Our list is extensive but not fully comprehensive. If you need help understanding a term not listed here, contact us.
21(E), 21(F), & .22 Hearings
Court review hearings held approximately every six months to review and monitor the welfare of the child, and evaluate the parents' efforts at reunification.
300 Kids
Children who are "dependents" of the Juvenile Court — victims of abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation.
364 Hearing
Refers to Welfare and Institutions Code section 364, which governs the legal criteria for review of a dependent child residing with a parent.
600 Kids
Children who are "wards" of the Juvenile Court — status offenders and delinquent offenders.
366.26 Hearings
Also called "26 hearings" — determine the Permanency Plan for a child: adoption, guardianship, or long-term foster care.
387 Petition
Filed by DHHS seeking to modify a previous placement order by removing a child from the physical custody of the parent, guardian, or relative.
388 Petition
A request to modify, change, or set aside a previous court order, or to terminate juvenile court jurisdiction, on the ground of changed circumstances or new evidence.
5150
California law code for temporary, involuntary psychiatric commitment of individuals who present a danger to themselves or others.
Adoption
The legal process of becoming a child's permanent legal parent when reunification with their biological family is not possible.
Adoption Assistance Program (AAP)
Financial support provided to families with adopted children.
Adoption Home Study
A thorough assessment of prospective adoptive parents to ensure a suitable and stable home for a child.
Aging Out
Youth between 18–21 who will leave the foster care system without a permanent home.
Attachment / Bonding
A relationship of trust established between two people. Essential for child development; children in foster care often have disrupted attachment histories.
CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocate)
Trained volunteers appointed by the court to advocate for the best interests of a child in foster care.
Case Plans
Court Ordered Case Plan defines objectives and goals to protect the child. Voluntary Case Plan provides non-court-mandated services to a family addressing health and safety of children.
Child Protective Services (CPS)
A government agency responsible for investigating allegations of child abuse or neglect and providing intervention and support.
Concurrent Planning
Providing services to reunify the birth family while simultaneously ensuring the child is with a family willing to provide a permanent home if reunification does not succeed.
Department of Family and Children's Services (DFCS)
A county department that works to ensure the safety and protection of children, and whenever possible, help them remain in or return to their own homes.
Dependency Court
The part of Superior Court concerned with the safety and protection of children.
Detention Hearing
If a removed child is not released back to the parent, a hearing in Dependency Court must be held within 3 court days to decide whether to return the child or keep them in protective custody.
Dispositional Hearing
A hearing to determine where the child will live while the family receives court-ordered services.
Educational Stability
Ensuring children in foster care experience minimal disruptions in their education when changing placements.
Emancipation
The legal process by which a minor petitions the court to become legally recognized as an adult before their 18th birthday.
Family Reunification (FR)
Court-ordered services aimed at returning children to their birth parents.
Foster-Adoption
A foster family who requests to be considered as an adoptive family for a foster child.
Foster Care Payment
The monthly reimbursement payment received by foster parents for the care of foster children.
Foster Family Agency (FFA)
A private agency that certifies and supervises foster homes.
Guardian ad Litem
A legal representative appointed by the court to advocate for the best interests of a child during legal proceedings.
Home Study
An in-depth evaluation of a potential adoptive family and their residence.
ICPC (Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children)
The Federal process for moving a dependent child from one state to another.
Independent Living Program (ILP)
A DFCS program working with foster care youth ages 16–21 on education, employment, and life skills.
Kinship Care
Placement of a child with relatives or close family friends when they cannot remain with their parents.
Medi-Cal
Medical insurance for low-income families and foster children. Each foster child will have a Medi-Cal card unless covered under a private insurance policy.
Permanency Planning
Begins when a child enters the child welfare system. All services are offered with permanency for the child in mind.
Pre-Approval Training
State-mandated training curriculum for foster care and kinship parents (27 hours).
Resource Family
A term describing foster, adoptive, or kinship families providing care to children involved in the child welfare system. Also called a Resource Family Approval (RFA) in California.
Respite Care
Temporary care provided to children in foster care to give their regular caregivers a break.
Reunification
The process of bringing a child who has been in foster care back into the care of their biological parents.
Termination of Parental Rights (TPR)
Legal process that permanently ends the legal parent-child relationship, typically leading to adoption.
Trauma-Informed Care
An approach that recognizes and responds to the impact of trauma, emphasizing safety, trustworthiness, and collaboration.
Voluntary Placement Agreement (VPA)
An agreement allowing temporary placement of a child in foster care without court intervention.
Wrap Around Services
Child-centered, family-focused services “wrapped around” the family to enhance resources including mental health, education, vocational support, and recreation.
AAPAdoption Assistance Program
BHSBehavioral Health Services
CANSChild and Adolescent Needs and Strengths
CAPTAChild Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
CASACourt Appointed Special Advocate
CCLCommunity Care Licensing
CDSSCalifornia Department of Social Services
CFTChild & Family Team
CPSChild Protective Services
DFCSDepartment of Family and Children’s Services
FCEDFoster Care Eligibility Determination
FFAFoster Family Agency
FFHFoster Family Home
FGDMFamily Group Decision-Making
ICPCInterstate Compact for the Placement of Children
ICWAIndian Child Welfare Act
ILPIndependent Living Program
NMDNon-Minor Dependent (ages 18-21 in extended foster care)
ODSWOn Duty Social Worker
PPPermanency Planning
RFAResource Family Approval
RTCResidential Treatment Center
STRTPShort-Term Residential Therapeutic Program
TBRITrust Based Relational Intervention
TPRTermination of Parental Rights
VPAVoluntary Placement Agreement
WIC 300Welfare & Institutions Code — child victims of abuse/neglect
WIC 600Welfare & Institutions Code — juvenile wards of the court
