Universal Accreditation Act, 2012 Becomes Law
Little Miracles International
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Friday, January 18, 2013
ADOPTION NOTICE, DEPARTMENT OF STATE January 18, 2013
The
UAA has broad implications for all U.S. adoption service providers
(ASPs) active in intercountry adoption. It affects currently accredited
or approved ASPs and those ASPs with programs only in non-Hague Adoption
Convention countries of origin, where federal accreditation or approval
was not previously required.
The purpose of the UAA is to apply the provisions of the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (IAA) concerning the accreditation of ASPs to agencies and persons providing adoption
services in cases involving children described in Immigration and
Nationality Act (INA) section 101(b)(1)(F) and adopted through the
orphan process. By requiring all ASPs handling cases under 101(b)(1)(F)
and 101(b)(1)(G) (concerning children habitually resident in Hague
Adoption Convention countries) to receive the same accreditation under
federal standards, families adopting internationally will have the
assurance that regardless from where they adopt, the ASP they choose to
work with will be in substantial compliance with the same ethical
standards of practice and conduct.
Previously,
the conduct of accredited agencies in non-Convention cases did not
generally fall under the oversight and monitoring responsibilities of
the Department of State-designated accrediting entities (AEs). Such
conduct is now subject to the oversight and monitoring by AEs. The UAA
also extends the enforcement provisions of the IAA to ASPs providing
adoption services in orphan cases.
The
UAA provides for transition cases (grandfathering) in certain
situations; ASPs providing adoption services in grandfathered cases do
not need to be accredited.
Additional information on the UAA is available UAA FAQ. Please review the FAQ materials before contacting the US State Department for additional information.
The DOS welcomes your questions – email them at AdoptionUSCA@state.gov and watch the Notices section of their website for additional general information.
The DOS welcomes your questions – email them at AdoptionUSCA@state.gov and watch the Notices section of their website for additional general information.
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