Hague Accredited Adoption Agencies…Do I Need One?
Hello! Here at Sunshine State Adoption and Home Study Services, we regularly receive phone calls where a family tells us, “I am adopting from (insert country here), and I do not need an adoption agency.” Families also tell us the country they are adopting from is not a Hague Convention country, or they are adopting a family member internationally. Some families think they only need a Hague home study. Below are some of the frequently asked questions:
Common Questions:
“I am adopting a family member; do I need a primary provider?”
Yes, you do.
“The country I am adopting from is not a Hague Convention country, do I still need a primary provider?”
Yes, you will need a Hague accredited adoption agency to act as your primary provider.
“I know an attorney in (insert country here). Will I still need a primary provider?”
Yes, you will need one.
The reality is all international adoptions require families to use a Hague accredited adoption agency to act as their primary provider.
The Universal Accreditation Act went into effect of July 14, 2014, and since that time all families need a Hague accredited primary provider (adoption agency) to oversee their adoption case.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration website states, “Although Form I-600A applicants and Form I-600 petitioners do not need accreditation or approval to act on their own behalf, their actions need to comply with applicable law, and they will still need an accredited agency or approved person to act as the primary provider in each case. A primary provider helps to ensure that orphan adoption services are provided with the same standards of practice and ethical conduct as Hague Adoption Convention cases.”
Sunshine State Adoption and Home Study Services meets all of the requirements to be a Hague exempt or supervised home study provider. We are a licensed nonprofit Florida adoption agency and are in good standing. We will work directly with your Hague accredited primary provider (adoption agency) throughout your adoption process.
Steps to Your International Adoption
Identify your primary provider. (We can refer you to a primary provider if needed. We have excellent relationships with many Hague accredited adoption agencies.)
Start your Florida international home study with Sunshine State Adoptions and Home Study Services.
We recommend that you do not start your home study process or pay any home study fees until you have identified your primary provider. The primary provider will request documents from your home study agency, including nonprofit status and proof of insurance.
Here is the link to the United States Citizenship and Immigration website for more information:
https://www.uscis.gov/adoption/universal-accreditation-act-2012
We provide international home study services throughout the entire state of Florida, from the Panhandle to Key West, and never charge travel fees.
Call us to get started! 407-422-9136.
Written by Debra Hewitt, Adoptive Mama and Founder
