Transfer of Monitoring and Oversight Responsibilities to IAAME

Last Updated: April 2, 2018

On April 1, 2018 the Intercountry Adoption Accreditation and Maintenance Entity (IAAME) assumed monitoring and oversight (M&O) responsibilities for all of accredited and approved adoption service providers (ASP).

The Council on Accreditation (COA), which announced in October 2017 that it would withdraw as an AE, will complete review of a small number of accreditation/renewal applications for ASPs whose current accreditations expire before December 2018. IAAME is assuming accreditation/renewal of accreditation functions for all other ASPs. COA will cease providing accreditation services for intercountry adoption no later than December 2018. Accreditations for adoption service providers previously granted by COA will remain in effect throughout the accreditation validity period.

M&O is critical to ensure that children and families, both birth and adopted, benefit from the protections offered by the Hague Adoption Convention, the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000, the Universal Accreditation Act, and the U.S. regulations that govern intercountry adoption in the United States. Ongoing M & O activities occur throughout the period of accreditation or approval period for a U.S. ASP. Generally, most U.S. ASPs are accredited or approved for four years, with extensions to five years in certain circumstances. The Office of Children’s Issues provided information about M&O activities and their importance in January 2018.

ASPs are already in direct contact with IAAME about this transfer and related matters. IAAME will contact adoptive families or others that have filed a complaint against an ASP that has not yet been resolved.

Questions may be directed to IAAME at contact@iaame.net or to the Office of Children’s Issues at adoption@state.gov.