Glossary

The failure of a parent to provide adequately for the financial support for a child and an unjustified failure to maintain, or attempt to maintain, contact or a parental relationship with the child. Abandonment is judged over a period of time which varies in different states, but the time period to prove legal abandonment is usually between 6 months and one year.

The use or treatment of someone or something that is seen as harmful. Abuse of a person can be physical, sexual, emotional, verbal, or a combination of any or all of those. Abuse of a substance may involve alcohol or drugs.

(short for Ansell Casey Life skills Assessment) An evaluation of young person’s skills which will contribute to their success as they transition to adulthood. Available for free at caseylifeskills.org.

(short for Attention Deficit Disorder) A medical condition that affects how well someone can sit still, focus, and pay attention. People with ADHD have differences in the parts of their brains that control attention and activity. This means that they may have trouble focusing on certain tasks and subjects, or they may seem “wired,” act impulsively, and get into trouble.

When a person has no control over whether he or she uses drugs or alcohol. For example, someone who’s addicted to cocaine has grown so used to the drug that he or she has to have it. Addiction can be physical, psychological, or both.

A medical condition that affects how well someone can sit still, focus, and pay attention. People with ADHD have differences in the parts of their brains that control attention and activity. This means that they may have trouble focusing on certain tasks and subjects, or they may seem “wired,” act impulsively, and get into trouble.

A hearing to figure out if there has been a crime.

The creation of a new, permanent relationship between an adoptive parent and a child. Once this happens, there is no legal difference between a child who is adopted and a child who is born into a family. Adoption can happen at any time, from baby to teenager (or even beyond). Adoption can be by a relative, foster parent, or a completely new family. An adoptive family might be a single parent, a couple, or a family with kids.

A person who speaks up on behalf of themselves or someone else in an effort to gain services or things.

The organization responsible for providing services while a child or youth is in foster care. Agencies may have names such as CPS, DHS, or CFS and may be run by the county, state or by a private organization.

When a youth emancipates or leaves foster care because they turn a certain age, such as 18 or 21 (depending on the laws of the state they live in). Aging out usually results in loss of support from the State for things such as foster care payments, housing, living costs and health services.

An evaluation of young person’s skills which will contribute to their success as they transition to adulthood. Available for free at caseylifeskills.org.

Someone asks for a hearing to change the court’s decision. Any court decision is subject to an appeal. Appeals can take several months to resolve.

The court gives an individual a chance to admit or deny the crime or to let the judge decide.

A medical condition that affects how well someone can sit still, focus, and pay attention. People with ADHD have differences in the parts of their brains that control attention and activity. This means that they may have trouble focusing on certain tasks and subjects, or they may seem “wired,” act impulsively, and get into trouble.

A professional person authorized to practice law and give legal advice. Most young people in foster care are represented by an attorney in court, who helps to protect their best interests. The agency, biological parents, adoptive parents and others involved in the case may have their own attorney. Also called a lawyer.

The person(s) who gave birth, or fathered the child.

A person who has the responsibility to care for a young person in foster care.

(short for Court Appointed Special Advocate) An adult volunteer, assigned by the court to study and protect the best interests of a youth in a civil, criminal abuse or neglect case. The CASA and the youth should talk on an ongoing basis. The CASA is your voice in the courtroom.

A plan that the foster care agency, along with the youth and family, makes and updates regularly. It includes the services provided to the youth and family, and makes clear the expectations and progress made toward reaching the goals for the child or youth.

Works with youth and their families to provide services and support, with the goal of permanent placement for the youth.

An abbreviation for the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program, named after John H. Chafee, the U.S. Senator responsible for introducing legislation that offers assistance to help current and former youth in foster care achieve self-sufficiency. The legislation provides funds for Independent Living Programs and Education and Training Vouchers for higher education.

Works with children, youth and families (sometimes the children and youth are still in their homes) to assess, investigate and provide ongoing social services to families where abuse and neglect of youth has been reported.

The legal requirement that information is kept secret. Usually attorneys, caseworkers, social workers, foster parents and other professionals involved with a young person’s foster care case are not to disclose identifying or other significant information about the foster care case without legal authority and the written consent of the involved parties to do so.

An adult volunteer, assigned by the court to study and protect the best interests of a youth in a civil, criminal abuse or neglect case. The CASA and the youth should talk on an ongoing basis. The CASA is your voice in the courtroom.

(short for Child Protective Services) Works with children, youth and families (sometimes the children and youth are still in their homes) to assess, investigate and provide ongoing social services to families where abuse and neglect of youth has been reported.

The care, control, and maintenance of a child, which can be legally awarded by the court to an agency in abuse and neglect cases, or to parents in divorce, separation, and adoption proceedings. Child welfare departments retain legal custody and control over the major decisions for a child that is in foster care. Foster parents do not have legal custody of the children that are in their care.

A child who has been placed in the legal custody of either the state or the county foster care system by the courts, usually due to the abandonment, abuse or neglect of the child by a parents or other caregiver.

A physical or mental impairment which can limit a young person’s ability in the following areas: self care, language skills, learning, personal mobility, self-direction, potential for independent living and potential for economic self-sufficiency as an adult.

Short for Department of Human Services or Department of Health and Human Services, common titles for the agency that provides services for children and youth in foster care. See also Agency.

The decision about where the youth should live (such as in state custody), as well as what the parents, agency and the youth must do to change the current situation. Sometimes court hearings are continued and changed to another date for various reasons. For instance, someone may not show up, or everyone at court may feel it’s a good idea to delay the hearing.

Provides Federal Chafee funds for young people from foster care to support their higher education. In most cases, funds can help pay for a Trade or Vocational school, housing, transportation, books, fees and other costs related to education. See also Chafee.

A youth who is legally declared an adult (by a court) prior to age 18. A youth in foster care who emancipates is no longer a ward of the court (or in foster care).

Emotional abuse can be difficult to pin down because there may not be physical signs. Emotional abuse happens when yelling and anger go too far or when an individual is criticized, threatened, or dismissed until their self-esteem and feelings of self-worth are damaged. Emotional abuse can hurt and cause damage just as physical abuse does.

(Short for Education and Training Voucher)Provides Federal Chafee funds for young people from foster care to support their higher education. In most cases, funds can help pay for a Trade or Vocational school, housing, transportation, books, fees and other costs related to education. See also Chafee.