Life Style / Adoption Glossary

Life Book: A pictorial and written representation of the child's life designed to help the child make sense of his unique background and history. The life book includes birthparents, other relatives, b . . . View Full Definition

Long-Term Foster Care: The intentional and planned placement of a child in foster care for an extended period of time. After the goal of adoption has been explored and not selected, and relative options are not fe . . . View Full Definition

Loss: A feeling of emotional deprivation that is experienced at some point in time. For a birth parent the initial loss will usually be felt at or subsequent to the placement of the child. Adoptiv . . . View Full Definition

Mainstreamed: In education, a term that typically refers to the planned and sustained placement of a child with special educational needs into a regular education classroom for part or all of the school day.

Maltreatment: Physical abuse, child neglect, sexual abuse and emotional abuse. Federal CAPTA legislation (P.L. 104-235) provides definitions that identify a minimum set of acts or behaviors that character . . . View Full Definition

Mandated Reporter: Individuals required by state statutes to report suspected child abuse and neglect to the proper authorities (usually CPS or law enforcement agencies). Mandated reporters typically include p . . . View Full Definition

Matching: The process of finding prospective families specifically suited to meet the needs of a waiting child, not to be confused with 'placement.”

Maternity Home: Residences for pregnant women. The number of homes has decreased over the past three decades, and existing homes often have a waiting list of women. The women who live in a maternity home ma . . . View Full Definition

Mental Retardation: Impaired or incomplete mental development characterized by an IQ of 70 or below and characterized by significant functional limitations in at least two of the following skills: communication . . . View Full Definition

Minority Children: Children of partial or full non-Caucasian parentage, or mixed Caucasian and non-Caucasian heritage.

Multi-Ethnic Placement Act: A federal law enacted in 1994 and implemented through state policy. The Multi-Ethnic Placement Act of 1994, as amended, P.L. 103-382 [42 USC 622] prohibits the delay or denial of any adoptio . . . View Full Definition

Multi-Racial: Refers to a child that has heritage of two or more races.

Multidisciplinary Team: Established between agencies and professionals within the child protection system to discuss cases of child abuse and neglect and to aid in decisions at various stages of the CPS case proces . . . View Full Definition

Neglect: The failure to provide for the child's basic needs. Neglect can be physical, educational or emotional. Physical neglect can include not providing adequate food or clothing, appropriate medic . . . View Full Definition

Non-Identifying Information: The medical and social history along with other information exchanged between birth parents and adoptive parents without using names, addresses or other identifying information of both parties.

Non-Recurring Adoption Costs: One time adoption expenses, which may be at least partially reimbursed by states up to a maximum amount to families adopting children with special needs. Allowable expenses for this reimburs . . . View Full Definition

Non-Sectarian Agencies: Any agency that does not have any religious requirements for its clients.

Occupational Therapy: The science of using everyday activities with specific goals, to help people of all ages prevent, lessen or overcome physical disabilities.

Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13