Colorado Scrutinizes Inter-Country Adoption Agencies

Wed, 03/12/2008 - 22:00 | VirginiaC

Magnifying glass Late last month, the Colorado Department of Human Services, announced that it was launching a review of 26 agencies it has licensed to conduct inter-country adoptions for families in Colorado.

What's up? The review, which will take 60 days to conduct, was prompted by problems at three separate agencies, one of which closed last year and two that are in the process of closing.

According to the Denver Post, one agency, Friends of Children of Various Nations, closed in December. Its Web site has already been taken down, so I can't check where it was operating as of last year, but Friends had been active in India in the past.

The Post article also said the other agency, Commonwealth Adoption International, was planning to close. Commonwealth says on its Web site that it handles domestic adoptions, as well as adoptions from Brazil, Nepal, Taiwan, Ukraine, Viet Nam, India, Kazakhstan, Guatemala, China and Russia. It is not, however, among the agencies currently accredited by the Russian government to operate in that country.

The third agency is the Claar Foundation, which according to the Post became the object of a police investigation in Boulder last month. The police were reportedly looking into claims that Claar defrauded adoptive parents. Claar is also closing and its Web site has also gone dark, but Lisa Novak, one of its principals, defended her agency's actions in a letter to the editor of another Colorado news outlet. The DHS confirmed the closings of Claar and Commonwealth.

So what exactly is the Colorado DHS doing now? In a statement, the agency's executive director said it will be checking for compliance with licensing requirements, for the authenticity and accuracy of audits it has required, and looking at each agency's handling of complaints it may have received. DHS also said it was examining its own licensing requirements to make sure they were effective and "any relevant issues surrounding recent agency closures."

The list of agencies being reviewed by DHS is below. Being on this list does not imply a problem--DHS is reviewing all 24 agencies licensed to handle international adoptions. A DHS spokeswoman told me the agency expects to release its findings on May 1.

Agencies Under Colorado Review

ACC Adoption and Family Network

Adopt A Miracle

Adoption Alliance

Adoption Choices of Colorado

Adoption Homestudy and Training Agency

Adoption Journey

Adoption Options

Angeldance International

Bethany Christian Services of Colorado

Catholic Charities and Community Service

Catholic Charities of Colorado Springs