In the context of foster care and adoptive placement decisions, any of the different varieties of populations of human beings distinguished by physical traits.

See "Substance Abuse Testing."

See "Runaway Adolescent Project."

In adoption home study procedures, the sending by Community Care Licensing Division of subsequent arrest information to the CSW regarding a licensed foster parent, when the foster parent when (s)he applies to adopt the child residing in his or her home. This service is continued until the adoption finalizes, the child has been removed from the home, the adoption home study has been denied or the petition to adopt has been granted.

For Protective Services child care purposes, the State-approved amount that can be paid for each type of child care. The rate structure is based on the State Regional Market Rates.

To move or shift the clothing (e.g., raise shirt sleeves or pant legs, to allow for a better visual examination of an identified child victim).

Services provided or offered to the family to prevent removal of the child(ren) from the home or to reunify the family. If the child(ren) was removed, the case plan must be designed to aid the parent(s) in overcoming the problems, which led to the initial removal.

In the context of the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act, an objectively reasonable suspicion, based upon facts that could cause a reasonable person in a like position, drawing when appropriate on his or her training and experience, to suspect child abuse.

In the context of the case plan update, the process of evaluating the effectiveness of the plan made to solve the problem of neglect, abuse or exploitation in terms of how results related to the stated goals and objectives.

See "Vital Records."

In the context of the Adoption Assistance Program (AAP) and Aid for the Adoption of Children Program (AAC), the process by which the adoption agency verifies that the adoptive parent remains legally responsible for the child and continues to provide the child financial support. In addition, the agency and the adoptive parent determine whether there are any changes in either the child’s needs or the adoptive parent’s circumstances, which affect eligibility for and/or duration of and/or amount of adoption assistance payments.

A basic unit of organization in CWS/CMS, created when an allegation of child abuse or neglect is reported. A referral includes at a minimum one reporter making at least one allegation of abuse or neglect concerning at least one child victim, and a named or unnamed perpetrator. Allegation of child abuse and/or neglect. Referrals are designated as "Immediate Response," "Within Five Days," "follow-up," or are "Evaluated Out" by the Child Protection Hotline based on criteria established in state regulations.

Note: Initial contact must take place within the following time frames:

1. "Immediate" means the assigned CSW must initiate the response at the first possible opportunity and no later than 5:00 p.m. on the same day the referral was received by the DCFS CPH. IRs assigned to an ERCP CSW must be initiated at the first possible opportunity and prior to the end of his or her shift.
2. "Within Five Days" means that the assigned CSW must initiate the response at the first possible opportunity, and no later than 5:00 p.m. on the 5th calendar day following the receipt of the referral, counting the day the referral was received by the DCFS CPH as day one. This category includes those referrals in which an immediate response is not required but a response is needed at a specified time prior to the 5^th calendar day.
3. "Follow-up" means it was an immediate response completed by ERCP and sent to the region for follow-up action.
4. "Evaluated Out" means a referral does not require an in-person investigation.

An activity to inform another service agency that a child and/or the child’s family desire or requires that agency’s services, and to assist the child and/or family to avail themselves of such services.

In the context of Protective Services childcare, a 28-day limited payment authorization for license-exempt family child care homes and in-home providers. Registration consists of the provider providing his or her

name and address, date of birth, social security number, amount of services to be provided and rates to be charged.

A method by which a party to an order of the court requests that a judge of the dependency court reevaluate an order or decision previously made by a referee or commissioner:

See "Victims of Crime/Victims of Crime Program."

A step-grandparent is considered related to a child only if (s)he is the spouse, widow(er) or divorced spouse of a biological grandparent. A great-great-great grandparent, great-great uncle or aunt, or first cousin once removed (children of grand aunt/uncle or children of first cousin) are related in the fifth degree.

When a parent’s rights to a child are terminated by a relinquishment or by court action, that parent and his or her relatives are no longer considered to be the child’s relative. However, a former relative’s home is an AFDC-FC eligible facility if the child is federally eligible.

The return of a child who had been taken into temporary custody to the care of his or her parent (custodial or non-custodial) or legal guardian, either by court order or at DCFS’ discretion.

A child is considered "released" if (s)he is allowed to remain in the home of his or her parent(s)/legal guardian(s) after a detained or non-detained petition has been filed in dependency court.

The action of a parent to legally surrender custody, control and any responsibility for the care and support of the child to a licensed adoption agency.

In the context of a dependency court proceeding, a court order that takes away care, custody and control of a dependent child or ward from the child’s parent or guardian, and places the care, custody, and control of the child with the court, under the supervision of the agency responsible for the administration of child welfare or the county probation department.

See "Youakim."

Money issued via CWS/CMS to a foster caregiver to purchase clothing for a child who does not have sufficient and/or serviceable clothing at the time of a replacement. This clothing allowance can be issued only when the child is removed from one foster placement (foster family home, relative, foster family agency [FFA] or group home) and placed in another. It cannot be issued for a child who is removed from one FFA-certified home to another certified home of the same FFA. It cannot be issued for a child who remains in the same home.

In the context of the Child Protection Hotline (CPH), a person who is making a referral is alleging child abuse, neglect or exploitation.

In the context of the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act, a law enforcement or public child protection agency that is mandated by law to supply the Department of Justice (DOJ) with a report regarding abuse and/or neglect of a child. The reporting agency is to also supply DOJ with a disposition of its findings regarding any suspected child abuse or neglect, i.e., substantiated, unsubstantiated or unfounded.

A call made by a person who is reporting child abuse, neglect or exploitation. See "Consultation Call."

Located at MacLaren Children’s Center (MCC), the Unit is responsible for coordinating placement services to divert potential MCC intakes to other out-of-home care facilities. When a child goes into placement, this unit takes on the role of liaison between the CSW, the child and the community placement social worker.

A provision of pre-arranged child care designed to provide a needed brief period of relief or rest, either in-home or out-of-home, to parent(s), foster parents and foster-care-eligible relatives.

In the context of the Child Protection Hotline (CPH), DCFS may "respond" to a referral in three ways:

1. Completing the emergency response protocol and evaluating-out the referral; or

2. Completing the emergency response protocol, accepting the referral and conducting an immediate in-person investigation; or,

3. Completing the emergency response protocol, accepting the referral and conducting a Within 5 Days in person investigation.

An order issued by the court, which enjoins a person from engaging in a specified behavior or activity, limits the distance a person may approach a specific location and/or person, or excludes a person from a specific dwelling or place of business. See "Emergency Protective Order."

See "Hearings WIC Section 366.3."

The process by which DCFS determines the level of endangerment to a child alleged or known to be the victim of abuse, neglect or exploitation. The phases of risk assessment are:

1. Investigation, in which DCFS gathers all available data relevant to the allegation;
2. Evaluation, in which the data are analyzed; and
3. Decision, in which DCFS determines whether or not an in-person investigation is required and, if so, within what time frame the investigation shall be made.

See "At-Risk/High-Risk Children."

In the context of out-of-home care, a DCFS-supervised youth residing in out-of-home care who leaves his or her out-of-home care placement, day or night, without official permission.

In the context of in-home care, a DCFS-supervised youth who leaves his or her home, day or night, without parental permission.

A DCFS unit providing generic child protective services to adolescents who are not living at home.