The Complete Adoption & Family Building Glossary

Adoption & Family Building Glossary of Terms

The world of adoption has evolved greatly over its history, and the terminology is changing significantly with it.

For those new to adoption and family-building, we invite you to familiarize yourself with the language used…you’ll start hearing many of these terms a lot throughout your adoption journey!

A

adoptee

A person who joins a family via adoption.

adoption agency

An organization that is licensed to prepare families to adopt children and to do all the necessary legal, administrative and social work to ensure that adoptions are efficiently handled and are in the best interests of the children.

Adoption Assistance Programs (AAP)

Federally funded state administered subsidy program for special needs children who might otherwise remain in long term foster care.

Adoption scam

In an adoption scam, a woman will reach out to an adoptive family or adoption professional with no proof of pregnancy, with false proof of pregnancy or with no intention of actually making an adoption plan and will request emotional and financial support.

To learn more about adoption scams, red flags to look out for and how to safely connect, check out Lessons Learned: What One Adoption Scam Can Teach Us All.

Adoption Service Provider (ASP)

A licensed agency or individual who is State certified to assist birth parents and adoptive parents with the placement of a child in an Independent Adoption.

adopting parent

A person or persons who are in the legal process of adopting an infant or child.

adoptive parent

A person or persons who become the permanent parents with all the social, legal rights and responsibilities incumbent upon any parent.

advocacy

Active support, defense, arguing for a cause, idea, or policy. As a prospective adoptive parent, you are encouraged to become your own advocate as you are navigating your way through the adoption process, acquiring the skills and knowledge to be an active participant in moving the process along. These advocacy skills will continue to be valuable after placement, to ensure that the adopted child receives needed services, such as medical care and appropriate educational placement.

affidavit

A legal document in which the party who makes it swears that the information contained in the document is true and correct to the best of his or her knowledge.

agency adoption

Adoption is facilitated by a State Licensed Agency that provides counseling to birthparents, home studies to prospective adoptive parents, relinquishment services and post-placement programs for triad members. These Agencies may also provide Intercountry and Special Needs adoption services.

adoption benefits

Benefits to employees who are adopting a child or children, offered by some employers. They may include adoption information and referral services, paid or unpaid leave time, and/or financial reimbursement.

Your employer doesn’t currently provide adoption benefits? PairTree will contact your HR department for you. Fill out our Adoption-Focused Employer Benefits form to get started.

adoption certificate, adoption decree

An adoption certificate may also be called an adoption decree. A legal document issued by the court upon finalization of an adoption that certifies a child has been adopted, the adoption has been finalized, and the adoptee is the legal child of the adoptive parents.

adoption triad

The triad consists of three parts: birth parents, adoptive parents, and the adopted child. The symbol is represented in three different parts, with each coming together to intertwine a triangle with a heart. Each part of the triad is a corner of the triangle with the adopted child at the very top. Often referred to as the adoption constellation to encompass everyone that participates in the adoption process - social worker, agency, attorney, birth family, adoptive family, etc.

Apgar scores

Apgar scores or Apgars are the results of a series of brief tests given to newborn infants. Five areas are tested, with two points given in each area. For an infant in good condition, the highest possible score is ten. The areas tested are heart rate, respiration, muscle tone, reflexes and color. Scores are generally taken at one minute and five minutes after birth.

Approved, home study

A family approved to adopt is one that has completed the home study process and for whom the home study document has been written or updated, signed, and dated within the past year (or other period specified by the state in which the family lives).

available

Refers to a child who is currently in need of an adoptive family and ready to begin the adoption process as soon as a family is located. Many in the adoption community prefer the more positive terms "ready for adoption" or "child in need of a family." This term is most often used in the foster care community.

B

biological

In the adoption community, the term biological is often used to describe a genetic relationship between individuals. Since all people are actually "biological," many prefer to use other words to describe these relations, such as "birth children" or "children who were born to you" instead of "your biological children."

birth certificate (amended)

The document issued after a child has been adopted reflecting the adoptive parents as the child's parents.

birth certificate (original)

A certified document, usually obtained only through a government agency, which indicates the birth information of a person including mother's and father's name and the name given to the child at the time of birth, as well as the date and place of birth.

Learn more about the fight for access to adoptees’ original birth certificates.

birth father

The biological father of a child, as opposed to an adoptive father. In the adoption process, a birth father must relinquish his parental rights, although the legal process varies by state.

birth mother

The biological mother of a child, as opposed to an adoptive mother. In the adoption process, a birth mother has made an adoption plan and subsequently relinquished the child for adoption.

Find resources for expectant moms, birth moms, and adoptive parents who would like to understand more about the birth mother’s experience.

birth family, birth relatives

An individual's relatives by birth, as opposed to relatives in the family that adopted that individual. Birth families include extended families as well as birth parents and siblings.

birth order

The order in which children in a family were born. Each child has a place in the birth order (first child, youngest daughter, etc.) and adopting a child or children may change that order.

C

closed adoption

A closed adoption is an adoption in which no identifying information about the birth family or the adoptive family is shared, and there is no contact between birth parents and adoptive parents. The adoptive family usually receives non-identifying information about the child and the birth family before placement. In a closed adoption, after finalization, the records are sealed and typically are not available to the adopted child. Was also called traditional adoption in the past

PairTree note: Today, over 90% of all adoptions have some degree of openness. Learn more about navigating open adoption.

CPS

Child Protective Services. A branch of the Department of Human Services, or other similar governmental department, which has responsibility for ensuring that children are protected from abuse, neglect, and dangerous or unhealthy living conditions. When these conditions exist, or when a birth parent is no longer able to care for a child or children, Child Protective Services is responsible for making an appropriate foster care arrangement and continued follow-up.

CWLA

Child Welfare League of America

caseworker

A social worker who is responsible for working on a particular client's (family or dependent child's) case (affairs, needs, circumstances, problems, plans, and general well-being, and the records kept on these).

child abuse clearances

Similar to criminal clearances, this is a method of checking to see if a person has a history of child abuse. This is used as part of the approval process for prospective adoptive parents. In some states there is a central registry where the names of all known child abusers are kept on file. A prospective parent (or employee) must complete a form and submit it to this registry and the registry will send back information indicating that the person is either clear or has a record. These clearances must be updated annually as part of the annual updating of a home study.

confidential information

In adoption, this usually refers to private information about a child or child's birth family, which is not shared with the general public and may be only partially shared with the adoptive family. Confidential information might include the birth parents last names, addresses, names and addresses of siblings, reasons why the child came into placement, information about physical or sexual abuse, birth parents' history of substance abuse, criminal history, reasons child moved from previous foster or adoptive homes, and in-depth information about the child's disabilities.

confidentiality

Protection of one's personal identifying information, or other information of a personal nature. Adoption agencies may not disclose identifying information about any client to any other source except in special circumstances as described in licensing regulations (such as when there is a child abuse allegation).

consent to adoption

Consent to adoption may refer to a legal document signed by the birth parents to give legal intent to their desire for the adoption of their child, or a document issued by the adoption agency allowing the adoptive family to finalize the adoption after all agency and legal requirements have been met.

May also be called an Act of Surrender, Relinquishment or Termination of Parental Rights.

cooperative adoption

An open adoption or cooperative adoption allows for varying degrees of communication between the birth family, adoptees, and adoptive parents. This can range from picture and letter sharing, to phone calls to contact through an intermediary, and open contact between the parties themselves. Many adoptions of older children and teens are at least partially open, since the children may know identifying or contact information about members of their birth families, or may want to stay in touch with siblings placed separately.

counseling

A process through which a person can receive assistance in sorting out issues and reaching decisions appropriate to their life circumstances. Counseling for adoption should be done by trained, experienced, adoption counselors. Birth Parent counseling should involve exploration of all options, including parenting the child, kinship adoption, foster care and various types of adoptions, and should be a part of the adoption of any newborn infant.

criminal clearances (background checks)

Similar to child abuse clearances, this is a method of checking through the state police department to determine if a person has a criminal record. The state supplies forms and the clearances must be updated on an annual basis. In adoptions, all adults living in a household must obtain criminal and child abuse clearances prior to a child being placed in that home.

custody

The legal responsibility for the care and maintenance of a child. Custody can be awarded by the court to an agency, such as a department of children and youth services, or to an individual. A department of children and youth services may assign this responsibility to another agency (known as a provider agency) while retaining legal custody of a child. Child welfare departments retain legal custody for children who are in foster care or pre-adoptive homes.

D

designated/identified adoptions

Process in which birth parents choose the individual or couple who will adopt their child and designates the placement of the child while still having the benefits of an agency-assisted adoption.

disruption

A disrupted adoption occurs when a child leaves the adoptive home prior to the finalization of the adoption. This can occur in three situations: (1) In a legal risk adoption, usually involving a newborn infant, the birth parents revoke their consent to the adoption, during the time period when this is still possible; (2) The adoptive parents choose not to continue with their plan to parent the child for reasons of their own; or (3) The agency disrupts the adoption if the adoptive parents are not complying with post-placement requirements or are endangering the child in some way.

dissolution

Similar to disruption, a dissolution is sometimes called a failed adoption (we hate the term failed adoption!). In a dissolution a child leaves the adoptive home after the adoption has been finalized. Once it has been finalized, birthparents cannot dissolve an adoption, but adoptive parents or the courts may be able to in extreme circumstances.

domestic adoption

An adoption within the same country in which the adoptive parents reside; the adoption of a U.S. child by a family residing in the United States.

dual licensing

Some agencies are authorized to approve a family for both foster parenting and adoption. When an agency provides dual licensing, foster parents and adoptive parents go through the same home study training and background check processes, and in the end receive approval to provide foster and/or adoptive care.

E

Expectant mom

Expectant mother is used to describe a woman who is currently pregnant. She has not given birth yet. When discussing adoption, the term expectant mother is used to describe someone who has not yet decided to place their baby for adoption. An expectant mother is still making decisions regarding the future of her child.

F

FBI clearances (background checks)

Similar to criminal clearances, this is a method of checking through the Federal Bureau of Investigation to see if a person has a criminal record. In addition to completing an information form, the person must be fingerprinted. There is a fee for FBI clearances, and they must be updated annually. They are not required in every state.

failed adoption

Similar to disruption, a dissolution is sometimes called a failed adoption. In a dissolution, a child leaves the adoptive home after the adoption has been finalized. Once it has been finalized, birthparents cannot dissolve an adoption, but adoptive parents or the courts may be able to in extreme circumstances.

Preferred language: Disrupted Placement (Adoption) - A birth family choosing to parent is not a failure.

failed placement

Sometimes called failed placement, disruption occurs when a child leaves the adoptive home prior to the finalization of the adoption. This can occur in three situations: (1) In a legal risk adoption, usually involving a newborn infant, the birth parents revoke their consent to the adoption, during the time period when this is still possible; (2) The adoptive parents choose not to continue with their plan to parent the child for reasons of their own; or (3) The agency disrupts the adoption if the adoptive parents are not complying with post-placement requirements or are endangering the child in some way.

Preferred language: Disrupted Placement (Adoption) - A birth family choosing to parent is not a failure.

family preparation class

A family preparation class or parenting preparation class is a class taken by prospective adoptive parents, usually as part of the home study process. Many states and/or agencies require a particular kind of training.

PairTree partners with Creating a Family to offer unlimited, lifetime education with every home study package.

fees

Charges made by an adoption agency to prospective adoptive parents. Some agencies use a sliding scale, according to a family's ability to pay; most allow fees to be paid in installments. While private agencies usually charge fees for infant and international adoptions, few, if any, fees are charged by public agencies for adopting American children and teens.

fee affidavit

A document submitted with a Petition for Adoption and with an ICPC packet declaring all expenses incurred and paid during the adoption process. This includes home study fees, agency fees, consultant or matching fees, birth parent expenses, legal fees, medical expenses, etc. Also called an Affidavit of Expenses or Fee Disclosure.

finalization

The legal process which transfers custody of a child from the adoption agency to the adoptive parents. In a court hearing, an attorney represents the family and presents the case to the judge, resulting in the adoption decree. This is the moment when the adoptee becomes the permanent, legally adopted child of the adoptive parents. This process cannot occur until the adoptive parents have had the child in their home for the time determined by state statute (usually at least 6 months).

financial assistance

Many children are entitled to state or federal adoption assistance payments, also called financial assistance or subsidy. These payments are based on a child's needs or eligibility and not on the family's income. They provide a check for the child each month until the child reaches age 19 (sometimes age 21). Adoptive families may also be eligible for other resources to finance an adoption.

Learn more about the Federal Adoption Tax Credit and see if you qualify. For adoptions finalized in 2023, there is a federal adoption tax credit of up to $15,950 per child!

FMLA

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), signed into law in 1993, provides certain employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year, for certain family and medical reasons, including the placement of a child with an employee for adoption or foster care. Employers covered by the law include federal, state and local public agencies, schools, and workplaces with 50 or more employees. Eligible employees must have worked for that employer for at least 12 months. The law also requires that group health benefits be maintained during the leave.

Visit the U.S. Department of Labor website to view the FMLA compliance guide online.

foster adoption, foster-to-adopt

A form of adoption in which a child is placed into a home as a foster child, with the expectation that the child will become legally free for adoption and be adopted by the foster parents.

Explore resources for foster adoption from the Child Welfare Information Gateway.

H

homefinder

Title used in some jurisdictions for an adoption social worker who completes family home studies and serves as the family's advocate in the adoption process.

home study

The process of assessing and preparing a family for adoption. It is used to determine the family's suitability to adopt and the type of child whose needs would be best met by that family. The home study includes written materials, individual or group meetings with a social worker, and education about adoption and parenting issues.

Home Study also refers to the written document, completed by a licensed agency, which is the end result of this process. Sometimes called a family profile or an adoption study, it gives a summary of the applicant's family life. This document indicates approval of the applicant for adoption and clarifies what type of child the applicant is approved to adopt. It must be updated annually. Most agencies require different home studies for foster care and adoption.

PairTree partners with licensed, ethical home study providers in your state! Get the home study process started.

hospital plan

An adoption hospital plan is a birth plan created by a woman who is considering placing her baby for adoption. This will include information such as: who is in the delivery room, who is naming the baby, whether or not the adoptive parents will be allowed at the hospital, etc.

We offer insight on the hospital experience in Hospital Etiquette at Birth.

I

ICPC

Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children (ICPC) A set of laws governing the movement of a child born in one state but being adopted by a family in another. For the purposes of an adoption, it is illegal to move a child across state lines without meeting the requirements of the ICPC. The documentation submitted to the ICPC for approval includes the adoptive parents home study, the child's birth information and other health information, biological information on the birth parents, and relinquishment or termination documentation from the birth parents. The ICPC offices review the documentations to verify that their state laws have been complied with. The ICPC also ensures that proper post-placement supervision has been arranged in the family's home state.

ICPC 100A Form

ICPC Form 100A is the Interstate Compact Placement Request. In an interstate adoption, this form must be completed by the child's agency to comply with requirements of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children.

ICPC 100B Form

ICPC form 100B is the Interstate Compact Report on Child's Placement Status. In an interstate adoption, this form must be completed by the family's agency to comply with requirements of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children

ICWA

The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) is a federal law passed in 1978 that protects the rights of Native American children, families, and tribes. In accordance with this act, when placing a Native American child for adoption, preference must be given to an extended family member, a member of the tribe, or an adoptive family of Native American heritage. The tribe has the right to make decisions regarding a child's placement, which may include placing a child with non-Native Americans if there is no other resource. For more information visit the website of The National Indian Child Welfare Association at www.nicwa.org.

As of May 2023, in a 7-2 decision, the United States Supreme Court decided to uphold the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA.) Passed in 1978, ICWA gives preference to the relatives and tribes of Native children in foster care or adoption proceedings. ICWA was passed to put a stop to the Indian Adoption Project of the 1960’s, and keep native children connected to their communities while protecting tribal sovereignty.

identified adoption

An identified adoption may also be called a parent initiated adoption. In this type of adoption, the adoptive parents and birth parents identify, find, or already know each other, and then use the services of an adoption agency or an independent adoption social worker or other facilitator, to arrange and finalize the adoption.

identifying information

Information which discloses an individual's identity, such as last name, address, social security number, or detailed family history. When families are recruited for a child in need of adoption, identifying information about the child is typically kept private. In a closed adoption, no identifying information about either set of parents is shared with the other.

independent adoption

Independent adoptions, also known as private adoptions, are arranged through an intermediary such as a lawyer, physician, or other facilitator, rather than through a licensed adoption agency. Usually independent adoptions involve infants who are healthy or believed to be healthy. Children adopted through independent adoptions are not usually eligible for adoption assistance for special needs that may not have been noticeable at birth. Private adoptions should not be confused with private agency adoptions.

intent to adopt petition

An adoption petition or intent to adopt petition is a brief document which gives identifying information about the adoptive parents and the child to be adopted. This, together with the adoptive parents' home study, is filed with the court to initiate adoption proceedings.

interjurisdictional adoption

Jurisdictions are specific areas such as states or counties which may have adoption laws or policies that are particular to that area. An interjurisdictional adoption is one in which the child to be adopted and the adoptive parent live in different jurisdictions, such as different counties or states.

interracial

The term interracial refers to a couple, family, or other group which includes individuals who are members of different races. This differs from the term biracial, which refers to an individual whose racial heritage includes two different races.

interstate adoption

An interstate adoption is the adoption of a child who is a resident of one state by individuals who are residents of another state.

involuntary termination of parental rights

A legal procedure through which the legal rights of birth parents to parent a child are terminated by the court without the signed consents of the birthparents. Circumstances for such proceedings include abandonment and repeated or severe abuse or neglect of the child.

K

kinship adoption

A kinship or relative adoption is one in which the adoptive parents are relatives who are biologically related to the child to be adopted, such as a grandparent, aunt, or cousin. In kinship adoption, as opposed to kinship care, the relatives legally adopt the child.

kinship care

A relative placement or kinship care occurs when a child is placed in the care of birth family members, members of their tribes or clans, godparents, stepparents, or other adults who have a kinship bond with the child. This may be an informal agreement among the parties, a formal foster care placement made with the assistance of a public agency, or a pre-adoptive placement. The relatives may be awarded custody or legal guardianship by the court. When an agency is involved in a formal foster care placement, the relative may be entitled to the same benefits and support as other foster care parents.

L

legal guardianship

A guardian is a person who fulfills some of the responsibilities of a legal parent while the courts or birth parents may continue to hold other legal responsibilities for the child. Guardianship is subject to ongoing supervision by the court and ends by court order or when the child reaches the age of majority. Guardianship may be used as an alternative to adoption in some kinship care situations in which a child's relative is assuming a parental role but prefers not to adopt. In some states, such guardians are entitled to the same benefits as foster or adoptive parents.

legally free

A child is legally free for adoption when that child's birth parents' parental rights have been terminated in a court of law.

life book, life story book

A journal or scrapbook which provides a chronicle of a child's life story and personal history. A social worker, therapist, foster parent or adoptive parent can help a child to make a life book. It can then serve as a therapeutic tool to help facilitate the child's identity formation and understanding of adoption, and also provides a way to share parts of the child's life not spent with the current parents.

M

MEPA

A federal law, the Multi-Ethnic Placement Act (MEPA) of 1994, prohibits the denial or delay of a child's placement in a home due to the child's or adoptive family's race, color, or national origin.

The law states that any person or government involved in adoption or foster care placements may not "deny to any person the opportunity to become an adoptive or foster parent, on the basis of the race, color, or national origin of the person or the child involved." The law also states that any person or government involved in adoption or foster care placements may not "delay or deny the placement of a child for adoption or into foster care, on the basis of race, color, or national origin of the adoptive or foster parent, or the child involved." In addition, the law requires child welfare service agencies to "provide for the diligent recruitment of potential foster and adoptive families that reflects the ethnic and racial diversity of children in the state for whom foster and adoptive homes are needed."

The Multiethnic Placement Act was amended in 1996 by the addition of the Interethnic Adoption Provisions. Neither piece of legislation has any effect on the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978.

match, matching

In adoption, matching is the process of finding prospective families for a child. A match may refer to a family that a child's worker has selected or is strongly considering, but it also may refer to a family that the family's worker or adoption exchange worker is merely suggesting to the child's worker.

The traditional ways of “matching” are outdated and do not take into the account the lack of choice for expectant mothers and the fact that 90% of adoptions have some form of “open-ness”. PairTree created Connect as an equitable, ethical option for expectant moms, adoption professionals, and adopting families. PairTree doesn't prescribe a one-size-fits-all process or “match” families. Our platform empowers moms and families to connect directly, supported by a team of adoption professionals.

medical assistance, medical assistance card, medical card

Children who have been in the care of an adoption agency are often eligible to receive Medicaid cards, which provide for the child's health care, free of charge, as part of an adoption assistance program.

N

NAATRIN

National Adoption Assistance Training Resource and Information Network.

NACAC

North American Council on Adoptable Children

NAIC

National Adoption Information Clearinghouse

No Claim to Paternity Document

A document the agency (or attorney) processing an adoption will obtain from the Child Support Enforcement Bureau that discloses if any person has filed a claim to be the father of a particular child.

non-recurring expense

Adoptive parents of children with special needs are eligible for a one-time payment of non-recurring adoption expenses, one form of assistance in financing an adoption. The amount varies by state, and can be used to cover adoption fees such as home study fees, court costs, and attorney fees.

O

open adoption

An adoption which allows for some form of association between the birth parents, adoptees, and adoptive parents. This can range from picture and letter sharing, to phone calls, to contact through an intermediary, to open contact between the parties themselves. Was also known as “cooperative adoption.”

To learn more about open adoption, check out Navigating Open Adoptions or Inside an Open Adoption.

open Records

Accessibility to own adoption records by each member of the triad. This includes access to identifying information.

P

PACA

Post Adoption Contact Agreements (PACA) are arrangements that allow contact between a child's adoptive family and members of the child's birth family after the child's adoption has been finalized. While not always legally enforceable, PACA’s or Open Adoption Agreements are always encouraged to set reasonable expectations and hold all parties accountable.

parenting preparation class

A family preparation for parenting preparation class is a course taken by prospective adoptive parents, usually as part of the home study process. Many states and/or agencies require a particular kind of training.

PairTree partners with Creating a Family to offer unlimited, lifetime education with every home study package.

parental rights

The legal right to parent a particular child.

parent-initiated adoption

An identified adoption may also be called a parent-initiated adoption. In this type of adoption, the adoptive parents and birth parents identify, find, or already know each other, and then use the services of an adoption agency or an independent adoption social worker or other facilitator, to arrange and finalize the adoption.

post-adoption services, post-legal adoption services

Services (such as counseling or respite care) provided by an agency or community organization to the adopted person, the adoptive parents, and/or the birth parents after placement or after an adoption has been legally finalized.

post-placement

The period after a child has been placed in an adoptive home. Usually post-placement refers to the period before legal finalization.

post-placement supervision

The process of providing support and supervision to the adoptive family between the time of placement and finalization. Post-placement supervision is required and usually includes a specified number of visits to the family's home and/or a specified period of time.

pre-adoptive home, pre-adoptive placement

A home in which a child is placed with a family, usually homestudied, with the understanding that the family plans to adopt the child.

presentation

The term presentation is used by some agencies to refer to a meeting during which staff from the child's agency meet with a family who has been selected for a child in order to present comprehensive information about the child. This includes the child's family background, developmental history, personality, special interests, interpretation of medical and psychological findings, any problems experienced in foster homes or school, legal status, and eligibility for adoption subsidy.

private adoption

Independent adoptions, also known as private adoptions, are arranged through an intermediary such as a lawyer, physician, or other facilitator, rather than through a licensed adoption agency. Usually independent adoptions involve infants who are healthy or believed to be healthy. They often do not include counseling for the birth parents or parent preparation for the adoptive parents, and are not legal in all states. Children adopted through independent adoptions are not usually eligible for adoption assistance for special needs that may not have been noticeable at birth. Independent adoptions can be open adoptions, but this is not always the case. Private adoptions should not be confused with private agency adoptions.

private agency

A non-profit or for-profit agency licensed by the state but not government sponsored, and dependent on fees and donations rather than tax dollars to operate. Some private adoption agencies place infants or children from other countries; some work with (and are paid by) public agencies to place children who are in foster care. Some provide services to birth families; others provide services only to adoptive families.

private providers

Private adoption agencies who work in conjunction with or as subcontractors to public agencies to provide services to children, such as foster care supervision or adoption recruitment, while the public agency retains custody. In this situation, a child may have one social worker through the provider agency, who is in contact with prospective families, and another through the public agency, who makes final decisions on placement.

prospective adoptive family

A family interested in adopting a child or children.

provider agency

Private adoption agencies who work in conjunction with or as subcontractors to public agencies to provide services to children, such as foster care supervision or adoption recruitment, while the public agency retains custody. In this situation, a child may have one social worker through the provider agency, who is in contact with prospective families, and another through the public agency, who makes final decisions on placement.

public agency

State and county adoption agencies that are responsible for placing children who are in their care with adoptive families. Public agencies may be known as the Department of Social Services, Division of Human Services; Children, Youth and Family Services; or by other names. The public agency is generally responsible for most older child adoptions and for handling cases where children have been abused, neglected or abandoned by their birth parents.

public system

The public welfare system or foster care system. These are known by various names in different states, such as the Department of Human Services, the Department of Social Services, Division of Children, Youth and Families, or Department of Protective and Regulatory Services.

putative father registry

The Putative Father Registry is a confidential registry (record) of fathers of children born out of wedlock. The registry maintains names and addresses of fathers who (1) filed a notice to claim paternity, (2) acknowledged paternity of the child, or (3) have been determined by a court to be the father of the child. Fathers listed on the registry have the right to receive legal notice of all court proceedings, which include foster care, guardianship, custody, or adoption of the child.

R

receiving agency

In an interstate adoption, the agency that works with the family, making sure the family has a completed home study, commenting on the suitability of the proposed match, and providing post-placement supervision.

reciprocal service agreements

In reciprocal service agreements, two states or jurisdictions agree to provide certain services for one another without charge. These agreements are often used by adjoining states or jurisdictions.

referral

A service performed when an individual or family is sent or directed from one organization to another that is better suited for working with them. Adoption exchanges often refer families to agencies that can complete their home studies, and may perform other referrals as well, such as referring birth mothers to pregnancy counseling services. In adoption, a referral may also be a match referral (suggestion), made by an exchange or other intermediary between child workers and families who may be appropriate matches for the children.

registry

A service through which any adult member of the adoption triad who wishes to learn about birth relatives may register personal data and request to be notified should the other parties in that adoption also register. Some states have state- run registries; there are also privately-sponsored registries such as the International Soundex Reunion Registry.

relative adoption

A kinship or relative adoption is one in which the adoptive parents are biologically related to the child to be adopted, such as a grandparent, aunt, or cousin. In kinship adoption, as opposed to kinship care , the relatives legally adopt the child.

relative placement

A relative placement or kinship care occurs when a child is placed in the care of birth family members, members of their tribes or clans, godparents, stepparents, or other adults who have a kinship bond with the child. This may be an informal agreement among the parties, a formal foster care placement made with the assistance of a public agency, or a pre-adoptive placement. The relatives may be awarded custody or legal guardianship by the court.

relinquishment

The voluntary surrender or termination of custodial and legal rights to a child by a birth parent. This is a legally binding, permanent procedure which involves the signing of legal documents and court action.

reunion

A meeting of a birth parent and an adoptee who become reacquainted with one another after having had no contact due to a closed (traditional) adoption.

reunion registry

A service through which any adult member of the adoption triad who wishes to learn about birth relatives may register personal data and request to be notified should the other parties in that adoption also register.

revocation of consent

A withdrawal of consent to adoption which a birth parent had previously agreed to and signed, and a request by the birthparent that the child be returned to his/her custody. There is a limited period of time during which a birth parent may do this, which varies from state to state.

risk

Legal risk is a term used to describe a potential adoption in which the child to be adopted is placed with the adoptive parents prior to termination of the birth parents' rights.

An adoption placement of a child of any age is considered to be high risk if there is a strong likelihood that a birth parent or other relative will decide (and be approved) to parent. The adoption of newborn infants is often considered high risk because one or both birth parents' consent to the adoption is not yet legally final. In a situation where the birthparent is voluntarily relinquishing a child, the length of the period during which a birth parent can revoke consent (Change his/her mind) and the adoption is at risk varies by state.

An adoption is considered low risk when the rights have not yet been terminated, but it is expected that they soon will be, and there is little likelihood of the child returning to birthfamily.

S

SACWIS

Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System. SACWIS refers to the system used by states to report child welfare information to the federal government.

SSI, SSI benefits

Supplemental Security Income is a program through the Social Security Administration that provides monthly cash benefits and, in most states, Medicaid eligibility to persons, including children, with specific, defined, handicapping conditions. Children eligible for SSI must be significantly disabled.

sealed records

In a traditional adoption, sealed records are the birth certificate and other confidential information to which the adoptee is denied access. Sealed records are required under some state laws. In others, records may be sealed until the adoptee reaches the age of majority.

search

In adoption, search may refer to (1) a process used by the agency to locate a missing birth parent in order to notify him/her of rights and responsibilities in regard to a child, (2) a process whereby a birth parent or adoptee seeks information and/or contact with a family member from whom they were separated through adoption proceedings, or (3) the process used by a family and/or the family's worker or agency to attempt to locate a child for the family.

second-parent adoption

The adoption of a child by the unmarried parent's domestic partner. Second-parent adoptions are similar to stepparent adoptions, but are not permitted in every jurisdiction.

PairTree advises all families who identify as LGBTQ+ to strongly consider second-parent adoption of your child. And yes, this is whether you have biological or adopted children! PairTree answers common questions surrounding the second-parent adoption process and how to get the process started.

sending agency

In an interstate adoption, the agency has custody of the child until finalization, and makes placement decisions for him or her.

service subsidy

An adoption assistance agreement, prepared during the pre-placement period, may include other forms of assistance in addition to a monthly financial payment, such as respite care, medical equipment, or physical therapy.

siblings, sibling group

Brothers and/or sisters, children of the same parent. Many adoption professionals believe that, whenever possible, siblings should be placed together or remain in contact.

To learn more about the importance of sibling relationships in adoption, April Guffey shares her thoughts on Siblings: Relationships & Reunion as an Adoptee.

sibling group adoption

The adoption of two or more siblings or half-siblings by the same family at the same time.

sliding scale

A scale or table used to determine fees charged for services which allows the fee to be based on the client's ability to pay.

PairTree note: Some agencies also have a sliding scale based on the race of a child, which is an unethical practice. Watch How to Spot Unethical Adoption Professionals & Adoption Scams to learn more.

social security, social security benefits, social services benefits

The terms social security benefits or social services benefits may refer to any of a range of services, including Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Social Security Survivors Benefits, Medicaid, and Food Stamps.

social summary

A child assessment or child profile, also called a social summary, is the written document completed by a child's caseworker which provides comprehensive information about the child, including family history; medical, educational, psychological and educational assessments; history of previous placements; and daily routines. Usually completed before an agency begins to recruit families for a child, it should be made available to any family (or family's worker) that the child's agency is seriously considering.

special needs

In the context of adoption, under federal guidelines, children with special needs are children who have a condition or history making it difficult to place them without adoption assistance, and who cannot or should not be returned to their birth families. Special needs may refer to a child with specific physical, medical, mental, learning, or emotional disabilities, or may be determined by factors such as age (school-aged children and teens), sibling status, race (in some states), and risk factors such as a family history of mental illness. Guidelines for classifying a child as having special needs vary by state, according to state statute.

special needs child

While this term is still used by some, including the Internal Revenue Service, many people in the adoption community feel it is more appropriate to refer to "a child with special needs" or a "child ready for adoption."

special needs adoption

The adoption of a child with special needs. Generally this includes a more extensive training process and often it involves lower or waived fees.

state adoption specialist

In each of the 50 states, an individual who is the designated authority on adoption for that state. The state adoption specialist is familiar with the laws of that state, and is a resource for complex adoption questions. For contact information for the state adoption specialist for each state, click on the left State and National Resources.

step-parent adoption

The adoption of a child by the parent's new spouse. Also commonly referred to as a second-parent adoption.

Learn more about second-parent adoption.

support group

A group of individuals who share a common concern or experience, who provide support for one another. There are support groups available for birth and expectant moms, adopting and adoptive parents, adoption professionals, and more.

Everyone is deserving of support before, during, and after the adoption process. PairTree offers open monthly support groups, whether you work with PairTree or not. For those interested in joining, please email hello@pairtreefamily.com.

T

Termination of Parental Rights (TPR)

Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) is a court process which permanently ends all legal parental rights of a birth parent to a child. Termination of parental rights can be voluntary or involuntary.

tax credit

A tax credit is an amount that you subtract from your total tax liability. Federal legislation has provided for tax credits for all adoptive families.

PairTree fees qualify for the Federal Tax Credit, a huge benefit for adopting families. For adoptions finalized in 2023, there is a federal adoption tax credit of up to $15,950 per child! See how much you qualify for by scrolling down to the Federal Adoption Tax Credit Calculator.

Title IV-E

The Title IV-E section of Public Law 96-272, The Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 Title IV-E refers to the Title IV-E section of Public Law 96-272, The Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980, which provides for adoption assistance payments for eligible children. To qualify for Title IV-E adoption assistance programs, a child must be considered to have special needs by state definition, and must have been eligible, before adoption, for either Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), or for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Although AFDC was eliminated in 1996 and replaced by Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF), eligibility for Title IV-E is still determined based on the states' AFDC standards as of June 1, 1995.

Children who qualify for Title IV-E assistance are automatically eligible for federal Medicaid benefits and the child's state of residence is required to provide them. States may also choose to provide Medicaid coverage for children who do not qualify for the federal program, through state funded Title IV-B programs.

Title XX

Title XX of the Social Security Act funds a range of services, including adoption, day care, foster care, child protective services, health related services, and disability services. The funds are used to support state and local programs as well as non-profit programs and services. The act also specifies that states are allowed to use the funds for administration, staff training, and case management directly related to the services funded.

Title XX Social Services is a block grant of money from the federal government to state governments. In some states, the money is passed from the state level to the county level, to local governments, or to non-profit service providers. It was once common practice for states to provide direct services to adoptive families from this money, but at present adoptive families, just like any other families, have access to these funds through other state provided services, such as day care or respite care.

total care

A child requiring total care is one who needs assistance with all daily routines, including personal hygiene, dressing and undressing, feeding, and mobility.

traditional adoption

A closed adoption, also called a traditional adoption, is an adoption in which no identifying information about the birth family or the adoptive family is shared, and there is no contact between birth parents and adoptive parents. The adoptive family usually receives non-identifying information about the child and the birth family before placement. In a closed adoption, after finalization, the records are sealed and typically are not available to the adopted child.

PairTree note: Today, over 90% of all adoptions have some degree of openness. Learn more about navigating open adoption.

transcultural adoption

Adoption of a child or adolescent of one culture by an adoptive family of another culture. For example, a family of Mexican American heritage might adopt a child of Puerto Rican heritage. Most transracial adoptions are also transcultural.

transracial adoption

Adoption of a child or adolescent of one race by an adoptive family of a different race.

U

Update, home study

An addendum, also called an update, is a brief addition made to a homestudy to bring its contents up-to-date, and keep the home study current and usable.

Need a home study update? PairTree partners with licensed home study professionals across the US to complete the home study process smoothly and enriches the adoption experience for families.

V

visitation

Supervised visiting between a child and a family. The family may be members of the birth family, such as the birth mother or siblings, or an adoptive family.

voluntary termination of parental rights

The birth parents of a child voluntarily (of their own desire and choice) make an adoption plan for a child and relinquish their legal rights to the child. Whether termination of parental rights is voluntary or not, it must be done by a court of law.

W

waiting children

A child who is in the legal care and custody of the Department of Human Services or similar organization of the state in which he or she resides. Many people in the adoption community prefer phrases such as "legally free for adoption" or "ready for adoption" to describe this situation.

ward of the state

This term is used to describe children who are in foster care and are legally free for adoption, but for whom no adoptive parents have been located or identified.

wrongful adoption

In a wrongful adoption case, an adoptive parent takes legal action against an adoption agency, seeking a monetary award, based on the claim that the agency failed to disclose or misrepresented information about the child's or birth family's health or background at the time the child was placed with the adoptive parent.