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

(a) Each accrediting entity must maintain and make available to the public at least monthly the following information:

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

(2) The names of agencies and persons that have been 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 an 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, including, where relevant, the identity and conduct of any foreign supervised providers.

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) Each accrediting entity must confirm, 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) Each accrediting entity must have procedures for disclosing information about complaints that are substantiated.

(a) Each accrediting entity must make annual reports to the Secretary on the information it collects from accredited agencies and approved persons pursuant to § 96.43. Each 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 its applicants, accredited agencies, and approved persons;

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

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

(4) All substantiated complaints against its 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 reviews carried out by the accrediting entity as well as the shortest, longest, average, and median length of time expended to complete complaint reviews;

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

(7) A list of cases involving disruption, dissolution, unregulated custody transfer, and serious harm to the child, by agency or person and by country or origin, and any discernible patterns in these cases; and

(8) A summary of unsubstantiated complaints, and those which the accrediting entity declined to review.

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

(1) When it learns an accredited agency or approved person has:

(i) Ceased to provide adoption services;

(ii) Transferred its intercountry adoption cases and adoption records; or

(iii) Withdrawn a pending application for renewal of accreditation or approval;

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

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

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