LSS international adoption program
receives Hague Accreditation from COA

March 5, 2008

AUSTIN - The Lutheran Social Services International Adoption Program has achieved Hague Accreditation through Feb. 28, 2014 from the Council on Accreditation. The accreditation allows LSS to provide international adoption services to the 70 countries that are a part of the Hague adoption accord.

"LSS is thrilled to have received Hague accreditation," LSS Executive Director of Adoption Services Karalyn Heimlich said. "It raises the bar for service delivery across the United States and in the countries serving children needing adoptive homes, and it protects these children from exploitation."

Prior to the United States becoming a signatory of The Hague Convention on Inter-Country Adoption, LSS had to significantly scale back its international adoption program. Until the United States signed the act in December 2007, some countries would not allow American families to adopt children from within their borders.

"Although LSS has been involved in international adoption for the past 40 years, our ability to meet more stringent regulations will enable us to serve more children in the future," Heimlich said.

More than 300 agencies within the United States have applied for accreditation since the signing. LSS is one of the few agencies that have secured accreditation.

Lutheran Social Services of the South, Inc., is the social service arm of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. LSS annually serves nearly 35,000 children, elderly and poor in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi regardless of religious beliefs, ethnicity, gender or age. Its ministry includes children's centers, therapeutic foster care, adoption, adult day care, health care and retirement centers, emergency assistance and disaster response.