Officials strip Atlanta adoption agency of license

The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution

Author: GELB, ADAM; Adam Gelb Staff Writer STAFF

Georgia state officials on Tuesday stripped the operating license from an Atlanta adoption agency accused of taking money for babies but not delivering them. The agency, Children's Services International (CSI), had been licensed in Georgia since 1980 and passed a review in 1986. In December, two Florida couples filed complaints with the DHR that CSI, which specializes in foreign adoptions, had promised them Salvadoran babies and accepted money but never delivered the children.

State officials on Tuesday stripped the operating license from an Atlanta adoption agency accused of taking money for babies but not delivering them.

"They have been given notice that we have denied their application for license," said Martin Rotter, director of regulatory services for the Department of Human Resources (DHR).

The agency, Children's Services International (CSI), had been licensed in Georgia since 1980 and passed a review in 1986. In December, two Florida couples filed complaints with the DHR that CSI, which specializes in foreign adoptions, had promised them Salvadoran babies and accepted money but never delivered the children.

Authorities in El Salvador also were reportedly investigating allegations that an attorney for CSI had paid Salvadoran women to give up their babies, and that some infants were snatched from their mothers' arms on the streets.

"We just found them out of compliance with certain rules and regulations," Rotter said. He could not be specific Tuesday night.

CSI has 30 days to appeal the state's decision, Rotter said.

Agency officials could not be reached for comment Tuesday night. CSI founder

in December attributed the organization's troubles in Florida to a manager in its Orlando office. That manager was replaced, Sarano said.

She said allegations of baby-snatching and baby-buying were exaggerated from a single case in which a parent changed her mind after giving up her child for adoption.