US DOS Issues Brazil Alert UPDATED
See http://adoption.state.gov/country_information/country_specific_alerts_notices.php?alert_notice_type=alerts&alert_notice_file=Brazil_1 and pasted below:
“Alert: Brazil Accepts Adoption Service Provider Applications for Authorization
The Autoridade Central Administrativa Federal of the Secretaria de Direitos Humanos (ACAF), the Brazilian Central Authority for the Hague Adoption Convention, officially announced last week that it will accept applications from U.S. Hague accredited adoption service providers (ASPs) for authorization to provide intercountry adoption services in Brazil. Only adoption service providers that have been accredited or approved by theCouncil on Accreditation (COA) to provide adoption services under the Hague Adoption Convention are eligible to apply. ACAF will accept applications from U.S. ASPs beginning Saturday, June 7, 2014, through Monday, August 18, 2014.
For more details, ASPs can visit the ACAF’s website. Guidance on how to apply can be found at: http://www.sdh.gov.br/assuntos/adocao-e-sequestro-internacional/adocao-internacional/procedimentos-de-credenciamento. ASPs can also email autoridadecentral@sdh.gov.br with questions.
Although Brazil is a party to the Hague Adoption Convention, ACAF has not yet authorized a U.S. Adoption Service Provider (ASP) to provide Hague Convention adoption services in Brazil. Brazil’s move forward towards authorizing U.S. accredited ASPs will lead to additional protections for children, prospective adoptive parents, and birth parents when intercountry adoption is deemed to be in a child’s best interests: national authorization for ASPs will provide better and more consistent protections than those currently provided by the states. U.S. citizens adopted 23 children from Brazil in FY2013 and 21 in FY2012, relying on the state Central Authorities for some of the adoption services. ”
REFORM Puzzle Piece
Brazil’s Central Authority, Autoridade Central Administrativa Federal of the Secretaria de Direitos Humanos (ACAF), has authorized a limited number of U.S. Hague accredited adoption service providers (ASPs) to provide adoption services in Brazil. ACAF recently announced that all adoption cases where a child has already been matched as of April 30, 2015 will be able to proceed without working with one of these authorized U.S. ASPs. All other cases, including new cases or cases where prospective adoptive parents have already received approval from the State Judiciary Commission of Adoption (CEJA) but have not been matched with a child, must be represented by an U.S. ASP authorized by Brazil. Note that in accordance with the Intercountry Adoption Act, an accredited agency or approved person is required in each intercountry adoption case to ensure that all of the six defined adoption services are provided.
ACAF has authorized the following U.S. accredited ASPs to operate in Brazil.
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
Hand in Hand International Adoptions
The Department will publish any changes to the list of authorized ASPs, including the names of any additional authorized ASPs upon receipt of official notification from ACAF. These ASPs’ authorization to operate in Brazil is valid for two years, beginning April 30, 2015. However, ACAF may in its discretion decide to revoke an ASP’s authorization at any time before that date. ASPs facilitating an intercountry adoption in Brazil without ACAF’s authorization may be subject to fines and possible imprisonment.
Brazil’s adoption law requires ASPs to submit to CEJA and ACAF, 1) the child’s U.S. citizenship certificate, and 2) at least four post-adoption follow-up reports every six months for two years after the adoption is granted. Families who were matched with a child before April 30, 2015 have the option of working with one of the authorized adoption service providers, or continuing to work with their current ASP, to complete the adoption reports.
The information in this alert is subject to change. The Department of State will continue to post updates on our website as they are updated by ACAF. Please refer to our website adoption.state.gov for updates on adoptions in Brazil.
For more details, please visit the ACAF’s website.”
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