A DCFS freestanding (i.e., not linked to any network) computer program designed to track performance of out-of-home care facilities and generate reports.

See "Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC)."

See "Individualized Education Program (IEP)" and "Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team."

See "Income Evidence Verification system."

See "Independent Living Program (ILP)-Equivalent Services."

In the context of the Child Protection Hotline (CPH), a situation which meets the criteria for an Immediate Response (IR).

Component of pre-placement preventive services designed to provide time-limited protective services to prevent or remedy neglect, abuse or exploitation and the separation of the children from their families.
See "Family Maintenance."

Child care services provided in the home of the child. In-home childcare services are exempt from state licensure.

The provision of temporary care to a child(ren) in his or her own home for less than 24 consecutive hours in lieu of out-of-home placement when a parent/guardian is unable to care for the child(ren) because of an

absence or illness and there is no caretaker available to provide necessary care. Parental consent is required prior to the provision of services. In-home emergency caretakers do not provide routine, ongoing child day care. In the FPP, this service will be provided by the CFPN and in emergency situations, shall be available 24 hours a day, seven days per week.

See "Family Preservation Program."

A court ruling that holds that statements of children included in a CSW’s social study report are admissible evidence at the jurisdictional hearing to prove the truth of the petition allegations.

A court ruling that holds that if a child is called as a witness in the jurisdictional hearing and fails to qualify as a competent witness, then the court should presume that the child was incompetent at the time he or she made the statements in the social study report, and therefore strike the statements from the report.

Reasonable rewards provided by Independent Living Program for eligible youths to motivate them to participate in and successfully complete independent living training.

See "Preponderance of Evidence Model (POEM)."

In the context of protective service childcare, a family’s adjusted monthly income is at or below 75% of the state median income, adjusted for family size.

See "Family Preservation Program."

A report, which is determined by the investigator, who conducted the investigation not to be unfounded, but in, which the findings are inconclusive and there, is insufficient evidence to determine whether child abuse or neglect occurred. Replaces the previous term of "unsubstantiated."

The adoption of a child in which neither CDSS nor an agency licensed by CDSS, such as DCFS, is a party to, or joins in, the petition for adoption.

The person(s) who has petitioned to adopt a child in an independent adoption (see definition).

A federal program designed to help current and former foster youth, ages 16-21, prepare for and succeed in the many challenges of adulthood and independence. Any youth between the ages of 16 and 21 who is currently in foster care or has been in foster care as a dependent youth (DCFS) or ward of the court (Probation) is eligible for a wide range of assistance, including, but not limited to, educational/vocational expenses, job start-up expenses, and housing start-up expenses. The Independent Living Program offers living and job skill classes, funding for college or trade school, start-up work clothes, uniforms, tools, union dues, etc. ILP services may also be provided to former foster youth up to age 21. See "Independent Living Program (ILP) Equivalent Services."

A program similar to DCFS’ Independent Living Program (ILP) at a high school. The classes are offered under the title of Life Skills (or something similar) at local high schools. For developmentally disabled children, this means a sheltered workshop situation or other program designed for developmentally disabled children. For seriously emotionally disturbed children, this means a day treatment or other mental health treatment program designed to assist the child to live independently.

A thorough medical examination of the child and review of the medical records by a physician. This physician should not be affiliated with the hospital or the doctor providing care to the child. Based upon the information derived from the examination and review of medical records, the physician provides a reasonable medical judgment regarding the diagnosis and prognosis.

An unmarried person under 18 years of age who is a member of an Indian tribe, who is eligible for tribal membership, who is the biological child of a tribe member, or who is an Alaskan Native.

The Indian tribe in which an Indian child is or is eligible to be a member; or, in the case of an Indian child who is a member of or is eligible to be a member in more than one tribe, the Indian tribe with which the Indian child has the more significant contacts. See "Indian Child."

See "Child Health and Disability Prevention (CHDP) Program."

An individualized education program is for children with identified special educational needs. The IEP is developed by an individualized education program team. It contains a written statement for each child which must include the child’s present levels of performance, annual goals, specific special education and related services to be provided anticipated initiation of and duration of the services, and appropriate objective criteria and evaluation procedures.

Includes all of the following: School administrator or designee; teacher; child; child’s parent, legal guardian, and assessment team representatives as appropriate. "Expanded IEP Team" adds a mental health program representative to the IEP team.

Children age 0 - 23 months.

Supervision pursuant to WIC Section 301 used in lieu of filing a petition with the dependency court or subsequent to the dismissal of a petition. A contract is entered into with the parent(s)/guardian(s) in which the goals are the protection of the child(ren) who has been neglected or abused and the amelioration of the conditions, which resulted in the neglect or abuse. These services are limited to six months and may be extended for one six-month period if it can be shown that the objectives of the service plan can be achieved within the extended time period. No further child welfare services will be provided subsequent to these time

limits. If the family has refused to cooperation with the services being provided, a WIC 300 petition may be filed. See "Voluntary Family Maintenance."

Inquiries to the Child Protection Hotline in which the staff answer question and provide information and referrals to individuals in the community. Examples of information calls include requests from mandated reporters for Suspected Child Abuse Report forms, names of case-carrying CSWs and referrals for child care, legal guardianship, foster care licensing, counseling agencies and parenting groups.

The Division within the Department of Children and Family Services which has global Departmental responsibility for developing, maintaining and supporting all computer systems and network infrastructures.

A decision based on sufficient information to calculate whether the expected benefits outweigh the expected risks.

See "Child Health and Disability Prevention (CHDP) Program."

The first face-to-face contact, or series of contacts, made by the CSW with the referred child, any child in the family or household believed to be at risk, collateral contacts, and parents/legal guardians in order to determine the child’s need for child welfare services. See "attempted response," and "completed response."

In the context of the Child Protection Hotline (CPH) referral assignment criteria, a person residing in a hospital, jail, prison, homeless shelter, residential school, rehabilitation center, half-way house, out-of-home facility, etc.

For eligibility and payment purposes, the county with legal custody of a child by court order, relinquishment, or by voluntary placement agreement is responsible for the AFDC-FC payment regardless of where the child is physically placed (i.e., in state or out-of-state).

A legally binding agreement between states/jurisdictions which establishes procedures for the interstate placement of children. Placing a child in another state without an approved ICPC is a violation of federal law.

1. Member State

   A state which is a member of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children. All 50 states and the Virgin Islands are members of the Compact. The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and Guam are not members.

2. Sending a Child

   Any situation in which DCFS participates in the planning or action to send a child to another state for the purpose of out-of-home placement, even if only to the extent of taking the child to the airport when a ticket has been purchased by the parent. For dependent children, this includes the recommendation to the court that a child reside with a party whose residence is out of state, even if that person is in California at the time of the hearing or will come to California to get the child.

3. Multidisciplinary Team

   A county team composed of DCFS, DMH, Probation, County Superintendent of Schools and other members as determined by the county for the purpose of assessing a child’s need for an out-of-state group home placement,

4. Priority Placement

In the context of allegations of abuse and/or neglect in out-of-home care, the activity by a child protective agency in response to a report of suspected child abuse or violation of CCLD standards including required cross-reporting; assessing the nature and seriousness of the abuse; conducting interviews; gathering and preserving evidence; determining the nature of the report as founded, unfounded or unsubstantiated; taking measures to ensure the safety of the child; notifying involved parties regarding action taken or disposition after completion of investigation and notifying mandated reporters as required by Section 11170 of the Penal Code.

In the context of investigating allegations of abuse and/or neglect in out-of-home care, the temporary suspension of all new DCFS placements into a facility pending investigation by DCFS, law enforcement or CCLD into allegations of abuse, neglect or exploitation.

See "Intercounty Transfer."

See "Information Technology Services."