Ky.gov
Effective: 3/2/2026

C5.11 Assessing the Case for Closure

Legal Authority

Introduction

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Practice Guidance

​​

Procedure

The SSW:

  1. Initiates completion of the case plan review evaluation/ongoing assessment within thirty (30) calendar days prior to closure; ​
  2. Will complete a Structured Decision Making (SDM)® Risk Assessment or SDM® Reunification Assessment ​for cases that follow the SDM®​  pathway during the investigation;
  3. Complete the case plan review for the following cases:
    1. ​​Safe infant pathway;
    2. Status offender pathway;
    3. Dependency pathway;
    4. Recommitment pathway; and 
    5. Agency.
  4. Considers whether the factors that caused maltreatment and any other risks of maltreatment have been reduced enough for the parent or caregiver to safely protect and meet the child's needs. 
  5. ​Discusses with the family the possibility of case closure; 
  6. Documents the mutual agreement to close the case; ​
  7. Provides the court at least fourteen (14) calendar days' advance notice, in writing, of the intention to close the case, if there is court involvement; 
  8. Works with the family in developing an aftercare plan in accordance with SOP C4.3 CPS Aftercare Planning​; 
  9. Provides parents or caregivers  the following forms: 
    1. DPP-154A Notice of Intended Action, advising of the intention to close the case; and 
    2. DPP-154 Protection and Permanency Service Appeal, advising of the right to a fair hearing; 
  10. Summarizes the reason for closure in TWIST screens; 
  11. Closes the case immediately, if the forms are hand-delivered, unless the client disagrees with the closure; 
  12. Waits ten (10) days prior to closing the case if the forms are sent via U.S. mail.

The FSOS: 
  1. Has five (5) working days to review and approve submitted case closures. This allows the FSOS time to pend back for corrections, if needed, prior to approval.




Documents

Revisions

​3/2026

  1. Initiates completion of the case plan review evaluation/ongoing assessment within thirty (30) calendar days prior to closure; ​
  2. Will complete a Structured Decision Making (SDM)™ Risk Assessment or SDM™ Reunification Assessment ​for cases that follow the SDM™  pathway during the investigation;
  3. Complete the case plan review for the following cases:
    1. ​​Safe infant pathway;
    2. Status offender pathway;
    3. Dependency pathway;
    4. Recommitment pathway; and 
    5. Agency.​
  4. Considers whether the factors that caused maltreatment and any other risks of maltreatment have been reduced enough for the parent or caregiver to safely protect and meet the child's needs. 
    1. The factors causing maltreatment are resolved to the point that the parent or guardian can protect and meet the needs of the children; 
    2. The documented risk of maltreatment is reduced to the point that the parent or guardian can protect and meet the needs of the children; or 
    3. The case planning goals have been achieved; ​
  5. ​Discusses with the family the possibility of case closure concurrent with the completion of the new assessment

​​8.  Works with the family in developing an aftercare plan in accordance with SOP C4.3 CPS Aftercare Planning; that focuses on preventing maltreatment; ​
9. Links the family to communtiy resoursces as necessary; 
10.  Provides parents or caregivers the family, including identified fathers as outlined in SOP C7.13 Family Attachment and Involvement with the following forms: ​
​
11.  Summarizes the reason for closure in the ongoing disposition TWIST screens, including the following information: 
  1. ​​​Discussion and agreement with the family of the mutual agreement to close the case. 
  2. ​​If court involvement, the date the court was sent notice, at least 14 calendar days' advance notice, in writing, of the intention to close the case​. 
  3. Rationale for case closure: 
    1. ​​​​The factors causing maltreatment are resolved to the point that the parent or guardian can protect and meet the needs of the children;​
    2. The documented risk of maltreatment is reduced to the point that the parent or guardian can protect and meet the needs of the children;
    3. The case planning goals have been achieved.
  4. A description of the community resources the family has been linked to in the aftercare plan. 


The FSOS: 
  1. Has five (5) working days to review and approve submitted case closures. This allows the FSOS time to pend back for corrections, if needed, prior to approval.