Adoption Co-ordinating Agency (ACA)
Each State has one or, more Adoption Coordinating Agencies responsible primarily for promoting in-country adoptions and for issuing clearances in the case of Inter-country adoptions. The ACA must be registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860 or, with any authority created by the State Government.
Functions of ACA
- The ACA maintains a list of children who are legally free for adoption from all Placement agencies within its
jurisdiction.
- It'll coordinates the work of all its Members Agencies and other Child Welfare Institutions in the field of Indian
adoption.
- It receives details of children who are being sought to be made free for inter-country adoptions from RIPAs and
ensures that the priority laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court on adoption within the country is adhered to.
- It registers prospective Indian Adoptive parents and prepares the HSR of prospective Indian parents where
necessary.
- It clears the inter-country placement of a child if within 30 days from the date of request for clearance, it has
not been able to find an Indian family with whom the child can be placed.
- It undertakes promotion programs for in-country adoption.
- It undertakes Training Programs to upgrade the skills of adoption functionaries.
- It provides pre and post adoption counseling wherever required.
- It promotes observance of quality childcare, health and hygiene at the placement agency and will report irregularities
or neglect of children to CARA.
- It enrolls as its members, all the Recognized Indian Placement Agencies, Licensed Adoption Agencies, Sishu Grehs,
Government run Children Homes. and Child Welfare agencies.
- It reports to the State Government/ CARA, all cases of default by Adoption agencies, in adhering to the CARA
Guidelines.
The ACA is accorded recognition for a period of 3 years. The recognition can be extended on request and, on successfully meeting the laid down conditions.
In order to be recognized as an ACA, an agency must fulfill the following criteria :-
- It should be a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 or an authority created by concerned
State Government with detailed Rules and Regulations.
- The agency must be recommended by the concerned State Government for recognition by CARA.
- The agency should run on a non-commercial and non-profitable basis.
- The Agency must undertake to comply with CARA Guidelines.
- All the office bearers should be Indian Nationals.
Recognition of ACA may be withdrawn by CARA for violation of Terms & Conditions as given in their Guidelines after giving the ACA an opportunity to explain its position.
The ACA must set up an Executive Committee consisting of not less than 5 members. The office bearers will consist of a Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer. Who shall be elected from and by the General Body of Members of the ACA for a term of 3 years. No office bearer shall be from any inter-country adoption agency. Office bearer shall not hold office for more than two consecutive terms.
The tenure of Executive Members will be for a period of 3 years.
