Your Easy Guide to Understanding Foster Care and Adoption Terms

For experienced and novice foster and adoptive parents, industry terms are always evolving. Just when we think we've mastered all the latest foster care acronyms, another emerges. Foster care and adoption sometimes seem to have their own language, which we hear at meetings, court hearings, parent visits, and even school enrollments.

A terminology primer will help you learn about the many foster care services for children, young adults, and families. Child care services include medical care, education, and support for every child in the foster care system. This includes counseling and therapeutic services in cases of child abuse or neglect.

Foster case managers in the child welfare system help eligible young adults find independent living services. They find child care facilities for youth in foster care when family-based care is not available. They also find adoptive families for children who can't rejoin their biological family.

Social resources for children and families extend to help people with disabilities and support high achievers. They also provide financial assistance to help families afford licensed child care. With the many facets of foster care and adoption resources, it's no wonder parents encounter so many new terms.

This new language of foster terms can feel overwhelming to prospective or newly licensed parents. Here is a glossary of common words used in foster care and adoption. Use this new understanding of child welfare terms and feel confident to join the conversation.

Parent's Guide to Learning the Foster Care & Adoption Lingo

Adoption Assistance 

One-time or ongoing payments for services provided to adoptive parents to support a child who has special needs. States may adjust this type of subsidy based on the number of children or the level of support needed.

Adoption Assistance-Maintenance

Subsidy of adoption assistance payments that provide financial or medical support for families whose adopted child needs ongoing care. In some states, this may be consistent with the cost of foster care maintenance.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) 

Highly stressful or traumatic childhood events that correlate to future development and prevalence of physical health problems. In foster care, ACES may include cases of physical and mental abuse and neglect.

Children’s Residential Facility

Facility, institution, or group home that takes in children separated from their biological parents or guardians. This type of foster care facility provides full-time care, maintenance protection, and guidance for resident children.

Congregate Care

Child placement into a licensed or approved group home, child care center, or institutional setting. Congregate care facilities accommodate groups of kids separated from their family, foster, or other homes. Examples include specialized childcare institutions, residential treatment facilities, and maternity homes.

Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)

Sworn child-advocate volunteers who serve as juvenile court-appointed officers in most states. CASA volunteers interact with foster children and represent their voices in court proceedings. They advocate on behalf of foster children, especially those who have experienced abuse or neglect.

Emergency Placement

The urgent and unplanned placement of a child into temporary foster home care while Child Welfare assesses future needs. Typically, children who receive Emergency Placement require immediate removal for their safety. Foster parents who accept this type of placement have passed a background check and met all state foster care requirements.

Enhanced Maintenance Payment

In some states, foster or adoptive parents receive financial assistance to offset basic or essential childcare expenses. 'Enhanced' maintenance payments indicate any level of financial subsidy that exceeds the minimum or basic level.

Family Partnership Meeting (FPM)

A child welfare approach where family members and child advocates work together to make decisions for foster children. FPMs use trained facilitators separate from the family's social services worker.

Guardian ad Litem (GAL)

A judge-appointed lawyer to help the court understand what is best for each child and make independent recommendations.

Independent Living Programs/Services (ILP/ILS)

Services that provide older foster youth a form of state-specific independent living or training opportunity. Kids in ILPs may reside in shared apartments and attend academic classes, training, or other independent living preparation.

Intensive In-home Services (IIH)

Clinical staff services that assess and support children at risk of out-of-home placement. Risk factors often include behavioral, mental health, or substance abuse problems.

Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC)

Federal law that applies to the legal transport of children placed into foster or adoptive care across state lines. It ensures protection and services in all 50 states, the Virgin Islands, and Washington D.C. The child's home state typically coordinates the administrative process.

Kinship Guardianship/Care

Temporary foster care provided by relatives or close family friends of a foster child. The United States child welfare system prioritizes efforts to preserve the family unit and community-based living for kids. Kids who enter foster care with willing family members or close care contacts may experience less overall disruption.

Maintenance 

Payments to offset basic living expenses for foster or adopted children as determined by applicable states. These may include money toward the purchase of food, clothing, housing, childcare, school supplies, or other costs.

Normalcy

The totality of supports that help kids in foster care experience life in a similar way to that of their peers. The idea of 'normalcy' for foster kids may include living in a caring family home, attending school and activities, making friends, and making age-appropriate decisions.

Relinquishment Papers

Legal papers that end biological parents' legal authority over their child and pass it on to adoptive parent(s).

Respite Foster Care

Temporary foster care that provides a break for primary caregivers by giving short-term support from licensed foster providers. Foster parents can plan this relief in advance or call for care with little notice, such as for family emergencies.

Termination of Parental Rights (TPR)

Legal severance of a parent's rights to custody and authority over their child. This removal of rights extends to legal benefits associated with the child, including inheritance. Foster children whose legal parents have their parental rights terminated may become eligible for adoption. Typically, states mandate a foster placement period of six months before adoption to assess and confirm the best family fit.

Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC)

Provides a foster home with customized support for children who have emotional, behavioral, or mental health needs. TFC provides a nurturing home for kids who have experienced trauma and require therapy, medicine, or support.

Trauma-informed Practice

Child welfare procedures and training that recognizes signs of trauma and provides post-trauma paths for support and recovery. Recognizing the trauma common among foster children, foster parent training takes a trauma-informed approach.

Putting New Foster Knowledge to Use

The interests of the child form the basis for support services in foster care. Children in foster care or their foster families may receive them. With this glossary of terms for reference, you will be better equipped to understand your foster child's needs. The more you understand, the better you will be able to support foster youth and their families with knowledge and care.

For additional resources, take a moment to browse our library of blogs on foster care and adoption topics. You can also review resources available in your state and check out FAQs from other aspiring foster parents.