Adoption Glossary of Terms D to J

How to Adopt > Glossary - D to J

Adoption Glossary - D to J

direct adoption: This term refers to an adoption in which a family is selected for a child and the child is placed by an agency, as opposed to an identified adoption, in which the family identifies a child and then seeks assistance in arranging the adoption.
disclosure: The release of previously confidential or unshared information. "Full disclosure" often refers to a social worker's sharing all known non-identifying information about a child. Information disclosed should be as complete, realistic, and accurate as possible.

Disclosure may also mean revealing to a child that a particular family wants to adopt that child.
disruption: Sometimes called failed placement, disruption occurs when a child leaves the adoptive home prior to the finalization of the adoption. This can occur in three situations: (1) In a legal risk adoption, usually involving a newborn infant, the birth parents revoke their consent to the adoption, during the time period when this is still possible; (2) The adoptive parents choose not to continue with their plan to parent the child for reasons of their own; or (3) The agency disrupts the adoption if the adoptive parents are not complying with post-placement requirements or are endangering the child in some way.
dissolution: Similar to disruption, a dissolution is sometimes called a failed adoption. In a dissolution a child leaves the adoptive home after the adoption has been finalized. Once it has been finalized, birthparents cannot dissolve an adoption, but adoptive parents or the courts can.
domestic adoption: An adoption within the same country in which the adoptive parents reside; the adoption of a U.S. child by a family residing in the United States.
dual licensing: Some agencies are authorized to approve a family for both foster parenting and adoption. When an agency provides dual licensing, foster parents and adoptive parents go through the same homestudy training and background check processes, and in the end receive approval to provide foster and/or adoptive care.
exchange: An adoption exchange is an organization that assists in matching children in need of homes with parents wishing to adopt. As a rule, exchanges do not approve families for adoption, have children in their custody, or place children. However, they work closely with agencies that do these things, and perform other support and resource services, such as maintaining web sites featuring photolistings of waiting children. Families may register themselves or have their worker register them with one or more exchanges. Many exchanges are run by state governments, while others are run by non-profit organizations.

In adoption, we also speak of the exchange of information between a child's caseworker and a family's social worker.
extended family: Extended family refers to relatives other than parents and siblings.
FBI clearances: Similar to criminal clearances, this is a method of checking through the Federal Bureau of Investigation to see if a person has a criminal record. In addition to completing an information form, the person must be fingerprinted. There is a fee for FBI clearances, and they must be updated annually. They are not required in every state.
failed adoption: Similar to disruption, a dissolution is sometimes called a failed adoption. In a dissolution, a child leaves the adoptive home after the adoption has been finalized. Once it has been finalized, birthparents cannot dissolve an adoption, but adoptive parents or the courts can.
failed placement: Sometimes called failed placement, disruption occurs when a child leaves the adoptive home prior to the finalization of the adoption. This can occur in three situations: (1) In a legal risk adoption, usually involving a newborn infant, the birthparents revoke their consent to the adoption, during the time period when this is still possible; (2) The adoptive parents choose not to continue with their plan to parent the child for reasons of their own; or (3) The agency disrupts the adoption if the adoptive parents are not complying with post-placement requirements or are endangering the child in some way.
family: Family may refer to any two or more individuals committed to one another by law, blood, social custom, or love. In considering prospective adoptive parents, a single man or woman is also recognized as a family.
family preparation class: A family preparation class or parenting preparation class is a class taken by prospective adoptive parents, usually as part of the homestudy process. Many states and/or agencies require a particular kind of training. Foster Family to Forever Family, is an online, parent-preparation class available through the National Adoption Center.
fees: Charges made by an adoption agency to prospective adoptive parents. Some agencies use a sliding scale, according to a family's ability to pay; most allow fees to be paid in installments. While private agencies usually charge fees for infant and international adoptions, few, if any fees are charged by public agencies for adopting waiting U.S. children and teens.
finalization: The legal process which transfers custody of a child from the adoption agency to the adoptive parents. In a court hearing, an attorney represents the family and presents the case to the judge, resulting in the adoption decree. This is the moment when the adoptee becomes the permanent, legally adopted child of the adoptive parents. This process cannot occur until the adoptive parents have had the child in their home for the time determined by state statute (usually at least 6 months).
financial assistance: Many waiting children are entitled to state or federal adoption assistance payments, also called financial assistance or subsidy. These payments are based on a child's needs or eligibility and not on the family's income. They provide a check for the child each month until the child reaches age 19 (sometimes age 21). Adoptive families may also be eligible for other resources to financing an adoption.
FMLA: The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), signed into law in 1993, provides certain employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year, for certain family and medical reasons, including the placement of a child with an employee for adoption or foster care. Employers covered by the law include federal, state and local public agencies, schools, and workplaces with 50 or more employees. Eligible employees must have worked for that employer for at least 12 months. The law also requires that group health benefits be maintained during the leave. Visit the U.S. Department of Labor website to view the FMLA compliance guide online.
foster adoption, fost-adopt: A form of adoption in which a child is placed into a home as a foster child, with the expectation that the child will become legally free for adoption and be adopted by the foster parents.
foster care: A temporary arrangement in which other adults provide for the care of a child or children whose birthparent is unable to care for them. This can be informal or arranged through the courts or a social service agency. The goal for a child in foster care is usually reunification with the birthfamily, but may be changed to adoption. While foster care is temporary, adoption is permanent.
foster child: A child being cared for by foster parents.
foster parent: A person who provides foster care for a child. When this is a formal arrangement through a child welfare agency, the foster parent must be approved through a screening, training, and licensing process.
goal, goal change: Each child in foster care is assigned a goal which may be reunification with the birthfamily, adoption, long-term foster care, or independent living. A court hearing is required for a goal to be changed. Usually a child must have a goal of adoption before adoptive families are considered.
group home: A home like setting staffed by trained personnel where a group of children, adolescents or young adults live. Group homes may provide temporary shelter or a long-term living arrangement, and may be staffed by one set of houseparents or a rotating staff. In some areas, children may move from foster care to pre-adoptive group homes to prepare for being adopted. Group homes are also typically used for adolescents who may be close to ageing out of foster care, and for adults who may need assistance with daily living skills.
guardian, guardianship: A guardian is a person who fulfills some of the responsibilities of a legal parent while the courts or birthparents may continue to hold other legal responsibilities for the child. Guardianship is subject to ongoing supervision by the court and ends by court order or when the child reaches the age of majority. Guardianship may be used as an alternative to adoption in some kinship care situations in which a child's relative is assuming a parental role but prefers not to adopt. In some states, such guardians are entitled to the same benefits as foster or adoptive parents.
guardian ad litem: A person, often an attorney, appointed by the court to represent the interests of a child in a particular court case.
high risk: High risk is a term used to describe a potential adoption from fostercare in which the child to be adopted is placed with the adoptive parents prior to termination of the birthparents' rights.

An adoption placement of a child of any age is considered to be high risk if there is a strong likelihood that a birthparent or other relative will decide (and be approved) to parent. The adoption of newborn infants is often considered high risk because one or both birthparents'consent to the adoption is not yet legally final.

An adoption is considered low risk when the rights have not yet been terminated, but it is expected that they soon will be, and there is little likelihood of the child returning to his or her birthfamily.
hold, on hold: Hold or on hold means temporarily not available for adoption. A child may be placed on hold because an adoption is pending, because a goal change is pending, because a birth relative is interested to adopt, or because the child is currently not ready for adoption.
homefinder: Title used in some jurisdictions for an adoption social worker who completes family homestudies and serves as the family's advocate in the adoption process.
homestudy: The process of assessing and preparing a family for adoption. It is used to determine the family's suitability to adopt and the type of child whose needs would be best met by that family. The homestudy includes written materials, individual or group meetings with a social worker, and education about adoption and parenting issues.

Homestudy also refers to the written document, completed by a licensed agency, which is the end result of this process. Sometimes called a family profile or an adoption study, it gives a summary of the applicant's family life. This document indicates approval of the applicant for adoption and clarifies what type of child the applicant is approved to adopt. It must be updated annually. Most agencies require different homestudies for foster care and adoption.
houseparent: An employee in a group home or other facility for children or teenagers whose job involves serving in a parental role. Often, houseparents reside at the facility.
ICAMA: The Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance (ICAMA) was established as a mechanism to provide that children moving across state lines have continuity of adoption assistance agreements, medical provisions, and other post-adoption services. Three quarters of all states are members of this program. There is a contact person for each of these states. For more information, visit the website of the Association of Administrators of the Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance at http://aaicama.aphsa.org
ICPC: The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) is an agreement by all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, to provide a process to move children across state lines for the purpose of adoption, foster care or residential care, while protecting their safety and well-being. Every state has signed the ICPC and made it law. The compact guarantees that each state's adoption laws and procedures are met and that the child's placement is properly managed and finalized. For more information about the ICPC, visit at http://icpc.aphsa.org
ICPC 100A Form: ICPC Form 100A is the Interstate Compact Placement Request. In an interstate adoption, this form must be completed by the child's agency to comply with requirements of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children.
ICPC 100B Form: ICPC form 100B is the Interstate Compact Report on Child's Placement Status. In an interstate adoption, this form must be completed by the family's agency to comply with requirements of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children
ICWA: The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)is a federal law passed in 1978 that protects the rights of Native American children, families, and tribes. In accordance with this act, when placing a Native American child for adoption, preference must be given to an extended family member, a member of the tribe, or an adoptive family of Native American heritage. The tribe has the right to make decisions regarding a child's placement, which may include placing a child with non-Native Americans if there is no other resource. For more information visit the website of The National Indian Child Welfare Association at www.nicwa.org.
IEP: Individualized Educational Plan. This is a plan outlining specific individualized educational support services and expected outcomes for a student enrolled in a special education program.
identified adoption: An identified adoption may also be called a parent initiated adoption. In this type of adoption, the adoptive parents and birthparents identify, find, or already know each other, and then use the services of an adoption agency or an independent adoption social worker or other facilitator, to arrange and finalize the adoption.
identifying information: Information which discloses an individual's identity, such as last name, address, social security number, or detailed family history. When families are recruited for a child in need of adoption, identifying information about the child is typically kept private. In a closed adoption, no identifying information about either set of parents is shared with the other.
independent adoption: Independent adoptions, also known as private adoptions, are arranged through an intermediary such as a lawyer, physician, or other facilitator, rather than through a licensed adoption agency. Usually independent adoptions involve infants who are healthy or believed to be healthy. They often do not include counseling for the birthparents or parent preparation for the adoptive parents, and are not legal in all states. Children adopted through independent adoptions are not usually eligible for adoption assistance for special needs that may not have been noticeable at birth. Independent adoptions can be open adoptions, but this is not always the case. Private adoptions should not be confused with private agency adoptions.
Intent to Adopt Petition: An adoption petition or intent to adopt petition is a brief document which gives identifying information about the adoptive parents and the child to be adopted. This, together with the adoptive parents' homestudy, is filed with the court to initiate adoption proceedings.
intercountry adoption, international adoption: An international adoption or intercountry adoption is any adoption in which the child and the adoptive parents reside in two different countries. Extra legal work through immigration services must be done to authorize an international adoption.
interjurisdictional adoption: Jurisdictions are specific areas such as states or counties which may have adoption laws or policies that are particular to that area. An interjurisdictional adoption is one in which the child to be adopted and the adoptive parent live in different jurisdictions, such as different counties or states.
interracial: The term interracial refers to a couple, family, or other group which includes individuals who are members of different races. This differs from the term biracial, which refers to an individual whose racial heritage includes two different races.
interstate adoption: An interstate adoption is the adoption of a child who is a resident of one state by individuals who are residents of another state.
interstate compact: Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children (ICPC) A set of laws governing the movement of a child born in one state but being adopted by a family in another. For the purposes of an adoption, it is illegal to move a child across state lines without meeting the requirements of the ICPC. The documentation submitted to the ICPC for approval includes the adoptive parents home study, the child's birth information and other health information, biological information on the birth parents, and relinquishment or termination documentation from the birth parents. The ICPC offices review the documentations to verify that their state laws have been complied with. The ICPC also ensures that proper post-placement supervision has been arranged in the family�s home state.
involuntary termination of parental rights: A legal procedure through which the legal rights of birthparents to parent a child are terminated by the court without the signed consents of the birthparents. Circumstances for such proceedings include abandonment and repeated or severe abuse or neglect of the child.
joint adoption: When two unmarried domestic partners adopt a child together at the same time, it is referred to as a joint adoption. While only a few jurisdictions permit joint adoptions, laws are changing in many parts of the country.
jurisdiction: A specific area, such as a state or county, which may have authority over children in its care and may have adoption laws and policies that are particular to that area.