Adoption Agency: an organization, licensed in the state that it conducts its business, that assists in placing children in homes with adoptive parents. Most of these are non-profit businesses, ministries, or government organizations.
Adoption Placement: the point in time when the adoption waiting period is complete and the child goes to live with the adoptive parents. This can involve a ceremony between the birthparent(s) and adoptive parent(s), but does not necessarily have to. For the most part, the events surrounding a placement will vary from agency to agency.
Adoption Plan: A formal plan (usually in writing) made by the birthparent, usually with the assistance of a social worker, that specifies their intentions and desires with regard to placing their child into an adoptive family.
Adoptive Parent: Person/s who legally assumes all parental rights and responsibility of an adopted child.
Birth Parent/s: A term used to refer to the "biological parents" as shown on the orginal birth certificate. They do not have to be married. (Also Birth Mother & Birth Father)
Caseworker: Also, referred to as social worker. Person who is licensed in the state they work and who facilitates the adoption process.
Certificate of Adoption: The docuement that a judge signs to finalize the adoption and submit to the Dept. of Vital Records so that a new birth certificate can be issued.
Closed Adoption: An adoption in which the birth family and adoptive family do not share any identifying information about themselves and do not communicate with each other, either before or after the adoption takes place. The files are sealed after the adoption and are not available to the adopted child. This type of adoption is the most traditional and is declining in popularity.
Decree of Adoption: The document that a judge signs to finalize an adoption. It formally creates the parent-child relationship between the adoptive parents and the adopted child, as though the child were born as the biological child of its new parents.
Disruption: An adoption or adoption attempt that fails before finalization.Domestic Adoption: The adoption of a child who is born in the United States.
Dossier: The set of paperwork and legal docuements that has been properly authenticated and translated to process an international adoption in the child's country of origin.
Finalization: Point in time when the court grants the Petition to Adopt of the adoptive parents and the adoption is legally complete.
Finalization Hearing: the court hearing where the adoption becomes final. The adoptive parents and child go to court with their caseworker and lawyer and they appear before the judge. The judge hears the case of the adoptive parents and determines whether the adoption is in the best interest of the child. If they determine it is, the Decree of Adoption is signed which finalizes the adoption and the Certificate of Adoption is singed and sent to the Department of Vital Records so that a new birth certificate can be issued.
Foster-to-Adopt: An placement of a child into a foster home where the foster parents intend to adopt the child once the biological parental rights are terminated.
Guardian Ad Litem: A person appointed by the court to represent the best interest of the child in any legal proceedings prior to the adoption. This adult is not connected to the biological or adoptive family in any way.
Home Study: A set of interviews, conducted by a social worker, of the prospective adoptive family. It includes an interview with all members of the family and at least one interview in the home. The purpose is to help the courts and adoption agency determine whether the prospective family is qualified to a adopt a child.
International Adoption: The adoption of a child who is born outside of the United States.
Legal-Risk Placement: The placement of a child into a family when the birthparents' parental rights have not been terminated.Post-placement supervision: The supervision a caseworker provides to the adoptive family in the period of time between the placement of a child in the adoptive parents home and then time when the adoption becomes final in court. The length of time is usually between 6-12 months and includes interviews and at least one visit in the home.
Re-adoption: The practice of adopting a child in the United States after the child has been adopted in his/her country of origin. This is so the adoptive parents can receive new a birth certificate in English.
Relinquishment (of Parental Rights): legal action in which the birthparents voluntarily give up their parental rights and responsiblities for a child so that an adoption can be pursued for the child. It also commonly refers to the documents that the birthparent(s) sign to surrender their rights.
Termination of Parental Rights: 1. When the birthparents rights are taken away by the courts due to neglect, abuse, or abscence. 2. When the courts confirm and file the voluntary "relinquishment of parental rights" paperwork.
Trans-racial Adoption: An adoption in which a family of one race adopts a child of a different race.
