing the State Department to investigate orphan status and visa eligibility prior to the adoption being finalized in-country.

8. Eighth, criminalize the purchase of children for international adoption.

PEAR believes that one of the most important steps to help eliminate corruption is to criminalize the purchase of children for international adoption. It seems intuitive that purchase of children for any purpose would be illegal, yet the trafficking or purchase of children for adoption in a non-Hague adoption is not illegal under current U.S. law. This oversight in U.S. laws must be corrected, and meaningful punishment instituted for individuals and organizations involved in such reprehensible behavior.

In addition, practices of soliciting children for adoption and tricking or coercing birth families into relinquishment should be criminalized. In the culture of some placing countries—particularly in Pacific Island⁹ and African nations¹⁰ —parents may not understand that adoption means the permanent legal severing of ties with their child.

In PEAR’s opinion, Lauryn Galindo¹¹ in Cambodia, Scott & Karen Banks¹² in Samoa, and others have received ludicrously light or negligible sentences after conviction of crimes connected to the trafficking of children. If potential adoption-trafficking charges were more severe—and were enforced by the courts—we believe that agencies and their facilitators would be less likely to be lured by greed or misguided intentions and would have to abide by higher ethical standards.

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

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¹ U.S. Embassy Hanoi, Summary of Irregularities in Adoptions in Vietnam (April 25 2008).


² United States of America vs Lauryn Galindo, Plea Agreement (June 23, 2004).


³ Rory Callinan, Stolen Children (Time August 21, 2008).

Asha Krishnakumar, The Adoption Market (Frontline, India, May 21, 2005).


⁴ Victoria Corderi, To Catch a Baby Broker (NBC Dateline, January 20, 2008).

Juan Carlos Llorca, US couple almost adopted stolen Guatemalan baby (AP July 31 2008).

Juan Carlos Llorca, To save adopted girl, Calif. couple gives her up (AP, November 22, 2008).


⁵ UNICEF and Terre des homes Foundation, Adopting: The Rights of the Child (2008).


⁶ Kirsten Stewart, U.S. families stunned and angry (Salt Lake Tribune, June 17, 2007).

Lisa Rosetta, Dreams of parents in two worlds shattered by scandal (Salt Lake Tribune. June 6, 2007).


⁷ John Nicol, Canadian parents raise concerns (CBC News, March 19, 2009).

Von Andrea Rexer, Kindergeld (Profil, January 19, 2009).


⁸ Barbara Demick, Chinese babies stolen by officials for foreign adoption (Los Angeles Times, September 20, 2009).

Peter S. Goodman, Stealing Babies for Adoption (Washington Post, March 12, 2006).

Barbara Demick, A family in China made babies their business (LA Times, January, 24, 2010).

Jimmy Wang, China's Kidnapped Children (New York Times, April 4 2009).


⁹ Jini L. Roby and Stephanie Matsumura, If I Give You My Child, Aren’t We Family? A Study of Birthmothers Participating in Marshall Islands - U.S. Adoptions (Adoption Quarterly Volume 5, Issue 4 June 2002).

Galvin Law, International Adoption–The Good, the Bad and the Ugly; A South Pacific Perspective, Samoa – The “Sending State". A Brief Outline of Customary Child Adoption Practices in Samoa (September 1, 2005).


¹⁰ Katharine Houreld, Africa adoptions clouded by uncertainty and confusion (South Coast Today, March 9, 2008).

Nadene Ghouri, Liberia: Children for Sale (BBC Crossing Continents, November, 13, 2008).


¹¹ U.S. Department of Justice, Hawaiian resident sentenced to 18 months in prison in Cambodian adoption conspiracy (United States Attorney, Western District of Washington, November 19, 2004).


¹² U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Defendants sentenced in Samoan adoption scam (Feb 25, 2009).

Brett L. Tolman and Brett Parkinson, Sentencing Memorandum (United States District Court, District of Utah, Northern Division, Case No. 1:07-CR-19 DS, Feb, 24,2009).

COA Releases Updated List of Agencies Seeking Hague Accreditation/Approval or Renewal

The following is a list of agencies seeking Hague Accreditation, Hague Approval or Renewal of Hague Accreditation or Approval by the COA as of May 15, 2010. COA invites the public at large to provide comment on intercountry adoption service providers seeking Hague Accreditation, Hague Approval, or Renewal of Accreditation/Approval. Please consult the COA's website for instructions on how to comment on an applicant agency (link below).

The list below uses the following format:

Applicant Name,
Mailing Address,
Under Active Consideration Since

Adoption Advocates
11407 Seminole Boulevard Largo FL 33778
9/25/2009

Adoption Choice
924 East Juneau Avenue, Suite 410 Milwaukee WI 53202
3/6/2009

Adoption-Link
1113 South Boulevard
Oak Park IL 60302
1/29/2010

Adoption Services of America, Inc. dba ASW, Inc.
7300 Blanco Road, Suite 206 San Antonio TX 78216
3/18/2009

Alaska International Adoption Agency
308 G Street, #225 Anchorage AK 99501
1/27/2010

C.C.M.S. dba Community Counseling and Mediation
1 Hoyt Street, 7th Floor Brooklyn NY 11201
3/13/2009

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington, Inc.
200 North Glebe Road, Suite 506 Arlington VA 22203
8/26/2009

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of La Crosse, Inc
P.O. Box 266 La Crosse WI 54602
8/13/2009

Embraced by Grace, Inc.
447 South Nova Road Ormond Beach FL 32174
5/20/2009

Holy Cross Child Placement Agency, Inc.
4900 Connecticut Avenue, NW Washington DC 20008
9/22/2009

Jewish Family Service, Inc.
2370 Park Avenue Bridgeport CT 06604
10/13/2008

LDS Family Services
132 South State Street, Suite 300 Salt Lake City UT 84111
4/8/2009

Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois
7620 Madison Street River Forest IL 60305
4/13/2010

New Life Adoption Agency, Inc.
711 East Genesee Street, Suite 210 Syracuse NY 13210
1/26/2009

With Hope and Love Adoption Agency, Inc.
53 Margaret Drive Somerset NJ 08873
2/12/2009

The list and instructions on how to file a comment can be found at COA's website:
http://www.coanet.org/front3/page.cfm?sect=54&cont=4251

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

UPDATE: Hague Accredited Agencies

The following agencies received Hague accreditation between October 1, 2009 and March 1, 2010:


Adoption Alliance
2121 S. Oneida Street #420
Denver, CO 80224
Accredited 02/04/2010 to 02/04/2014

Adoption Hope International
284 Shoreward Drive
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
Accredited 10/20/2009 to 10/29/2013

Catholic Charities North Dakota
5201 Bishops Boulevard, Suite B
Fargo, ND 58104-7605
Accredited 1/15/2010 to 1/15/2014

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago
721 N. LaSalle
Chicago, IL 6061
Accredited 1/15/2010to 1/15/2014

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge
1900 S. Acadian Thruway
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
Accredited 1/15/2010 to 1/15/2014

Catholic Social Services of Fall River
1600 Bay Street
Fall River, MA 02724
Accredited 1/7/2010 to 1/7/2014

Child Adoption Associates, Inc.
200 Swanton Street, #635
Winchester, MA 01890
Accredited 2/24/2010 to 2/4/2014

Children's House International
P.O. Box 1829
Ferndale, WA 98248
Accredited 11/24/2009 to 11/24/2013

Chrysalis House
7395 N. Palm Bluffs, Suite 106
Fresno, CA 93711
Accredited 12/1/2009 to 2/1/2013

Euroasian Adoption Consultants of Illinois
949D Plum Grove
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Accredited 10/7/2009 to 10/7/2013

HOPE Adoption & Family Services International, Inc.
5850 Omaha Avenue North
Oak Park Heights, MN 55082
Accredited 10/20/2009 to 10/20/2013

International Families, Inc.
5 Thomas Circle, NW
Washington, DC 20005
Accredited 1/15/2010 to 1/15/2014

Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri
8631 Delmar Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63124
Accredited 11/24/2009 to 11/24/2013

Lutheran Social Services of New York
475 Riverside Drive, Suite 1244
New York, NY 10115
Accredited 2/16/2010 to 2/16/2014

Resources for Life
59 349 Olomana Road
Kameula, HI 96743
Accredited 2/9/2010 to 2/9/2014

The Farm, Inc. / TF1 Family Services, Inc.
217 Southeast 4th Street
Topeka, KS 66603
Accredited 1/14/2010 to 1/14/2014

The Lutheran Service Society of New York
6680 Main Street
Williamsville, NY 14221
Accredited 11/17/2009 to 11/17/2013

Tree of Life Adoption Center
5816 SE Powell Boulevard, Ste. A
Portland, OR 97206
Accredited 1/15/2010 to 1/15/2014

The following provider received Hague approval:

MLJ Adoptions, Inc.
5650 W. 86th Street 134-310
Indianapolis, IN 46278
Approved 11/24/2009 to 11/24/2013


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