One World Adoption Services Hague Accreditation Suspended

Last Updated: June 25, 2014

On June 25, 2014, the Council on Accreditation (COA), the Department of State’s designated Accrediting Entity for adoption service providers under the Hague Adoption Convention (Convention) and Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000, suspended the accreditation of One World Adoption Services to provide adoption services in outgoing Convention adoption cases for failing to maintain substantial compliance with the accreditation standards at 22 Code of Federal Regulations Part 96 Subpart F. For more information regarding this suspension please refer to information on substantiated complaints and adverse actions on the Council on Accreditation’s website. 
 
As a result of this suspension, One World Adoption Services must cease all adoption services in connection with cases covered under the Convention. Also, starting July 14, 2014, One World Adoption Services may not provide adoption services in connection with non-Convention cases covered by the Intercountry Adoption Universal Accreditation Act of 2012 (UAA). Persons with an open case with One World Adoption Services should contact the adoption service provider directly to find out how the suspension affects their case. This adoption service provider has provided services to adoptive parents in Belize, Brazil, Bulgaria, Kenya, Latvia, Ukraine, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The suspension will begin on June 25, 2014, and will last for at least 90 days. In order for the suspension to be lifted at the end of the 90 days, One World Adoption Services must complete corrective action required by the accrediting entity. Updated information will be provided on the adoption.state.gov website.