Definition of Adoption Terms
ADD - Attention Deficit Disorder
ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). This mental illness is characterized by an inability to stay on track/focused. It must impact a child or adult's life in at least two areas; school, home life, church, sports, etc... And it must consistently happen. People with ADHD can also hyperfocus. For example, they seem hypnotized by the television.
Adoptee - This is a person who has been adopted.
Adopter - This term appears to be used more in Europe and Australia. This is a person who adopted a child.
AIDS - Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
ARND - Alcohol Related Neurodevelopment Disorder
ASD - autism spectrum disorder
Birthmom, Birth mom, Bmom - All females who give birth to a child are birthmoms. This phrase is used as a label for a women who placed a child for adoption.
Birth parent - Some people object to this term because it is too clinical and ignores the emotional relationship between mother and child. Therefore they may prefer "first mom".
BF - Birth Father or Biological Father
BM - This term may be used on email lists. It stands for birth mom or bio-mom. This is an insulting abbreviation to use since BM can also mean bowel movement.
CASA - Court Appointed Special Advocate
DHS - Department of Human Services
Dossier - This is collection of documents which prove the fitness of the adoptive parent. Typically this term is used with intercountry adoptions.
Dyslexia - a neurologically-based issue that impacts the processing of language. Sometimes it will also be called phonic blindness. The inability to heard and create rhymes is one symptom that can be seen in 4 and 5 year old children. The definition of dyslexia has been expanded to include all difficulties in receptive and expressive language. A child with dyslexia may have problems with verbal communication, handwriting, reading, writing, spelling, and math.
ESL - English as a second language is provided by school systems for children who don't speak English at home.
FASD - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Finalization Hearing - – This is the court hearing where the adoption is completed
Genetic Bewilderment - The phrase was first used in the 1960s and was used for adoptees. But it has been used for children created via sperm donation and/or egg donation. The phrase seems to mean... I don't feel like I fit into this family. Related link: Conceive Unnaturally - Genetic Bewilderment
GERD - gastroesophageal reflux disease or acid reflux disease
HEP +/- - Whether the child or Birth Mother has the Hepatitis Virus or not
HIV - Human immunodeficiency virus
Home Study, HS - This is a study of the potential adoptive family's home environment. It explores all aspects of the family; social, financial, physical and emotional. The person who completes the home study is accredited under state law. This person could be a private social worker or an adoption agency employee.
IBP - Individual Behavior Plan
ICAMA - Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance
ICPC - Interstate Compact for Placement of Children comes into play when a child crosses state lines for adoption. Both the giving and receive state must approve the child's move and adoption.
ICWA - Indian Child Welfare Act
IEP - Special needs children can receive an individual education plan via the public school system. This plan is created by a team which includes school employees and parents.
IEP - Interethnic Placement provisions
INS - Acronym for U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service
IR3/IR4 - These are U.S. visa types that adopted children entry the country with. Any child with an IR3 will need to be adopted in a U.S. court to receive American citizenship. Children with the IR4 may receive American citizenship when they step on U.S. soil.
MEPA - Acronym for Multi-Ethnic Placement Act of 1994
Natural parents -The United States foster care system uses this label to describe the biological parents of a foster child.
OCD - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
ODD - Oppositional Defiant Disorder is in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). The defiance, noncompliance, arguments, hostility goes behind what is normal for the child's developmental phase. It must last at least 6 months.
PAD - Passive Aggressive Disorder
PAP - Potential or prospective Adoptive Parents
PDD - Pervasive Development Disorder
PECS - Picture Exchange Communication System
PTSD - Post traumatic stress Disorder
RAD - Reactive Attachment Disorder
SCID - Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disease
SID, SPD (Sensory Integration Disorder , Sensory Integration Dysfunction, Sensory Processing Disorder) - In a nut shell, the body and brain aren't in sync. The child may over or under react to stimulation. A quiet song may sound very loud to the child who responds by covering their ears. A child may be bleeding profusely from their skinned knee and not displaying signs of pain. This issue typically is found in children with other issues like autism, ADHD and post-institutionalization. Occupational therapists can work a child to develop sensory diets and coping skills.
SSI - Supplemental Security Income
Therapeutic Foster Home - Foster parents receive additional training and close supervision to help heal a child. Typically these children have serious emotional issues.
Title IVe Eligible - Qualified Special Needs Child eligible for Adoption Support Subsidy
TPR - Termination of Parental Rights
Waiting children - These children are typically older and have special needs. This term is mostly used with foster care children who are legally available for adoption.
504c - Individual School Plan based on Medical Diagnosis
Because some abbreviations are the same you will need to consider the context in which the abbreviation is used.
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