Adoption assistance may be discontinued for any of the following reasons:
- Federal title IV-E funded adoption assistance:
- At the request of the adoptive parent;
- When the child reaches age:
- Eighteen (18); or 1
- Twenty-one (21) if the state determines that the child has a mental or physical disability that warrants continuation of assistance;
- The Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS/Cabinet) determines:
- The adoptive parent is no longer legally responsible for the support for the child (i.e. termination of parental rights);
- The child is no longer receiving support from the adoptive parents; 2
- No adoptive parent who signed the adoption assistance agreement remains living; or
- In the event of a new adoption assistance agreement.
- State funded adoption assistance:
- When the child reaches age eighteen (18);
- If the child is enrolled in school, upon high school graduation or the child's nineteenth (19th) birthday, whichever comes first; 3
- Upon the death of the adoptive parents;
- The Cabinet determines that the child is no longer receiving support from the adoptive parents;
- The Cabinet determines that the adoptive parent is no longer legally responsible for the support for the child (i.e. termination of parental rights);
- Upon the child's death, full-time employment, marriage or military service;
- When the child is considered an emancipated minor;
- In the event the state legislature fails to appropriate funds to support the adoption assistance program; or
- In the event of a new adoption assistance agreement.
- Temporary discontinuance of state funded adoption assistance may occur during periods of time in which the adopted child:
- Is placed in foster care;
- Is placed in a residential treatment facility;
- Is placed in a psychiatric residential treatment facility (PRTF);
- Is placed in a psychiatric hospitalization exceeding thirty (30) consecutive calendar days;
- Is placed in a detention center outside of the home for a period of thirty (30) consecutive calendar days; or
- Is absent from the home for a period of thirty (30) consecutive calendar days, unless the child is absent due to medical care or school attendance.
- The adoptive parent is responsible for notifying the Cabinet of any circumstances that would cause a change or discontinuance.