The Department of State has designated two accrediting entities to carry out the accreditation, temporary accrediation, and approval of adoption service providers.  The accrediting entities are  The Council on Accreditation and  The Colorado Department of Human Services.

State Department Oversight
The State Department monitors these accrediting entities to ensure that each performs its functions consistent with the Hague Adoption Convention, the Intercountry Adoption Act (IAA), regulations implementing the IAA, other applicable law, and its agreement with the Department.  The State Department conducts regular site visits and conference calls with each accrediting entity as part of this monitoring.    

The Department has the authority to suspend or cancel an accrediting entity’s designation if it determines the accrediting entity is substantially out of compliance.   An accrediting entity may be considered substantially out of compliance with Convention or the IAA under circumstances such as:

·         Failing to act in a timely manner when presented with evidence that an accredited/approved adoption service provider is substantially out of compliance with the accreditation standards;

·         Accrediting or approving a significant number of agencies or persons whose performance results in the intervention of the Department of State for the purposes of suspension, cancellation, or debarment;

·         Failing to perform its responsibilities fairly and objectively;

·         Violating prohibitions on conflicts of interests;

·         Failing to meet its reporting requirements;

·         Failing to protect information or documents that it receives in the course of performing its responsibilities; and

·         Failing to monitor frequently and carefully the compliance of accredited/approved adoption service providers with the home study requirements of the Convention.