GLOSSARY OF ADOPTION TERMS
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Abandonment-when a parent refuses to physically, emotionally, or financially support his or her child. (A signed relinquishment or surrender of parental rights legally constitutes abandonment.)
Abuse-harm inflicted on a person through physical, verbal, emotional, or sexual means; may cause victim to develop emotional or behavioral problems, some of which may not appear until later in life. Help from an experienced therapist may be needed to work through abuse issues.
Adoption assistance-federal (Title IV-E) or state payments and other benefits designed to offset the short-and long-term costs of adopting eligible children who have special needs.
Adoption benefits-benefits, such as financial assistance or monetary reimbursement for the expenses of adopting a child, available through some employer-sponsored programs.
Adoption exchange-a state, regional or national organization that has information about children who are waiting for adoption within the state, region or country.
Adoption petition-the legal document through which prospective parents request the court's permission to adopt a specific child.
Agency adoption-an adoption completed with assistance from an organization of licensed, trained adoption professionals.
Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA)-a 1997 federal law that requires states to develop and document Individualized Recruitment Plans (IRP) for children in foster care. ASFA increased the number of children whose parental rights have been terminated and thus intensified the need for certified families ready to foster and adopt these waiting children.
Attorney Referral Services - Since adoption laws vary greatly from state to state, adoption issues are best directed to state licensed attorneys. The State Bar Association provides referrals of lawyers with experience in family law matters. Parents may also wish to inquire with the association about any complaints filed against a particular attorney.
Birth family-those who share a child's genetic heritage; blood relations; extended family members.
Birth parent-a child's biological mother or father.
Closed adoption-an adoption in which birth and adoptive families have no contact and know only non-identifying information about each other.
Disruption-when an adoption is discontinued or annulled through a decision by the adoptive parents, the child, or a legal authority, before or after finalization.
Finalization-the final legal step in the adoption process, involving a court hearing where an adoptive parent or parents become a child's legal parent(s).
Foster children-children who have been placed in the state's custody because their birth parents were deemed abusive, neglectful, or otherwise unable to care for them. While under state care, such children often live in foster homes or group homes.
Foster parents-state-licensed adults who provide a temporary home for children in state custody whose birth parents are unable to care for them.
Group home-a facility staffed by social workers and counselors that houses groups of children-typically those over the age of five, including teens and siblings groups-who need emergency temporary shelter or a long-term living arrangement.
Home study - a process by which prospective adoptive parents are educated about adoption and evaluated to determine their suitability to adopt.
Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)-a 1978 federal law that protects the rights of Native American children, families, and tribes. ICWA states that when placing a child of Native American heritage for adoption, preference should be given to an extended family member, a member of a tribe, a foster or adoptive family of Native American heritage, or a Native American institution. The tribe has the right to make decisions regarding the Native American child's placement, and non-Native American families are considered for placement as a last resort. ICWA adoption provisions do not, however, apply to every Native American child in foster care-especially in cases where the children's Native American birth parents are not registered tribe members, or if the tribes formally give up their claim to the children.
Abuse-harm inflicted on a person through physical, verbal, emotional, or sexual means; may cause victim to develop emotional or behavioral problems, some of which may not appear until later in life. Help from an experienced therapist may be needed to work through abuse issues.
Adoption assistance-federal (Title IV-E) or state payments and other benefits designed to offset the short-and long-term costs of adopting eligible children who have special needs.
Adoption benefits-benefits, such as financial assistance or monetary reimbursement for the expenses of adopting a child, available through some employer-sponsored programs.
Adoption exchange-a state, regional or national organization that has information about children who are waiting for adoption within the state, region or country.
Adoption petition-the legal document through which prospective parents request the court's permission to adopt a specific child.
Agency adoption-an adoption completed with assistance from an organization of licensed, trained adoption professionals.
Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA)-a 1997 federal law that requires states to develop and document Individualized Recruitment Plans (IRP) for children in foster care. ASFA increased the number of children whose parental rights have been terminated and thus intensified the need for certified families ready to foster and adopt these waiting children.
Attorney Referral Services - Since adoption laws vary greatly from state to state, adoption issues are best directed to state licensed attorneys. The State Bar Association provides referrals of lawyers with experience in family law matters. Parents may also wish to inquire with the association about any complaints filed against a particular attorney.
Birth family-those who share a child's genetic heritage; blood relations; extended family members.
Birth parent-a child's biological mother or father.
Closed adoption-an adoption in which birth and adoptive families have no contact and know only non-identifying information about each other.
Disruption-when an adoption is discontinued or annulled through a decision by the adoptive parents, the child, or a legal authority, before or after finalization.
Finalization-the final legal step in the adoption process, involving a court hearing where an adoptive parent or parents become a child's legal parent(s).
Foster children-children who have been placed in the state's custody because their birth parents were deemed abusive, neglectful, or otherwise unable to care for them. While under state care, such children often live in foster homes or group homes.
Foster parents-state-licensed adults who provide a temporary home for children in state custody whose birth parents are unable to care for them.
Group home-a facility staffed by social workers and counselors that houses groups of children-typically those over the age of five, including teens and siblings groups-who need emergency temporary shelter or a long-term living arrangement.
Home study - a process by which prospective adoptive parents are educated about adoption and evaluated to determine their suitability to adopt.
Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)-a 1978 federal law that protects the rights of Native American children, families, and tribes. ICWA states that when placing a child of Native American heritage for adoption, preference should be given to an extended family member, a member of a tribe, a foster or adoptive family of Native American heritage, or a Native American institution. The tribe has the right to make decisions regarding the Native American child's placement, and non-Native American families are considered for placement as a last resort. ICWA adoption provisions do not, however, apply to every Native American child in foster care-especially in cases where the children's Native American birth parents are not registered tribe members, or if the tribes formally give up their claim to the children.
Independent Adoption - refers to a non-agency adoption, usually facilitated by an attorney.
Preferred by some because local agencies have waiting lists for people wanting to adopt an infant.
May be quicker than working with an agency, but could carry some risk.
Legally Free Child - a child whose birth parents' rights have been legally terminated or relinquished so that the child is free to be adopted by another family.
Legal-Risk Adoption - placement of a child in an adoptive home when the birth parents' rights have not yet been voluntarily or involuntarily terminated.
Open Adoption - an adoption that involves some amount of contact between the birth parent and the adoptive family. They might communicate regularly through letters, photographs, telephone calls and/or visits.
Private Agency - licensed by the state, operate through funding contracts and fees from state, county or other agencies, charitable contributions and/or fees from adoptive families.
May charge nothing or very little for adoption.
May respond slowly to inquiries.
Most children have special needs.
Relinquishment - the legal process by which birth parents free their children for adoption. After relinquishment, birth parents have no legal right to have further contact with the children.
Respite care-child care and other services designed to give foster and adoptive parents temporary relief from their responsibility as caregivers.
Special Needs Adoption - Conditions that make some children harder to place than others may include:
State Licensing Specialist - the contact within the state department of social services who monitors the licensing status of child welfare agencies, such as adoption placement and foster care service agencies. They collect and retain all official complaints filed against a particular agency and should be contacted by parents inquiring about the licensing status or complaints record of a particular agency.
Subsidy - See Adoption Assistance.
Termination of parental rights (TPR)-the court process through which a birth parent's legal claim to his or her child is permanently removed. TPR actions are brought when birth parents will not voluntarily relinquish their rights.
Therapeutic foster home-a foster home where the parents have received special training in dealing with a wide variety of children, including those who are developmentally delayed. Parents in therapeutic homes are also supervised and assisted more than parents in regular foster homes.
Waiting children-children in the public child welfare system (foster children) that cannot return to their birth homes and need permanent, loving families to help them grow up safe and secure.
Preferred by some because local agencies have waiting lists for people wanting to adopt an infant.
May be quicker than working with an agency, but could carry some risk.
Legally Free Child - a child whose birth parents' rights have been legally terminated or relinquished so that the child is free to be adopted by another family.
Legal-Risk Adoption - placement of a child in an adoptive home when the birth parents' rights have not yet been voluntarily or involuntarily terminated.
Open Adoption - an adoption that involves some amount of contact between the birth parent and the adoptive family. They might communicate regularly through letters, photographs, telephone calls and/or visits.
Private Agency - licensed by the state, operate through funding contracts and fees from state, county or other agencies, charitable contributions and/or fees from adoptive families.
- Usually charge more than public agencies.
- May respond more quickly to inquiries.
- May have access to diverse populations of available children.
May charge nothing or very little for adoption.
May respond slowly to inquiries.
Most children have special needs.
Relinquishment - the legal process by which birth parents free their children for adoption. After relinquishment, birth parents have no legal right to have further contact with the children.
Respite care-child care and other services designed to give foster and adoptive parents temporary relief from their responsibility as caregivers.
Special Needs Adoption - Conditions that make some children harder to place than others may include:
- age
- learning disabilities
- emotional disabilities
- physical disabilities
- ethnic background
- inclusion in a sibling group
- history of physical and/or sexual abuse
- drug exposure in utero
State Licensing Specialist - the contact within the state department of social services who monitors the licensing status of child welfare agencies, such as adoption placement and foster care service agencies. They collect and retain all official complaints filed against a particular agency and should be contacted by parents inquiring about the licensing status or complaints record of a particular agency.
Subsidy - See Adoption Assistance.
Termination of parental rights (TPR)-the court process through which a birth parent's legal claim to his or her child is permanently removed. TPR actions are brought when birth parents will not voluntarily relinquish their rights.
Therapeutic foster home-a foster home where the parents have received special training in dealing with a wide variety of children, including those who are developmentally delayed. Parents in therapeutic homes are also supervised and assisted more than parents in regular foster homes.
Waiting children-children in the public child welfare system (foster children) that cannot return to their birth homes and need permanent, loving families to help them grow up safe and secure.