Grievance Policy and Procedure: Complaints by any Birth Parent, any Prospective Adoptive Parent(s), adoptive parent(s) or adoptee about any services or activities of the agency or person, including supervised providers, that he or she believes raises an issue of compliance with the Convention, the Intercountry Adoption Act (IAA) or the regulations implementing the IAA are initially discussed and mediated between the assigned Great Wall China Adoption DBA Children of All Nations case manager and aggrieved party. The following level of staff will address the complaint before a written complaint is filed: Assigned Case Manager, Case Manager Supervisor, and Client Service & Relations Director.
If the complaint is not resolved amicably or to the satisfaction of the aggrieved party, the complaint, signed and dated, may be filed by any prospective adoptive parent(s), adoptive parent(s) or adoptee directly with GWCA/CAN about any services or activities of the agency or person, including supervised providers, that he or she believes raises an issue of compliance with the Convention, the Intercountry Adoption Act (IAA) or the regulations implementing the IAA. GWCA/CAN provides a Complaint/Grievance Form on the Family Only section of our website. This form is also sent to families upon request. Complaints may be submitted online or registered in writing by mail to: Children of All Nations, Attn: Client Service & Relations Director, 248 Addie Roy Rd, A104, Austin, Texas78746. Unresolved complaints may also be filed by any Prospective Adoptive Parent(s), adoptive parent(s) or adoptee directly with the U.S. State Department via the Hague Complaint Registry (http://adoptionusca.state.gov/HCRWeb/WelcomeForm.aspx), about any services or activities of the agency or person, including supervised providers, that he or she believes raises an issue of compliance with the Convention, the Intercountry Adoption Act (IAA) or the regulations implementing the IAA.
All formal complaints received by Great Wall China Adoption DBA Children of All Nations will be reviewed by the Grievance committee and responded to in writing within 30 days. Grievances alleging fraud or deemed time sensitive by the committee will be expedited.
In addition, GWCA/CAN will maintain a written record of complaints received, and follow the steps outlined in the above section to investigate the complaint, and provide response per time frame specified in this policy and procedure. All complaints will be made available to Council on Accreditation or the Secretary upon request. GWCA/CAN will not take any action to discourage a client or prospective client from, or retaliate against a client or prospective client for: making a complaint; expressing a grievance; providing information in writing or interviews to an accrediting entity on our agency’s performance; or questioning the conduct of or expressing an opinion about the performance of our agency.
GWCA/CAN will provide to Council on Accreditation and the Secretary, on a semi-annual basis, a summary of all complaints received during the preceding six months with information on number of complaints received and how each complaint was resolved and an assessment of any discernible patterns in complaints received against our agency, along with information about what systemic changes, if any, were made or are planned by our agency in response to such patterns. Upon request by Council on Accreditation or the Secretary, GWCA/CAN will provide any information about complaints received.
GWCA/CAN has a quality improvement program to systematically improve our services by providing client satisfaction surveys to the client(s), conducting regular staff meetings to review practices and improve procedures, reviewing complaint data and evaluating employees performance.
Disruption Policy: A disruption is defined as the decision by the Prospective Adoptive Parent(s) to interrupt the placement of a child for adoption during the post-placement period, once they have taken custody of the child and accepted the referral in writing but before the adoption of the referred child has been finalized.
Client(s) understands and agrees that it is the right of all children in a disruption or dissolution to receive full protection and services and the child is deemed the primary client by GWCA/CAN and Client(s).
GWCA/CAN ensures that all appropriate measures for the transfer of a child take place with qualified escorts and in the company of the Client(s). This is ensured through the regulations and procedures outlined by the child’s country of origin. GWCA/CAN also ensures this by assigning a bi-lingual guide that travels with the adoptive families throughout the adoption finalization trip. Client(s) understands and agrees that, if they are considering disruption of the child prior to the adoption finalization, Client(s) must inform their GWCA/CAN Guide or In-Country Representative and/or GWCA/CAN Staff. CAN Staff are available to client(s) 24 hours per day while client(s) are in-country. GWCA/CAN staff may provide resources and information for pediatric experts, social workers, and child development specialists as needed to discuss professional opinions of client concerns. GWCA/CAN staff cannot provide advice on proceeding with the adoption of the child. Steps to assess the child will be taken within the scope of available resources, such as assessing the child for physical or mental concerns. Please note that should a disruption occur while in-country, the future placement of the adoptive child involved in the disruption and the decision to issue a second referral is completely and ultimately made by the Central Authority of the child’s country of origin. Great Wall China Adoption dba Children of All Nations has no control over this decision making process. If the decision for disruption remains, the GWCA/CAN Guide or In-Country Representative and/or GWCA/CAN staff will provide assistance to coordinate with client(s), the Central Authority of the child’s country of origin and the orphanage or local government, the safe return of the child.
During the post placement period, the foreign government adoption authority will remain the legal guardian of the child. Client(s) understands that if there is any disruption, as that term is defined herein, any costs for care, including medical treatment, are the responsibility of the Prospective Adoptive Parent until the time the custody of the child is remanded to the orphanage.
Client(s) understands and agrees that in the event of an emergency or in the case of a disruption while in-country, at no time ever, will a GWCA/CAN Guide or In-Country Representative assume custody of the adoptive child. Client(s) understands and agrees that the child will remain in the custody of the Prospective Adoptive Parent(s) until the child can be returned to the custody of the orphanage. In the event of an emergency and the Prospective Adoptive Parent(s) cannot adequately care for the child, local or government officials and the adoptive child’s orphanage may be contacted by GWCA/CAN to attempt to arrange for an official or a staff member of the orphanage to come to the care of the adoptive child, in local government or official’s sole discretion. GWCA/CAN shall not ever assume responsibility for the child during the in-country post placement phase.
Client(s) understands and agrees that Client(s) will not execute any documents, in-country or otherwise, without fully understanding the meaning and consequences of such execution. It is Client(s)’ sole responsibility to understand or have all such documents explained.
Client(s) understands and agrees that the adoption documents signed in-country are legal documents granting legal rights to Client(s) as the adoptive child’s parent(s). Completion and signing of the adoption documents assigns and formalizes Client(s) as the child’s legal guardian(s). CLIENT(S) UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES THESE DOCUMENTS HAVE PERMANENT AND LASTING CONSEQUENCES.
Client(s) understands that once the adoption is finalized in-country and in accordance with local/government law, the Prospective Adoptive Parent(s) become the legal parent/guardian of the child and the child acquires all the rights, privileges and immunities of a child born to the client(s). The Client(s) understand and agree they will then have all responsibilities, legal obligations and duties to the child as though the child was born to the Client(s). GWCA/CAN cannot reverse this legal and binding relationship. Any child that has been placed for adoption in the United States, cannot return to their country of origin as an orphan without the consent of the Central Authority of the child’s country of origin. Client(s) understands and agrees that GWCA/CAN shall inform the Central Authority of the child’s country of origin and the Secretary of any disruption. GWCA/CAN shall comply with the all procedures required by the Secretary and the Central Authority of the child’s country of origin to ensure that all actions are taken in the best interest of the child, without regard to Client(s).
If applicable and the adoption in not finalized in-country, should the family return to the U.S. or their country of residence during the post placement phase, GWCA/CAN will continue to monitor and supervise, with the assistance of the home study agency as applicable, the required home visits by the State and the foreign government, and the placement of the child prior to the adoption finalization to insure that the placement remains in the best interests of the child. During the post placement period, the foreign government adoption authority, will remain the legal guardian of the child.
GWCA/CAN and the Client(s) will seek to avoid disruption of prospective adoption during placement period prior to final adoption if that is in the best interests of the child. Client(s) will notify CAN promptly if there are significant problems in the relationship or situation of the Client(s) and the child during such time. To the extent it has knowledge and resources, GWCA/CAN shall support and provide resources and appropriate referrals regarding available external assistance such as counseling that Client may engage in at Client’s expense.
In the event that counseling and outside resources are not successful in resolving serious difficulties and there is a mutual agreement that the continued placement of the child is not in the child’s best interest, it shall be expressed in writing that continuing the post placement period and subsequent final adoption of the child are not in the child’s best interest. GWCA/CAN and the Client(s) will establish an agreed-upon date to effect a change in the custody and physical home of the child. The legal responsibility for transfer of custody in a disruption will remain with the Central Authority of the child’s country of origin. GWCA/CAN will cooperatively work with the Secretary of State of the United States and the Central Authority of the child’s country of origin who will place the child as they determine is in the child’s best interest.
The child’s age, wishes, length of time in theUnited Statesand the availability of other suitable matching placements are factors that will be taken into account by the Central Authority of the child’s country of origin when they determine where to place a child. In considering future placement of the child, GWCA/CAN will consider the child’s views when appropriate in light of the child’s age and maturity and, when required by State law, obtain the consent of the child prior to change in physical home or custody. The Central Authority of the child’s country of origin has sole responsibility to determine what placement is in the child’s best interests. The child may not be returned to their country of origin as an orphan without the Secretary of State of theUnited Statesand the Central Authority of the child’s country of origin giving written permission to do so. Returning a child to their country of origin will only be done when the Central Authority of the child’s country of origin determines that it is the best suitable option.
During any disruption or crisis involving placement, the Central Authority of the child’s country of origin and The Secretary of State of theUnited States will be notified in writing using email and by telephone contact followed up in writing. When GWCA/CAN is notified by the Client(s) regarding Client(s) intent to disrupt a child or that there are problems that might lead to a disruption, GWCA/CAN will work with Client(s) to resolve these problems and will notify the Secretary of State of the United States and the Central Authority of the child’s country of origin as immediately as possible and within no more than 3 business days of the problems and of any attempts to resolve them.
If a placement is disrupted in an emergency situation (where the child or family’s safety appears to be at risk), as assessed by GWCA/CAN and in a state where GWCA/CAN is licensed, GWCA/CAN Staff, will go to the Client(s) home to remove the child. GWCA/CAN Staff will alert the appropriate officials, including, but not limited to, law enforcement, CPS, and emergency medical personnel, if the situation warrants this action. If a placement is disrupted in a state where GWCA/CAN is not licensed but uses a Supervised Provider, the Supervised Provider will provide counseling to the Client(s) and written records and recommendations to the GWCA/CAN Staff, and cooperates in all manners reasonable and necessary to arrange for transfer of the custody of the child to a suitable custodian or foster home.
If it is in the best interest of the child, the Client(s) will maintain custody until such suitable placement is made. Financial and medical care of the child will remain the responsibility of the Client until custody is transferred per the decision of the Central Authority of the child’s country of origin. Should this not be in the best interest of the child, GWCA/CAN and/or the Client(s)’ home study agency will contact Child Protective Services or other such entity named in the State of Client(s)’ residence for emergency placement of the child.
Notwithstanding removal of the child from the Client’s home and custody, the Client(s) shall continue to have financial responsibility for all costs required for child’s care until such time as CAN is able to effect other placement or return of the child to the foreign country as set forth above, and Client(s) will pay such costs upon billing by GWCA/CAN.
Client(s) must adhere to the post-placement reporting requirements set forth by the Central Authority of the child's country of origin. Client(s) are required to provide all necessary information for the reports and cooperate with social workers to meet all state, convention country post-placement requirements before the adoption is finalized.
GWCA/CAN will supervise the placement until such time GWCA/CAN receives an order declaring the adoption as final. During the post-placement services, GWCA/CAN will send regular reminders to the Client(s) regarding the non-finalized status of their adoption and stress the importance of adoption finalization. Once GWCA/CAN receives the order declaring the adoption as final, GWCA/CAN Hague Coordinator will inform the Secretary in any manner requested by the Secretary within 30 days of receipt of order.
Dissolution Policy: A dissolution is defined as the decision by the Prospective Adoptive Parent(s) to dissolve the adoption of the referred child after the adoption has been finalized. In accordance with the standards of the Hague Convention for International Adoption, please review our Dissolution Policy below:
In the event that dissolution occurs once the adoption is finalized in the United States, the matter becomes a domestic matter that would follow U.S. Federal and State guidelines for domestic adoption. In the event of dissolution, at no time ever will Great Wall China Adoption dba Children of All Nations assume custody of the adoptive child.
Once the adoption is finalized in accordance with regulations set forth by the child's country of origin, the Prospective Adoptive Parent(s) become the legal parent/guardian of the child and the child acquires all the rights, privileges and immunities of a child born to the client(s). Great Wall China Adoption dba Children of All Nations does not and cannot have any influence regarding the steps within this legal matter. The act of leaving your newly-adopted child in-country or attempting to return the child to their country of origin, after you have signed the adoption paperwork, is highly illegal. Failure to comply could result in civil and criminal penalties for such behavior and CAN cannot be responsible for the actions of the government officials both in the U.S. and the child's country of origin. This act would be considered second abandonment, and action may be taken by government officials both in the U.S. and the child's country of origin for individuals who engage in this activity.
In the event of dissolution, all post adoption reports MUST still be submitted to the Central Authority of the child's country of origin on behalf of the child. We request cooperation in submitting these reports to ensure the well-being of each child.
