See "Aid for the Adoption of Children (AAC) Program."

See "Adoption Assistance Program (AAP)."

See "Adoption Assistance Program (AAP)-Eligible Child."

See "Child Abuse."

Physical injury on a child which is inflicted by other than accidental means, or sexual abuse or neglect, or unlawful corporal punishment or injury, or the willful cruelty or unjustifiable punishment of a child (see definition), where the person responsible for the child’s welfare is a licensee, administrator, or employee of any facility licensed to care for children or an administrator or employee of a public or private school or other institution or agency. See "Child Abuse," "Accidental Means," "Sexual Abuse," "Neglect," Corporal Punishment," "Injury," "Willful Cruelty," and "Unjustifiable Punishment."

Same as "Accepted for In-Person Investigation Referral."

See "Assistance to Children in Emergency (ACE) System."

The most serious medical complications of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). AIDS infects and damages white blood cells, called "helper" T-cells, which are important to the immune system and the body’s defense against infection. In order for a person to be diagnosed as having AIDS, the virus and damage to the immune system must be present.

See "Model Case Format."

See "Hearings."

A person who has filed a petition to adopt a child who has been in the person’s physical care. See "Prospective Adoptive Parent."

A legal process in which a child is freed from his or her birth parents by relinquishment, consent or termination of parental rights and placed with applicants who have been approved to take a child into their own family and raise as their own with all of the rights and responsibilities granted thereto including, but not limited to, the right of inheritance. Adoption terminates any inheritance from the parents or other relatives to the child unless they make specific provision by will or trust; the child legally inherits from his or her adoptive parents. The adoption of an American Indian child terminates inheritance from the biological parents or other relatives to the child; however, any rights or benefits the child has or may be eligible for as a result of his or her status as an American Indian are unaffected. (Title 22, California Administrative Code, Division 2, Chapter 3, Subchapter 4).

The process of gathering, evaluating and documenting information relevant to the appraisal of a child’s adoptability.

An individualized negotiated agreement between the adoptive parents and the state or county adoption agency based upon the particular needs of the child being adopted.

A mandatory statewide program that provides financial support to families in order to facilitate the adoption of children who would otherwise be in long-term foster care. The intent of this program is to remove limited financial resources as a barrier to adoption.

A child who meets the eligibility criteria defined in WIC Section 16120, i.e., a child whose adoption without financial assistance would be unlikely due to one or more of the following factors:

1. Age (three years or older)
2. Ethnic background, race, color or language
3. Mental, physical, emotional or medical handicap
4. Adverse parental background (see definition)
5. Membership in a sibling group which should remain intact.

The fee for services, including the home assessment, which the Department provides to adoptive applicants/petitioners.

See "Model Case Format."

See "Applicant Assessment."

Any of the following:

1. A licensed private adoption agency.

1. In California, an individual who has presented satisfactory evidence to the State that he or she is a licensed clinical social worker who also has a minimum of five years experience providing professional social work services while employed by a licensed California adoption agency or the State.
2. In a state other than California, an adoption agency licensed or otherwise approved under the laws of that state, or an individual who is licensed or otherwise certified as a clinical social worker under the laws of that state.
3. Independent legal counsel may serve as an ASP if, after attempting to contact at least three Asps within California, they have been unsuccessful in obtaining the services of an ASP who is reasonably available (i.e., available within five days for an advisement of rights pursuant to Family Code Section 8801.5, or within 24 hours for the signing of the placement agreement. In addition, the ASP must practice within 100 miles of the birth mother and be available for a cost not exceeding $500).

A person who has obtained an order of adoption.

There are two categories of "adverse decisions by the court." They are:

1. An order which is contrary to a Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) recommendation and/or which DCFS believes places the child at risk.
2. An order which is contrary to DCFS policy, regulations, and/or one for which DCFS has no funding, resource, or provision

In the context of the Adoption Assistance Program (AAP), any factor or combination of factors, including but not limited to, a history of incest or other sexual abuse; a history of mental or physical illness within the biological family; severe neglect, mental or physical abuse by birth parent(s) or other caretaker(s), which could result in mental, physical or emotional handicaps.

See "Aid to Families With Dependent Children-Foster Care."

See "CalWORKs."

The adoption of a child in which DCFS, an agency licensed by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), is a party to or joins in the petition for adoption.

The prospective adoptive parent(s) in an agency adoption.

An adoption assistance program on behalf of special needs children whose assistance agreements were executed prior to October 1, 1982.

Foster care financial assistance paid on behalf of children in out-of-home placement who meet the eligibility requirements specified in applicable state and federal regulations and laws. The program is administered by DCFS.

See "Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome."

A term used prior to October 1988 to describe various conditions in which an HIV-positive person showed some symptoms of HIV infection but not the opportunistic infections, which define, AIDS. It was made obsolete by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classification system (see "Classification of Pediatric HIV Infection").

In the context of investigating claims of abuse and/or neglect in out-of-home care, a statement, claim or declaration asserting abuse, neglect, exploitation or violation of CCLD licensing standards.

See "Father."

See "Auxiliary Legal Services (ALS)."

See "Petition."

See "Pro Bono Orthodontia Program."

Proteins generated by the body’s immune system in response to natural infection, immunization or other foreign substances (e.g., toxins). Antibodies made by the immune system following normal immunizations are "protective" in that they create an immunity to the virus or bacteria in the vaccine. Several types of HIV antibodies are produced by the body’s immune system when it is infected with HIV. Some are protective, while others accelerate the disease process.

See "Hub Services: King/Drew Medical Center."

An enzyme, toxin or other substance to which the body reacts by producing antibodies.

In the context of court decisions, the process by which any legal party to a court action requests a review of a trial court’s decision by a higher court.

See "Hearings."

For DCFS, the County Counsel who represents DCFS in the Appellate Court when an appeal is filed by a legal party in a Dependency Court action. The appellate attorney is also responsible for filing writs for DCFS. An appeal/writ can be filed by any legal party to a Dependency Court action, including parent(s), legal guardian(s), a child, or their counsel, or County Counsel (on behalf of DCFS).

In the context of adoption, a person who has submitted to a licensed adoption agency (e.g., DCFS) a written application to adopt a child and who is being considered by that agency for the adoptive placement of a child.

The social investigation, study and preparation of a family who wishes to adopt. This includes visits to the home; interviews with family members; criminal and child abuse background checks; verification of employment and income; and an assessment of the applicant’s family, mental, emotional, medical and marital history. Formerly known as Adoption Homestudy.

See "Model Case Format."

In the context of AFDC-FC, a written request (SAWS 1), Application for Cash Aid, Food Stamps, and/or Medi-Cal/State CMSP) for foster care on behalf of a child who has been placed in out-of-home care.

The document used to request the Dependency court’s approval to cite the absent parent(s) to a WIC 366.26 hearing through newspaper publication.

See "Children’s Social Worker (CSW) Self-Directed Training."

An individual or couple who has been studied and approved by a licensed adoption agency (e.g., DCFS) to adopt a child.

See "Automated Provider Payments System."

See "AIDS-Related Complex."

See "Hearings."

See "Adoption Service Provider."

See "Automated Special Payments System."

See "Adoption Assessment."

The process of gathering, evaluating and documenting information, e.g., the level of risk to the child, the truth of the allegations of neglect or abuse, an appraisal of the need for services for the child and the family, etc.

In the context of adoption home study procedures, a factor used by a licensed adoption agency to assess an applicant’s suitability to become an adoptive parent, such as the applicant’s motivation to adopt; the

applicant’s family, mental, emotional, medical, marital, financial, and employment history; and, if applicable, any criminal and child abuse history.

Any desk where DCFS cases are assigned to CSWs. This may include the Opening and Transfer Desks.

The statewide tracking system developed to register, verify an episode and establish the Not to Exceed (NTE) date of Emergency Assistance (EA) recipients.

In the context of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), children whose high-risk behaviors/medical histories or those of their parents expose them to the risk of HIV infection.

High-risk behaviors include: sharing needles with HIV-infected persons in activities such as intravenous (IV) injections; tattooing; ear-piercing; "blood brother" rituals; or, certain satanic rites and sexual activities involving exposure to the semen or blood of HIV-infected persons.

Parental high-risk behaviors/medical histories put a child at risk primarily through the danger of maternal transmission of HIV from an infected mother to the fetus during pregnancy or birth. In addition, transmission from an infected mother to the child can occur, at a rate of up to 20%, through breast-feeding.

High-risk medical histories are blood or blood products transfusions or tissue transplants received prior to June, 1985.

The major categories of individuals who should be tested for HIV are:

1. Adolescents with the following histories: chronic runaway, prostitution, intravenous drug use, unsafe sexual practices, multiple sexual partners, sexually-transmitted disease, sexual partner who is high-risk or HIV-positive, or being the parent of an HIV-positive child. Also, an adolescent who, after a discussion of his or her personal risk factors, expresses interest in HIV testing should be tested.
2. Persons with signs or symptoms suggestive of immune deficiency or dysfunction, including infants being tested for congenital "TORCH" (toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, and herpes) infections and patients with: opportunistic infections (see definition); recurrent severe bacterial infections; TB; very high levels of immunoglobulin; unexplained, progressive wasting, myopathy, nephritis, hepatitis, carditis, or neurologic disease; or laboratory evidence of T-cell deficiency or dysfunction.
3. A symptomatic persons at high-risk for HIV exposure, including children born to HIV-positive or high-risk parents; recipients of blood or blood products, transfusions or tissue transplants in a country where HIV screening was not performed at the time of the procedure.
4. Potential donors for blood, bone marrow, tissue or solid organ transplants.

A foster parent or relative who has applied to adopt the child residing in his or her care. (S)he is considered to be "attached" to the child because of an existing relationship.

A child for whom adoption is the identified permanent plan and who is in out-of-home placement with a relative or foster caregiver who intends to adopt the child.

A relatively enduring affectional bond between two individuals, over time, in response to familiarity and care-giving. There is an innate tendency to seek proximity and make an attachment to a differentiated individual who is generally seen as stronger and wise. This explains its occurrence and continuance even in situations of abuse and/or neglect (Bowlby, 1980).

Patterns of behavior such as calling or clinging, in the young, to more sophisticated methods, as telephoning when older, which enable a person to attain some manner of contact with another (Bowlby, 1980).

A reasonable but unsuccessful effort to have in-person contact with all children alleged to be abused, neglected or exploited and an adult who has information regarding the allegation(s).

See "Completed Response."

That confidential information that is exchanged between all levels of staff and County Counsel or any personnel or agent working on behalf of the County Counsel. All written and verbal communications with County counsel, where legal advice is given, are confidential and should not be disclosed to any non-county staff.

The system that provides payment history information for CalWORKs clients.

The date the EW authorizes assistance and/or services, under the specified Emergency Assistance (EA) program regulations. Authorization of assistance (EA) must take place within 30 calendar days after the date of EA application.

A system that tracks all foster care paid placement authorizations received from the Child Welfare Services Case Management System (CWS/CMS) that includes the following: issues the initial vouchers, computes the vendor payments and processes the information to the Foster Care Payment System for issuance of the foster care warrants and the ongoing vouchers to the providers.

A data entry system that tracks payment authorizations for designated services not directly related to providing foster care. These include Service Provider Payments such as funeral expenses (FEs), and severely emotionally disturbed (SED) placement payments for children placed in group homes by the Department of Mental Health (DMH).

A non-profit corporation that provides attorneys to the County Counsel’s office. County Counsel and Auxiliary Legal Services are the recognized legal representatives for DCFS in matters brought before Dependency Court. See "County Counsel."

See "Family Preservation Program (FPP)."

See "Auditors Warrant Inquiry System."