Finalize an adoption and close the adoption case

After the child is placed in an adoptive home, you finalize the adoption and close the case.

One portion of the finalization process is to validate that all required information is complete for the child. When you start the validation, the system ensures the following:

• All AFCARS AFCARS is the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting Sytsem. adoption elements have been entered for that child.

• All open services and service authorizations, except for adoption subsidy, have been closed.

• There are no open work items, such as safety assessment, family assessment, and protective services alert.   

• The child’s last placement record has been end-dated.

• A discharge date and discharge reason have been entered on the child’s placement record.

If any required items are not complete, you must correct those items in the child's case record and perform the validation again. Repeat this process until all required information is complete.

Follow these steps to finalize an adoption and close the adoption case.

1. From the Home screen, click the Case tab. The Case Workload screen appears.

2. Select the case you want to update. The Case Overview screen appears.

3. Click View Member Details. The Members tab appears.

4. Click the Finalization/Case Closure tab.

5. To add finalization information to the case, click Add Finalization Info. The Child for Adoption Finalization Details screen appears.

6. Select the child from the Child Name field and click OK. The Adoption/Placement Finalization Details screen appears.

7. The child’s pre-adoptive information displays on the left side of the screen.

8. Complete the new information for the child under Child’s Adoptive Information. You can click Copy to Adoptive Information to copy existing data.

9. Complete the fields under Adoption Information:
   
   Recruitment Activity Ended   
   Date of full disclosure  
   Adoption Assistance Application Signed

10. Complete the information under Finalization Checklist:
    
    Putative Father Registry Response  
    Adoption Assistance Agreement Signed
    Primary Factor for Special Need Determination

11. Click Save. You are returned to the Finalization/Case Closure tab.

12. Click the Validate Adoption Case Closure link. The system ensures the adoption case is complete and displays any missing information on the Adoption Case Closure Validation Details screen.

13. Click Close and complete any missing information in the child's record.

14. Return to the Finalization/Case Closure tab. See steps 1 – 4 above.

15. Click the Validate Adoption Case Closure link. The Adoption Case Closure Validation Details screen appears.
    
    If the validation details grid is empty, the case can be approved by the supervisor. See Approve the adoption closure.