§ 14921. Accreditation or approval required in order to provide adoption services in cases subject to the Convention

• (a) Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, no person may offer or provide adoption services in connection with a Convention adoption in the United States unless that person—
  • (1) is accredited or approved in accordance with this subchapter; or
  • (2) is providing such services through or under the supervision and responsibility of an accredited agency or approved person.
• (b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to the following:
  • (1) The performance of a background study on a child or a home study on a prospective adoptive parent, or any report on any such study by a social work professional or organization who is not providing any other adoption service in the case, if the background or home study is approved by an accredited agency.
  • (2) The provision of a child welfare service by a person who is not providing any other adoption service in the case.
  • (3) The provision of legal services by a person who is not providing any adoption service in the case.
  • (4) The conduct of a prospective adoptive parent on his or her own behalf in the case, to the extent not prohibited by the law of the State in which the prospective adoptive parent resides.