INVITATION To Licensed Agencies or Organizations Seeking License for Accreditation - Conference Call Regarding Universal Accreditation

INVITATION: COA explains how agencies can still become accredited by July 14, 2014, on two conference calls:  July 23^rd and 26^th, 2013. 

The topic of these conference calls is the Department’s July 17, 2013 announcement that if agencies meet certain application deadlines, COA plans to make a good faith effort to assist them in completing the ac­creditation process ahead of the July 14, 2014 deadline.

Background on universal accreditation:  On July 14, 2014, a new law goes into effect requiring all agencies and persons providing adoption services in Hague Convention and Orphan cases to be accredited, approved, super­vised or exempted under the Hague accreditation regulations.  The U.S. Department of State designated the Council on Accreditation (COA) as the entity responsible for accrediting/approving adoption service providers in intercountry adoption. 

The U.S. Department of State invites all adoption service providers that have not yet applied for accreditation or approval to participate in the conference calls. 

COA’s Jayne Schmidt, Hague Accreditation Program Manager, will explain the process of applying for accreditation or approval and will take questions.

Details of the Conference Calls
Date:  Tuesday, July 23^rd
Time:  11 a.m., EST

Date:  Friday, July 26
Time: 11 a.m., EST

Dial in information                                           
1-888-363-4749  (in USA)
1-215-446-3662  (outside USA)
Passcode:  6276702#

For more information about the UAA, see the Department of State’s notice of January 15, 2014, The Universal Accreditation Act of 2012 becomes law and our FAQs on universal accreditation. 

Hopscotch Adoptions Announces our Hague Accreditation Renewal by the Council on Accreditation

I am extremely pleased to share, the Council on Accreditation (COA) has granted Hopscotch Adoptions, Inc.’s renewal application for Hague Accreditation. Hopscotch is licensed in North Carolina and authorized in the state of New York.  If you are in need of home study or post adoption service in either state, we would welcome the opportunity to provide these services.

Download the COA Letter (PDF)

LEGAL ALERT: Hopscotch Adoptions Claims Victory Against Serial Cyber Defamer

High Point, N.C. (November 30, 2011) – Hopscotch Adoptions, Inc. today announced it was successful in a obtaining a favorable monetary settlement of $85,000 in a federal action alleging cyber harassment and defamation by Vanessa Kachadurian, of Fresno, California.

Over the last five years, Kachadurian’s online attacks of Hopscotch's Armenian adoption program became increasingly threatening and disruptive. Hopscotch alleged that Kachadurian used multiple online identities to avoid detection, which ultimately prompted the agency and Sizemore to file suit in United States District Court (Eastern District of California - Fresno) in December of 2009.

“In international adoption, the agency’s reputation is everything,” said Sizemore. “For the sake of our applicants, adoptive families and partners, we are enormously relieved that the legal system recognizes and is willing to address the harm that can be created by such online harassment.”

Hopscotch and its counsel, Bennet Kelley, founder of the Internet Law Center and author of the highly recognized Cyber Report newsletter, believe lawmakers must consider updating current state defamation laws to cover the emergence of serial cyber defamers or, in Internet lingo, “trolls.”

In the meantime, Ms. Sizemore urges other organizations to guard against such potentially destructive attacks by applying a proactive online reputation management strategy, including search engine optimization and participation in communities across the Web that can speak out and link to truthful content. Though this lawsuit was favorably concluded, Sizemore insists Hopscotch will remain forever diligent and protective of its reputation, which is key to its ability to place children in lifelong, loving homes.

“The Internet is an invaluable way for individuals and organizations to communicate,” affirmed Sizemore. “But not everything posted on the Web is true, and it’s up to every one of us to ensure that reality and facts override extreme, baseless content.”

####

Hopscotch Adoptions, Inc. is a not for profit, international adoption agency authorized in New York and licensed in North Carolina as a child-placement agency. Hopscotch is dedicated to helping children in need of families, through humanitarian efforts and through adoption into permanent, loving homes. Hopscotch was accredited by the Council on Accreditation as a Hague Accredited agency in April 2008, and thus follows U.S. and Hague Convention policies and regulations regarding international adoption.

Hopscotch Adoptions, Inc.
1208 Eastchester Drive
Suite 120
High Point, NC 27265
hopscotchadoptions.org

PH 1.336.899.0068

LEGAL ALERT: Hopscotch Adoptions Claims Victory Against Serial Cyber Defamer

High Point, N.C. (November 30, 2011) – Hopscotch Adoptions, Inc. today announced it was successful in a obtaining a favorable monetary settlement of $85,000 in a federal action alleging cyber harassment and defamation by Vanessa Kachadurian, of Fresno, California.

Over the last five years, Kachadurian’s online attacks of Hopscotch's Armenian adoption program became increasingly threatening and disruptive. Hopscotch alleged that Kachadurian used multiple online identities to avoid detection, which ultimately prompted the agency and Sizemore to file suit in United States District Court (Eastern District of California - Fresno) in December of 2009.

“In international adoption, the agency’s reputation is everything,” said Sizemore. “For the sake of our applicants, adoptive families and partners, we are enormously relieved that the legal system recognizes and is willing to address the harm that can be created by such online harassment.”

Hopscotch and its counsel, Bennet Kelley, founder of the Internet Law Center and author of the highly recognized Cyber Report newsletter, believe lawmakers must consider updating current state defamation laws to cover the emergence of serial cyber defamers or, in Internet lingo, “trolls.”

In the meantime, Ms. Sizemore urges other organizations to guard against such potentially destructive attacks by applying a proactive online reputation management strategy, including search engine optimization and participation in communities across the Web that can speak out and link to truthful content. Though this lawsuit was favorably concluded, Sizemore insists Hopscotch will remain forever diligent and protective of its reputation, which is key to its ability to place children in lifelong, loving homes.

“The Internet is an invaluable way for individuals and organizations to communicate,” affirmed Sizemore. “But not everything posted on the Web is true, and it’s up to every one of us to ensure that reality and facts override extreme, baseless content.”

####

Hopscotch Adoptions, Inc. is a not for profit, international adoption agency authorized in New York and licensed in North Carolina as a child-placement agency. Hopscotch is dedicated to helping children in need of families, through humanitarian efforts and through adoption into permanent, loving homes. Hopscotch was accredited by the Council on Accreditation as a Hague Accredited agency in April 2008, and thus follows U.S. and Hague Convention policies and regulations regarding international adoption.

Hopscotch Adoptions, Inc.
1208 Eastchester Drive
Suite 120
High Point, NC 27265
hopscotchadoptions.org

PH 1.336.899.0068