Glossary of Terms

Licensed adoption agencies that contract with the SWAN prime contractor to provide permanency services.

A public or private entity, including a county agency that is licensed, supervised or regulated by the Division of Human Services and provides adoption services.

All information collected by an agency about a birth family, an adoptive family and an adoptee.

A form provided by DHS on which an adoptee, an adoptive parent or a birth relative can authorize or prohibit the release of identifying information.

An individual who is appointed to conduct a search and who has completed a standardized training program as required by DHS.