The provisions in this subpart govern the dissemination and reporting of information on accredited agencies and approved persons by accrediting entities.

(a) The accrediting entity must maintain and make available to the public on a quarterly basis the following information:

(1) The name, address, and contact information for each agency and person it has accredited or approved;

(2) The names of agencies and persons to which it has denied accreditation or approval that have not subsequently been accredited or approved;

(3) The names of agencies and persons that have been subject to suspension, cancellation, refusal to renew accreditation or approval, or debarment by the accrediting entity or the Secretary; and

(4) Other information specifically authorized in writing by the accredited agency or approved person to be disclosed to the public.

(b) Each accrediting entity must make the following information available to individual members of the public upon specific request:

(1) Confirmation of whether or not a specific agency or person has a pending application for accreditation or approval, and, if so, the date of the application and whether it is under active consideration or whether a decision on the application has been deferred; and

(2) If an agency or person has been subject to suspension, cancellation, refusal to renew accreditation or approval, or debarment, a brief statement of the reasons for the action.

Each accrediting entity must maintain a written record documenting each complaint received and the steps taken in response to it. This information may be disclosed to the public as follows:

(a) The accrediting entity must verify, upon inquiry from a member of the public, whether there have been any substantiated complaints against an accredited agency or approved person, and if so, provide information about the status and nature of any such complaints.

(b) The accrediting entity must have procedures for disclosing information about complaints that are substantiated.

(a) The accrediting entity must make annual reports to the Secretary on the information it collects from accredited agencies and approved persons pursuant to § 96.43. The accrediting entity must make semi-annual reports to the Secretary that summarize for the preceding six-month period the following information:

(1) The accreditation and approval status of applicants, accredited agencies, and approved persons;

(2) Any instances where it has denied accreditation or approval;

(3) Any adverse actions taken against an accredited agency or approved person;

(4) All substantiated complaints against accredited agencies and approved persons and the impact of such complaints on their accreditation or approval status;

(5) The number, nature, and outcome of complaint investigations carried out by the accrediting entity as well as the shortest, longest, average, and median length of time expended to complete complaint investigations; and

(6) Any discernible patterns in complaints received about specific agencies or persons, as well as any discernible patterns of complaints in the aggregate.

(b) The accrediting entity must report to the Secretary within thirty days of the time it learns that an accredited agency or approved person:

(1) Has ceased to provide adoption services; or

(2) Has transferred its intercountry adoption cases and adoption records.

(c) In addition to the reporting requirements contained in § 96.72, an accrediting entity must immediately notify the Secretary in writing:

(1) When it accredits an agency or approves a person;

(2) When it renews the accreditation or approval of an agency or person; or

(3) When it takes an adverse action against an accredited agency or approved person that impacts its accreditation or approval status.