REG 51 Adoption Caseload Tulasi Cotsoradis Department for Children and Families, Child Support Services Central Office

REG 51, Adoption Caseload There are approximately 500 cases in the REG 51 adoption caseload. Cases are assigned to REG 51 in order to protect a child’s adopted name. We do not want to take any chances to jeopardize the safety of an adopted child that has had a name change. The goal is to close all adoption cases in REG 51 where the child has been adopted with a name change and there are state arrears only owed. However, some cases will have to stay open and continue to be enforced.

Things to know about adoption cases. The child’s adopted name MUST NEVER BE RELEASED The child’s birth name must be used on all documents Emails are generated to field staff from working the Adoption Mailbox and working ALRTs & reports on existing cases in REG51.

More things to know about adoption cases. If the case is to be closed: The following “I” types have an end date so AUTO IWOs won’t generate: IWOMODO (IWO Modification); IWONOTKM (IWO Modification (not KS CSS); IWONOTKS (IWO (not KS CSS); and IWO (Income Withholding Order) You do not need to wait the full 60 days to close the case. If the CP is not the State of KS, the closure letter should not be sent to CP. Go to ODCM, select letter and FP16 to cancel printing of document for both closure letters.

CSS Adoption Notice Mailbox Adoption decrees are sent to CSSAdoptionNotice@dcf.ks.gov from PPS. These are worked by Central Office by noon each day. An email will be sent to the caseworker giving them instructions on how to proceed with the case.

Example of Cases that have to stay open and continue to be enforced If there are NA arrears owed on the case. If un-adopted siblings share the court order with the adopted child. Private adoption. Case will be reassigned to REG 51. Email will be sent to the field worker with information and request to send case file to Tulasi Cotsoradis. Child’s birth name must be used on all documents

If there is no name change The adoption decree will be sent to the field worker for their files. The case will stay in the field as there is no adoptive name to protect.

Name change & State arrears only An email will be sent to the worker requesting case closure. The worker will be responsible for: Terminating the IWO Dismissing all outstanding legal actions Backing off the state arrears Filing a Notice of Termination (NOA3) If incoming or outgoing case, will have to contact FJ and notify them of case closure & close IIMC/OINR Close LGRQ Close CADS using closure code CC (don’t need to wait full 60 days for case closure) Child’s birth name must be used on all documents

Name change & no order or zero order An email will be sent to the worker requesting case closure. The worker will be responsible for: Dismissing all outstanding legal actions If incoming or outgoing case, will have to contact FJ and notify them of case closure & close IIMC/OINR Close LGRQ Close CADS using closure code CC (don’t need to wait full 60 days for case closure) Child’s birth name must be used on all documents

Child’s birth name must be used on all documents Private Adoptions Private adoptions do not require us to change the child’s birth name on the system. Narrate the adoption information. Case will remain in the field. Child’s birth name must be used on all documents

Relative/step-parent adoption RELATIVE ADOPTION with name change: If child is adopted out of foster care and a relative adopted the child we will treat the case as a normal adoption case with a name change. STEP-PARENT ADOPTION with name change: If both mother and father consent to the adoption the case would remain in the field as there is no name to protect. However, if a party does not consent or is not notified, then the adopted name would need to be protected and we will treat the case as a normal adoption case with a name change. Child’s birth name must be used on all documents

If you have any questions about adoption cases, please call or email Tulasi Cotsoradis Tulasi.Cotsoradis@dcf.ks.gov 785-296-0006