Hague Evaluation

What at the Major Requirements for US Agencies Under the Convention?

Because the Convention requires that each nation approve adoption service providers, highlights of accreditation requirements have been briefly summarized below.

US Adoption agencies engaged in intercountry adoption in a Hague signatory nation must:

-Be an accredited agency that has sucessfully met the requirements of a Hague evaluation.

-Have qualified and trained professionals with appropriate adoption credentials, such as a degree in social work. Alternatively they may be a seasoned adoption professional with a number of years of proven experience.

-For non-profit agencies, a board of directors oversees the agency's finances for transparency. The agency must be bonded, guarantee at least 2-months of operating expenses in their asset statement, and conduct yearly internal financial reviews. An audit by a Certified Public Accountant must be carried out once every 4-years.

-Provide a schedule of adoption fees and a refund policy. This information must be provided in the FIRST information package sent to prospective families.

-Adequately inform families of their rights and responsibilites under the convention including insuring that the family receives 10 hours of appropriate training prior to child placement.

-Follow their state adoption requirements, including licensure and criteria for home studies.

-Have policies and procedures consistent both with the Convention as well as state adoption licensing and laws.

-Have a process for responding to complaints, documenting problems in agency archives and personnel records.

-Verify that their social services personnel have received adequate Hague Convention training.

-Conduct themselves in an ethical manner to ensure that they do not participate in child selling/buying or engage with individuals in sending nations that are selling and trafficking children.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND GREATER DETAIL OF STANDARDS, REFER TO THE COUNCIL ON ACCREDITATION WEBSITE:  www.coanet.org

Over 300 agencies applied for "Hague Accreditation". The Council on Accreditation (COA) is the only national body* sanctioned by the US Department of State to award accreditation. This process is executed by peer reviewers who work as volunteers and carry out a variety of evaluation responsibilities such as interviews of staff, board members, and families as well as records review during an agency site visit. Agencies are ranked on a variety of criteria, including their financial and case management.

*Note: The State of Colorado is also an accrediting body which oversees agencies within the state. It is the only state acting as an accrediting entity.