Decision To Close
An Adoption Application

PURPOSE:

To establish a consistent process to close an adoption application and an adoptive home assessment process in accordance with Administrative Code HFS 51.

1. Any time a decision is made to close an applicant’s adoptive home assessment process, the assigned adoption social worker and his/her supervisor shall jointly determine if the reasons for closure of the application process are consistent with HFS 51. The review of the closure decision must be documented by the adoption social worker in a provider note in the provider’s window in WiSACWIS. The note must include the reason for closing the application process. The approval by the supervisor must be maintained in the applicant’s record.
2. Within five (5) working days of a decision to close an adoption application the assigned adoption social worker must provide written notice of the decision to close the application to the applicant. The written notice must include the reason(s) for closing the application and information regarding the rights of the applicant to appeal the decision under Administrative Code HFS 51.09. A copy of the written notice must be maintained in the applicant’s record.
3. When an application has been closed, the adoption supervisor must ensure that the record is maintained by the agency for no less than seven (7) years from the date of application.
4. Any request for copies of the closed adoptive home record may only be granted if the prospective adoptive parent(s) have signed a release of information form and the release of information is contained in the record.
5. Within five (5) working days of the receipt of a signed release of information form from a prospective adoptive parent, the designated Adoption Program staff will release information within the applicant’s record to another public or licensed adoption agency.

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Last Revised: June 16, 2008