Title: Families For Children - Definitions of Common Adoptive Terms.
Headings: Definitions of Adoptive Terms
Definitions of Adoptive Terms
Content: Foster children - children placed in the state's legal custody because their birth parents were deemed abusive, neglectful, or otherwise unable to care for them. While under state care, such children often live with foster parents or in group homes. Foster parents - state-licensed adults who provide a temporary home for children in state custody whose birth parents are unable to care for them. Home study - a process through which prospective adopters are educated about adoption and evaluated to determine their suitability to adopt. Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) - a 1978 federal law that protects the rights of Native American children, families, and tribes. ICWA states that when placing a Native American child for adoption, preference should be given to extended family, tribe members, a Native American foster or adoptive family, or a Native American institution. The tribe has the right to make decisions regarding the Native American child's placement, and non-Native American families are considered for placement as a last resort. ICWA adoption provisions do not, however, apply to every Native American child in foster care-especially in cases where the children's Native American birth parents are not registered tribe members, or the tribes have given up their claim to the children. Legally free - a child whose birth parents' rights have been legally terminated or relinquished so that the child is free to be adopted by another family. Legal-risk adoption - placement of a child in an adoptive home when birth parents' rights have not yet been voluntarily or involuntarily terminated.