Many child welfare terms are subject to interpretation. The Glossary identifies commonly held definitions for terms that can be found on the Child Welfare Information Gateway website. It defines common acronyms and includes links to information on major Federal legislation and related child welfare terms. The Glossary will be updated as new terminology emerges in… [read more]
Child Welfare Terms
Costs of Adopting
Prospective adoptive parents may be concerned about the costs of adopting a child and their ability to meet those costs. Becoming a parent is rarely free of expenses—pregnancy and childbirth can be expensive and even more so without adequate insurance—and adoptive parents may be faced with initial costs that seem challenging. However, with planning and… [read more]
Criminal Background Checks for Perspective Foster and Adoptive Parents
DCF’s Division of Prevention and Community Partnership Community Program Directory
The Division of Prevention and Community Partnerships’ Community Program Directory provides public access to statewide resources that are designed to support family success and keep children safe. The programs and services listed are funded by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families’ Division of Prevention and Community Partnerships (DPCP). The Division is built on… [read more]
Disproportionality Rates for Children of Color in Foster Care (Fiscal Year 2012)
Eat Well, Live Well, Be Well
Having the tools and information to make healthy choices and knowing how to prevent illness is a key part of staying well. This book is intended for individuals who may be living on their own for the first time and not know how to set up a kitchen, shop for groceries, or the basics of cooking. The recipes… [read more]
Education Rights of Homeless Students
EDUCATION RIGHTS OF HOMELESS STUDENTS A GUIDE FOR ADVOCATES Revised 2017 There is no question that students who experience homelessness, like all students, are entitled to be educated. A federal law, known as the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, requires states to provide homeless children and youth with the same access to free appropriate public education… [read more]
Employer-Provided Adoption Benefits
A growing number of employers offer benefits to adoptive parents. In 1990, a survey by Hewitt Associates found that only 12 percent of employers surveyed offered some kind of adoption benefits; by 2004, a Hewitt survey of 936 major U.S. employers showed that the percentage had grown to 39 percent, with an average maximum reimbursement… [read more]
Exploring Medication for Adopted Children: Mental Health and Behavioral Treatment Options
Exploring Medication for Adopted Children: Mental Health and Behavioral Treatment Options Published by the Adoption Advocate, July 2023, Issue Number 173 The adoption community has made great progress in understanding the impact of trauma on children’s mental health and emotional well-being. As more adoptive parents seek healing for their children through mental health services, they… [read more]
Exploring the Pathways to Adoption
Adoption can be both exciting and overwhelming. The types of adoption may seem confusing, and you may feel unprepared to parent a child who has experienced separation and loss. As you explore the different pathways to adoption, you will begin to understand how you can benefit from building and adjusting your knowledge, attitude, and parenting… [read more]