October 2003Vol. 4, No. 8State Department Issues Proposed Regulations for Intercountry Adoptions
The U.S. Department of State issued long-awaited proposed regulations (www.childwelfarelaw.info/HagueAdoptionRegs.pdf; Editor's note: this link is no longer available) in mid-September to implement the Intercountry Adoption Act. Signed into law in 2000, the Act ( http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=106_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ279.106.pdf) implements the Hague Convention, a global treaty that should provide greater safety, accountability, and transparency for the tens of thousands of adoptive families who seek to adopt children from other nations each year. Comments are being accepted until November 14, 2003.
The proposed regulations were created to ensure:
- Adoption service providers are properly accredited to provide intercountry adoption services and meet appropriate quality control standards.
- Families receive timely and meaningful disclosures about fees, procedures, and their children's medical well-being.
- Those involved in the adoption process have official recourse when problems arise.
Commenters may send hard copy submissions or comments in electronic format. For complete submission instructions, see the Federal Register announcement at www.childwelfarelaw.info/HagueAdoptionRegs.pdf (Editor's note: this link is no longer available).
For further information contact Edward Betancourt or Anna Mary Coburn at (202) 647-2826, or Jessica Rosenbaum at (202) 312-9717. Hearing- or speech-impaired persons may use Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf (TDD) by contacting the Federal Information Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
Related Items
Read more about the Hague Convention in previous issues of Children's Bureau Express:
- "U.S. More Vigilant of International Adoptions" (April 2002)
- "Website Publishes Feedback on Draft Intercountry Adoption Standards" (November/December 2001)