Social History InformationThe 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.
Special NeedsIn 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.
Statewide Adoption and Permanency NetworkA 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.
SWANA 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.
Subsidized Permanent Legal CustodianshipA 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.
