42 U.S.C. § 14921 — Accreditation or approval required in order to provide adoption services in cases subject to the Convention

(a) In general. Except where this subchapter says otherwise, no one may offer or provide adoption services for a Convention adoption in the United States unless that person (1) is accredited or approved under this subchapter; or (2) is providing the services through, or under the supervision and responsibility of, an accredited agency or approved person. (b) Exceptions. Subsection (a) does not apply to: (1) Background studies and home studies — a background study on a child, or a home study on a prospective parent, done by a social work professional or organization who is not providing any other adoption service in the case, as long as an accredited agency approves the study. (2) Child welfare services — a child welfare service provided by someone not providing any other adoption service in the case. (3) Legal services — legal services provided by someone not providing any adoption service in the case. (4) Prospective adoptive parents acting on their own behalf — what a prospective parent does on their own, to the extent their state's law allows it.