U.S. Joins Overseas Adoption Overhaul Plan
The United States, the world leader in international adoptions, will join more than 70 nations committed to standardizing policies, procedures and safeguards to reduce corruption in the largely unregulated adoption marketplace.
When the United States ratifies the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption tomorrow in the Netherlands, it will establish federal oversight of adoption policies and policies overseas.
…once the treaty is fully put in place in April, parents seeking a visa for an overseas adoption must demonstrate to the State Department that a child has been properly cleared for adoption, that a local placement had been considered, and that the birth parents were counseled on their decision and have signed consent forms. Prospective adoptive parents also must show they are properly trained for what could be a rocky transition.
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Agencies working in countries that have ratified the treaty must be accredited, a process under way in the United States.More than 300 applications have already been filed and others will be accepted until Feb. 15, 2008, when approvals and rejections will be announced. Among the criteria are the size and qualifications of the staff, the agency’s financial resources and its policies, which must include a transparent fee structure and mandatory training for parents about the physical and emotional condition of orphans.
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The United States will continue to process adoptions from countries not party to the convention. But prospective parents will know if an American agency is not accredited, a potential red flag.
One response
Hi Christina,
I understand that under Hague each accredited Country must have a central authority, I presume the State department is fullfilling this role. The agency fee structure being transparent includes the need to make public their fee structure, in other words they must publish their fee structure.
Hague also states that the adopted child must be granted automatic citizenship, I presume once the 1-600 has been granted prior to adopting that need is fullfilled.
Hague also states that humanitarian aid should be Country to Country, agency fees should not include humanitarian aid. Orphanage contributions should not be sought or demanded from PAP’s while adopting and agency fees should only include the true costs of adopting.
It will be interesting to see who gets accredited, there is a process included in Hague how to unaccredit an agency if they operate unethically.
Brendan