Glossary of Terms

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  • b

  • Birth Parent
    An adoption sensitive definition for the parent who gave birth to a child. Birth parent is appropriate instead of natural or biological parent.
  • Bonding
    Originally defined as the immediate connection made between infant and mother at the moment of first contact after birth. It is the behaviors of two beings toward one another as they create a relationship. The dictionary defines bonding as uniting, “sticking together,” adhering.
  • Bulletin
    A formal document issued by one of the Department of Human Services program offices that transmits information, makes an announcement, transmits a regulation interpretation or issues a policy guideline to affected individuals and organizations outside the Department.  A bulletin is not a means(...)

  • c

  • CAPTA
    A federal law under which qualifying states may obtain grants for a variety of training and programs for the prevention, treatment and investigation of child abuse and neglect.  Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act In Acts, Laws, and Bulletins
  • Child
    An individual who:
    1. is under the age of 18 years;
    2. is under the age of 21 years who committed an act of delinquency before reaching the age of 18 years; or
    3. is under the age of 21 years and was adjudicated dependent before reaching the age of 18 years, who has requested the court to(...)
  • Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
    A federal law under which qualifying states may obtain grants for a variety of training and programs for the prevention, treatment and investigation of child abuse and neglect.  Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act In Acts, Laws, and Bulletins
  • Child Permanency Plan
    When a child is placed in out-of-home care, the agency with custody is required to collaborate with all stakeholders to develop and prepare a CPP (amendment to the Family Service Plan) for each child. The agency must involve the parents, child, youth, relatives, kin and other stakeholders to(...)
  • Child Placement
    Placement is determined to occur when the child is moved and a formal placement agreement is in place.
  • Child Preparation
    Child Preparation is an intense preparation to help children and youth transition to the permanency option (reunification; adoption; PLC; kinship; APPLA) selected for them. The preparation work explores core issues of children and youth in out-of-home placement: grief and loss, abandonment,(...)
  • Child Profile
    A Child Profile is a comprehensive summary of the child’s life history, current functioning and special needs. It can be referred for all children and youth in the custody of a county and youth agency and in out-of-home care, regardless of their permanency goal, and assists in choosing a(...)
  • Child Protective Services Law
    This law was established to protect children from abuse and neglect. It established procedures for reporting abuse and neglect and who must report suspected abuse and neglect.  Child Protective Services in Act, Laws, Bulletins section
  • CPP
    When a child is placed in out-of-home care, the agency with custody is required to collaborate with all stakeholders to develop and prepare a CPP (amendment to the Family Service Plan) for each child. The agency must involve the parents, child, youth, relatives, kin and other stakeholders to(...)
  • CPSL
    This law was established to protect children from abuse and neglect. It established procedures for reporting abuse and neglect and who must report suspected abuse and neglect.  Child Protective Services in Act, Laws, Bulletins section