A child was physically abused by his caregiver two years ago. Now the counselor is evaluating the family for case closure. The most important factor in determining appropriateness of case closure is:

When determining the appropriateness of case closure, the most important factor is that the caregiver has incorporated alternative discipline techniques. This means that the caregiver has learned and implemented new ways to discipline the child that do not involve physical or emotional harm. This is the most important factor because it ensures the safety and well-being of the child.

The other options are incorrect because attending parenting classes (B) or assuring the counselor that spanking will not recur (C) does not necessarily mean that the caregiver has actually learned and implemented alternative discipline techniques. Additionally, the fact that the law on corporal punishment has changed (D) does not necessarily mean that the caregiver has changed their behavior and stopped using physical abuse as a form of discipline. Therefore, the most important factor is that the caregiver has actually changed their behavior and learned alternative discipline techniques.