Glossary of Terms

Returning children to the physical custody of their parent(s) after placement.

The term includes, but is not limited to the following: information about the adoptee and birth relatives of the adoptee, including economic, cultural and ethnic information; a developmental history of the adoptee, including the circumstances at birth, early development and subsequent age-appropriate task development; the social experiences of the adoptee, including abuse and neglect, out-of-home care and patterns of interpersonal relationships; the educational experiences of the adoptee, including the name of schools attended and dates of enrollment, academic performance, extracurricular activities and special interests; the current functioning of the adoptee, including behavioral patterns and relationships; the circumstances surrounding the adoption.

In Pennsylvania, a child with special needs is defined as a child who is free for adoption and meets at least one of these qualifying factors or conditions:

• Physical, mental or emotional disability;
• Genetic condition which indicates a high risk of developing a disability;
• Member of a minority group;
• Member of a sibling group; or
• Five years of age or older.

A permanent legal custodianship arrangement where a federal, state or county subsidy is provided to the custodian for the cost of providing care to a child.

A network of public and private agencies and organizations that have a common goal of improving the opportunity for timely permanency for Pennsylvania children. SWAN provides direct services to children in out-of-home care and the families who serve them including Child Profile, Family Profile, Child Specific Recruitment, Child Preparation for Permanency, Placement, Finalization and Post-Permanency Services. In addition to direct services, many support services are also provided, such as the SWAN Legal Services Initiative.

A permanent legal custodianship arrangement where a federal, state or county subsidy is provided to the custodian for the cost of providing care to a child.

A network of public and private agencies and organizations that have a common goal of improving the opportunity for timely permanency for Pennsylvania children. SWAN provides direct services to children in out-of-home care and the families who serve them including Child Profile, Family Profile, Child Specific Recruitment, Child Preparation for Permanency, Placement, Finalization and Post-Permanency Services. In addition to direct services, many support services are also provided, such as the SWAN Legal Services Initiative.