God's Families receives HAGUE APPROVAL
In March, 2008 Gods Families International Adoption Services received
FULL Hague accreditation approval from the Council on Accreditation, the authorized body by the US Dept of State to accredit adoption agencies . Gods Families is very proud to one of the limited number of agencies in the USA to receive full Hague accreditation, verifying the highest standards of practice in international adoption as established by the US State Dept and US federal government. On April 1, 2008 The Hague fully became law here in the USA.
Some families have asked what is Hague and why is it IMPORTANT?
HISTORY of the hague in the us
On October 6, 2000 President Clinton signed into law the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000, the US implementation of the Hague Convention on International Adoption. The Hague Convention is multilateral treaty that includes 66 prospective member countries. The Convention serves to set internationally agreed upon norms and procedures for countries who participate in intercountry adoption. The goal of the Convention is to protect the children, birth parents and adoptive parents involved in intercountry adoptions and to prevent child-trafficking and other abuses. The United States has signed the Hague Convention and it now goes into full force April 1, 2008. Each Hague country will maintain one Central Authority so that adoptive parents and adoption agencies have one source for information. At this time, the U.S. Department of State will become the Central Authority for international adoption for the United States. The United States and Hague Convention also requires international adoption service providers serving Hague countries to be accredited, supported and monitored
Hague vs. Non-hague Countries
Adoptions between Hague and non-Hague countries are not prohibited by the Hague Convention and Hague regulations are designed to accommodate the two countries that have approved and implemented the Hague Convention. There will be no change for adoptions from non-Hague countries, however all families should be aware that it is the goal of the US State Dept to raise the standards of practice for all parties involved with international adoption, including adoptive families regardless on where they are adopting. The most noticeable new requirement for parents will include 10.5 hours of education and parent training for adoptive families.
At this time, the most popular Hague Convention countries are China, Guatemala, and India will fall under Hague. Other countries such as Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Russia, Ethiopia, South Korea are non-Hague Convention countries, however many of these countries are currently working towards becoming Hague members themselves and have already started to implement Hague standards and requirements into their own laws and requirements.
To find out if your country is Hague, you can visit http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/convention/convention_4197.html
AGENCY ACCREDITATION
Beyond establishing a consistent government standard for international adoption for all (50) states and territories in the US and their citizens, it is now required for an adoption agency to be Hague accredited in able to place children from a sending country who is also a Hague member.
Only Hague accredited agencies will be able to provide placement services involving the US and another Hague country . Gods Families has gone through the rigorous and exhaustive process to achieve accreditation, including being reviewed both on site as well as by verifications of standards of practice, non profit governance, sound financial managements and solvency, verification of training and experience by all personnel, training, clients services, ethical practices, and of course successful adoption practices.
Regardless of whatever services we will provide to your family and whatever country you are adopting from Hague or not, know that we will be applying these same high standards to all.
WHAT IF I ALREADY HAVE USCIS APPROVAL AND MY I600A (I-171h) EXPIRES AFTER APRIL 1, 2008?
The Hague does not apply if the application for advance processing of an orphan petition called an I-600A or petition to classify an orphan as an immediate relative (I-600) has already been filed prior to April 1, 2008 . However if your I600a approval expires (called a I171h) after April 1, 2008 and you did NOT re-file a new I600a and meet those requirements (before the original I600a expired) to extend your approval (because your adoption has NOT yet been completed) AND you are adopting in a Hague country, you will now file an I800a (designed specifically for Hague cases) and be required to complete all Hague requirements.
Families adopting in Non-Hague countries will continue to refile/renew the I600a/I600.
Overall the adoption process will remain very similar regardless if youre adopting in a Hague country or Non Hague country. The most notable change to most families will be the now required education and training. A reminder that the training is separate from the home study, although we will ask you to bring up with the social worker any questions you may have, and these courses will be an excellent opportunity for adoptive parents to learn about institutionalization, cultural issues, the health of orphans, attachment, bonding, and many more topics.
Of course contact our office with any questions,
and know we look forward to serving you.
Sincerely,
James Molter, Executive Director
