0160 Glossary

0160 Glossary

Abuse/Neglect: Reports assigned for Abuse/Neglect require an investigation to determine the validity of the report and an assessment to determine if further action may be needed.

Physical Abuse: Infliction of physical harm or the causation of a child's deterioration, and may include, but shall not be limited to, maltreatment or exploiting a child to the extent the child’s health is endangered. K.S.A. 38-2202

Sexual Abuse: Any contact or interaction with a child in which the child is being used for the sexual stimulation of the perpetrator, the child, or another person. Sexual abuse shall include, but is not limited to, allowing, permitting, or encouraging a child to:

A. Be photographed, filmed, or depicted in obscene or pornographic material; or

B. be subjected to aggravated human trafficking, as defined in K.S.A. 2014 Supp. 21-5426(b), and amendments thereto, if committed in whole or in part for the purpose of the sexual gratification of the offender or another, or be subjected to an act which would constitute conduct proscribed by article 55 of chapter 21 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated or K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-6419 or 21-6422, and amendments thereto. K.S.A. 38-2202. (See Appendix 2A for Kansas Statutes Annotated references).

Contact solely between children shall meet the criteria only if the contact also involves force, intimidation, difference in maturity or coercion. K.A.R. 30-46-10 (i)

Mental or Emotional Abuse: Infliction of mental or emotional harm or the causing of a deterioration of a child, and may include, but shall not be limited to, maltreatment or exploiting a child to the extent the child's health or emotional wellbeing is endangered. This term may include any act, behavior, or omission that impairs or endangers a child’s social or intellectual functioning. This term may include the following:

A. terrorizing a child, by creating a climate of fear or engaging in violent or threatening behavior toward the child or toward others in the child's presence that demonstrates a flagrant disregard for the child;

B. emotionally abandoning a child, by being psychologically unavailable to the child, demonstrating no attachment to the child, or failing to provide adequate nurturance of the child; and

C. corrupting a child, by teaching or rewarding the child for unlawful, antisocial, or sexually mature behavior. K.S.A. 38-2202 and K.A.R. 30-46-10

Physical Neglect: Acts or omissions by a parent, guardian, or person responsible for the care of a child resulting in harm to a child, or presenting a likelihood of harm, and the acts or omissions are not due solely to the lack of financial means of the child's parents or other custodian. This term may include but shall not be limited to: failure to provide the child with food, clothing, or shelter necessary to sustain the life or health of the child. K.S.A. 38-2202

Medical Neglect: Acts or omissions by a parent, guardian, or person responsible for the care of a child resulting in harm to a child, or presenting a likelihood of harm, and the acts or omissions are not due solely to the lack of financial means of the child's parents or other custodian. This term may include the following but shall not be limited to: failure to use resources available to treat a diagnosed medical condition if such treatment will make a child substantially more comfortable, reduce pain and suffering, or correct or substantially diminish a crippling condition from worsening. A parent legitimately practicing religious beliefs who does not provide specified medical treatment for a child because of religious beliefs shall not for that reason be considered a negligent parent. K.S.A. 38-2202

Lack of Supervision: Acts or omissions by a parent, guardian, or person responsible for the care of a child resulting in harm to a child, or presenting a likelihood of harm, and the acts or omissions are not due solely to the lack of financial means of the child's parents or other custodian. This term may include the following but shall not be limited to: failure to provide adequate supervision of a child or to remove a child from a situation which requires judgment or actions beyond the child's level of maturity, physical condition or mental abilities and that results in bodily injury or a likelihood of harm to the child. K.S.A. 38-2202

Abandonment: Forsake, desert or cease providing care for the child without making appropriate provisions for substitute care. K.S.A. 38-2202

Adjudication: A court hearing in which a determination is made whether a child is a CINC (child in need of care) or juvenile offender.

Adoptee: A person who is adopted.

Adoption Assistance: Monies that a family adopting a child may receive when it is determined that the child will not go back to the family from which they have been removed. These payments may be for one-time adoption expenses, a monthly cash subsidy and/or medical assistance.

Affirmed Perpetrator: Formerly in K.A.R. 30-46-10, affirmed perpetrator means a person who has been determined by the secretary or the secretary's designee, by a preponderance of evidence, to have committed an act of abuse or neglect, regardless of where the person resides, but has not been substantiated so the affirmed perpetrator's name is not placed on the child abuse and neglect central registry. Affirmed case finding decisions will no longer be made on or after January 1, 2025.

Alternative Response: Alternative Response was a program which was in effect from October 1, 2012- June 30, 2014. Reports which were assigned for Alternative Response used the Solution-Based Casework practice model to enhance family engagement and involvement. Comprehensive assessments assisted in identifying the underlying and contributing factors which brought the family to the attention of the agency.

Alleged Perpetrator: The person identified in the initial report or during the investigation as the person suspected of perpetrating an act of abuse or neglect. (K.A.R. 30-46-10) See also Substantiated Perpetrator and Unsubstantiated Perpetrator.

Basic Eligibility: Eligibility for IV-E federal reimbursement for administrative expenses for children whose families meet several basic IV-E criteria.

Candidate for Care: A child is determined a candidate for care when any one of the following situations apply:

A. a child or youth who PPS determines is at imminent risk of foster care and out of home placement but can be safe at home with prevention services;

B. a child or youth who exited foster care to adoption or permanent custodianship/guardianship, or who was reunified with parents is at risk of entering foster care and out of home placement;

C. a child or youth temporarily or permanently residing with a relative or kin caregiver;

D. a child or youth living with parents but needs to be with a relative caregiver with prevention services in place;

E. pregnant and parenting youth in foster care and in an out of home placement.

F. pregnant woman whose child upon birth may be at imminent risk of foster care (reference PPS 2753 , Section E).

G. a child/youth remaining in the home whose siblings are in foster care.

Caregiver: Adult or youth who provides care for a child in the absence of, or in conjunction with the child’s parent or guardian. The caregiver may or may not reside in the home with the child.

Case Number: A unique computer-generated number assigned to each case.

Central Registry: The Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry is a computerized name-based list of persons who have been confirmed, validated, or substantiated for child abuse or neglect. The name of a perpetrator is not entered in the central registry until they have been afforded an opportunity for an interview and have exercised their right of appeal or the time limit for appeal has expired without action.

Child: anyone under the age of 18 or any adult under the age of 21 and in the custody of the Secretary.

Child in Need of Care (CINC): The Kansas Code for Care of Children (K.S.A. 38-2202(d)) defines Child in Need of Care as a person less than 18 years of age who:

A. Has been physically, mentally, or emotionally abused or neglected or sexually abused.

B. Has been abandoned or does not have a known living parent.

C. Is without the care or control necessary for the child's physical, mental, or emotional health.

D. Resides in the same residence as a sibling or other person under 18 years of age who has been physically, mentally or emotionally abused or neglected or sexually abused.

E. While less than 10 years of age, commits an act which if done by an adult would constitute the commission of a felony or misdemeanor as defined by K.S.A. 21-3105 and amendments thereto.

F. Is willfully and voluntarily absent from the child's home without the consent of the child's parent or other custodian or is willfully and voluntarily absent at least a second time from a court ordered or designated placement, if the absence is without the consent of the person with whom the child is placed.

G. Is without adequate parental care, control or subsistence and the condition is not due solely to the lack of financial means of the child's parents or other custodian.

H. Is not attending school as required by K.S.A. 72-977 or 72-1111, and amendments thereto.

I. Except in the case of a violation of K.S.A. 41-715 or 41-2721, and amendments thereto, does an act which, when committed by a person under 18 years of age, is prohibited by state law, city ordinance or county resolution but which is not prohibited when done by an adult.

J. Has been placed for care or adoption in violation of the law.

K. Permanent Custodian is no longer willing or able to serve.

Child in Need of Care Petition: A petition filed with the clerk of the district court by the county/district attorney alleging a child or youth is a Child in Need of Care. Refer to K.S.A. 38-2233(b), concerning the filing of a Child in Need of Care petition by any other individual.

Child Support Services (CSS): This agency has the responsibility of seeking child support for children in DCF custody and in an out-of-home placement.

Child Welfare Case Management Providers: Child Welfare Case Management Providers are private organizations that contract with DCF to provide adoption, foster care, reintegration and family preservation services using a philosophy which includes the community, immediate and extended families, and concerned kin in planning for the child's safety, permanency and well-being.

Citizen Review Board: A group of citizen volunteers appointed by a court to review child in need of care cases and make recommendations to the court.

Clear and Convincing Standard: Evidence which shows the truth of the facts asserted is highly probable. This standard of evidence was used for case findings from July 1, 2004-June 30, 2016. Beginning July 1, 2016, the standard of evidence is preponderance.

Client Eligibility: All children who have been removed from their homes by a judge and placed in the custody of DCF must receive an eligibility determination for Title IV-E.

Client ID Number: A unique number assigned to each individual who is known to KEES. This number is cross referenced with FACTS.

Client Purchase Agreement: Form PPS 2833-PPS Client Purchase Agreement-Payment Request and Authorization is used to document the request, approval, and payment for client purchases across all programs within PPS.

COBRA: A federal amendment to the Social Security Act. It enables Title IV-E eligible foster children and adoption assistance children to receive Medicaid coverage in the state in which they physically reside.

Computer Systems:

FACTS

Family And Children Tracking System is the agency’s child welfare information system. Information in FACTS is used to support the department budget, internal management, and reports to the legislature, federal government, and the general public. FACTS includes information about the outcomes of abuse and neglect investigations, the child abuse and neglect central registry and foster care and adoption information.

KAECSES

Kansas Automated Eligibility System KAECSES is a major computer system which contained data for all children placed in state custody and removed from their home. As of September 13^th, 2017, KEES replaced KAECSES for this function.

KanPay

KanPay is a sub-system of KAECSES. This system created an on-line eligibility process for vendor payments. This system was used by PPS for Family Services cases. KanPay was used when the family had no involvement in other assistance programs. Staff began using KEES for this function as of September 13, 2017. KanPay is no longer used by agency staff.

KEES

Kansas Eligibility and Enforcement System is an internet-based system designed for determining eligibility, issuing benefits, collecting data, and developing reports. KEES has replaced the KAECSES and KanPay systems as of September 13, 2017.

MMIS

Medicaid Management Information System -

DCF staff utilize the MMIS to enter or review Medicaid data.

SCRIPTS

Statewide Contractor Reimbursement Information and Payment Tracking System - SCRIPTS makes payments to the Child Welfare Contract Management Provider and produces the federal claim for IV-E funding.

Referral information and IV-E customer eligibility is entered into FACTS and downloaded into SCRIPTS on a regular basis to maintain these functions. The federal claim is based on IV-E customer eligibility downloaded from FACTS and also based on Child Welfare Contract Management Provider services reported to SCRIPTS as encounter data.

SMART

Statewide Management, Accounting, and Reporting Tool. System used to make payments to all vendors.

Community Corrections Involvement: Supervision by a county operated corrections agency or department of a youth, age 10 and older, who typically scores moderate to high-risk on the risk and needs assessment (i.e. Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI)), is adjudicated as a Juvenile offender, and is court ordered to Intensive Supervised Probation (ISP).

Continuous Eligibility (CE): The 12-month period of time including the month Medicaid is approved and the following 11-months when Medicaid cannot be discontinued for a youth under the age of 19 for reasons other than state residency, voluntary withdrawal, erroneous approval, and death. CE is renewed each year when a medical review is completed and the youth continues to meet eligibility criteria.

Contractor/Contract Agency: A person or agency who enters into a contractual agreement with DCF to provide specified services.

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA): A responsible adult other than an attorney or guardian ad litem appointed by the court to represent the best interests of a child. (K.S.A. 38-2202(g), K.S.A. 38-2206). A CASA may also be appointed under the Juvenile Offender Code or the Domestic Relations Code.

Court Services Involvement: Supervision by a state operated court services agency or department of a youth, age 10 and older, who typically scores low to moderate-risk on the risk and needs assessment (i.e. Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI)), is adjudicated as a Juvenile offender, and is court ordered to court services probation.

Crossover Youth: A young person, age 10 and older, with any level of concurrent involvement with the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.

A. “Involvement” in the Juvenile Justice system includes, but is not limited to, court-ordered community supervision, Immediate Intervention Programs (IIP), and youth placed in detention and correctional facilities.

B. “Involvement” in child welfare system includes, but is not limited to, out of home placement, or participation in preventative services.

Delineation of involvement related to specific child welfare and juvenile justice programs is for the explicit purpose of collaborative data collection per agreement between DCF, DOC, and OJA.

Custody/Custodian: Custody, whether temporary, protective or legal, means the status created by court order or statute which vests in a custodian, whether an individual or an agency, the right to physical possession of the child and the right to determine placement of the child, subject to restrictions placed by the court. (K.S.A. 38-2202(g)).

Custody of The Kansas Department of Corrections-Community Based Services (KDOC-CBS): a youth, age 10 and older, who is placed at a correctional facility (e.g. Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex (KJCC)) or who is on Conditional Release or Aftercare from a correctional facility.

Dedicated WARDS Account: SSI money received for a youth in custody that is a lump-sum of, at a minimum 6 months accumulated, SSI benefits. Social Security deposits the lump-sum and must approve all withdrawals from this account.

Deterioration: The child’s condition, health or functioning becomes progressively worse indicating harm to the child.

Disposition: A court hearing following adjudication in which an order may be issued regarding services, custody, placement, sentencing for juvenile offenders or other matters.

Endangered: The risk or exposure to harm.

Ex Parte Order: An order issued by a judge without a hearing.

Facility Facilities include homes and child care providers regulated/licensed by the Department for Children and Families (DCF) Foster Care and Residential Facility Licensing, Kansas Department of Health and Environment or Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS). Facilities may also include homes and providers legally exempt from regulation and homes or providers which are operating as unregulated services.

Facility includes:

A. family foster homes,

B. residential childcare facilities,

C. detention,

D. secure care,

E. attendant care facilities,

F. day care homes or centers.

G. Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTF), licensed by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS)

For purposes of complaints alleging abuse or neglect, "facility" includes any of the above entities which are subject to regulation, whether operating within or without the law.

Facility Reports: In facility reports the alleged perpetrator is a foster parent, a minor over the age of 10 in the facility, childcare provider, employee in a facility, or another care giver other than the child's parents.

Family: A family means any group of persons who act as a family system with or without a legal or biological relationship.

Family Centered Systems of Care: This is a family driven, individualized, culturally competent, and strength-based approach. The family is seen as the expert on their strengths and needs. The family identifies natural resources, including kin and shall be included in all case planning activities, allowing the family to determine their choices and actions.

Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA): FFPSA became law February 9, 2018. This law provides Title IV-E federal funds for prevention and limited Title IV-E eligible placements in foster care. The law’s focus is foster care prevention services, and when foster care is required, the aim is to encourage placements in family-like settings for children.

Family in Need of Assessment (FINA): Family In Need of Assessment (FINA) assignments are specific family conditions, which do not meet criteria to assign for abuse/neglect, but are assigned to assess to determine whether services to the child and family are indicated.

The following are FINA sub-types:

A. Caregiver Substance Use: Parent/caregiver is using substances and there is an indication the use is impacting parenting capacity or skills.

B. Caregiver Unable/Unavailable to Provide Care: Parent/caregiver is not able to care for the child due to the death, incarceration, deployment, etc. of a parent/caregiver and/or there is no other resource available. May include, a parent/caregiver lacking sufficient ability, power, and authority, and without services, deterioration of the children’s heath/well-being is likely; and the children are at risk of removal.

C. Child Substance Use: Child using substances which negatively impacts the family/child functioning.

D. Children with Behavior Problems: Child’s actions/behaviors negatively impacting the family/child functioning (i.e. suicidal, danger to self and/or self-harming behaviors, out of control, sexually acting out, aggressive behaviors, criminal activities, and gang involvement. Excludes behaviors which meet definitions for Child Substance Use, Less than 10 Committing an Offense, Runaway or Truancy).

E. Infant Positive for Substances: An infant (birth to age 1) or the mother of an infant with a positive drug screen, or a medical professional has determined the infant is substance affected or having withdrawal symptoms resulting from prenatal exposure to a legal or illegal substance.

F. Less than 10 Committing an Offense: while less than 10 years of age, commits any act which if done by an adult would constitute the commission of a felony or misdemeanor as defined by K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5102, and amendments thereto.

G. Runaway: Child is willfully and voluntarily absent from the child's home or placement without the consent of the child's parent or other custodian.

H. Truancy: Child is not attending school, as required by K.S.A. 72-977, 72-1111, or 72-1113 and amendments thereto. Excludes home schools registered with the Kansas Department of Education.

Family Meeting: A Family Meeting (FM) is a meeting with parents, family members, supports, service providers, and others who come together to determine the best next steps to improve the child’s/family’s well-being and functioning.

Family Preservation Referral: A referral made to the Family Preservation Case Management Provider to provide services to keep the family intact and to prevent out of home placement for the child/children in the family, including pregnant women using substances, who may or may not have other children.

Family Reports: In family reports the alleged perpetrator is a parent of the child, other adult residing in the home, or a sibling or relative age 10 and older.

Family Services: Non-custody services provided directly to families by CPS specialists or through purchase of services by DCF. Family services are designed to meet identified needs or to support family strengths and are based on a safety or risk assessment of the child and family.

FC Referral: A referral made to a foster care provider to provide case management and supervision for children removed from the home and placed into court ordered DCF custody.

Female Genital Mutilation: Defined in Crimes and Punishments Chapter of Kansas Statutes, and may be considered for assignment of physical abuse. Per K.S.A. 21-5431 Female Genital Mutilation is defined as:

A. Knowingly circumcising, excising, or infibulating the whole or any part of the labia majora, labia minora or clitoris of a female under 18 years of age;

B. removing a female under 18 years of age from this state for the purpose of circumcising, excising, or infibulating the whole or any part of the labia majora, labia minora or clitoris of such female; or

C. causing or permitting another to perform the conduct described in subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2) when the person causing or permitting such conduct is the parent, legal guardian or caretaker of the victim.

D. Unless, the procedure is medically necessary pursuant to the order of a Physician, and such procedure is performed by a physician.

Food Assistance: A federal income subsidy to buy food for families who have marginal income. Previously referred to as Food Stamps and is also known as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Foster Care: 24-hour substitute care for children placed away from their parents or guardians and for whom the State agency has placement and care responsibility.

Foster Family Home: means "a private home in which care is given for 24 hours a day for a small number of children away from their parent or guardian" (K.A.R. 28-4-311 (d)). Foster families must be licensed by DCF Foster Care and Residential Facility Licensing. In addition to licensing requirements, the home must be sponsored by a licensed child placing agency (CPA). The CPA recruits and trains foster parents. The CPA assesses foster parents post training to determine if the foster parents can meet the safety and well-being needs of children placed with them.

Guardian Ad Litem: An attorney appointed by the court to represent the interests of a person to act on his or her behalf in a particular legal proceeding including, but not limited to, an attorney appointed by the court to represent the best interests of the child in Child in Need of Care proceedings to represent the best interests of the child.

Guardianship: A status in which the court gives a person specified rights to the custody and control of a child subject to ongoing review by the court of jurisdiction.

Harm: Physical or psychological injury or damage. K.S.A. 38-2202(kl)

Healthwave 21: See KanCare 21

Host Family: An individual or family who provides temporary care of children through a program created pursuant to the Host Families Act, K.S.A. 38-2401 et.seq. (i.e., Safe Families for Children is an organization with a program created pursuant to the host families act.)

Icebreaker: An Icebreaker is a facilitated conversation that provides an opportunity for parents/caregivers and foster parents to meet face-to-face, talk about the needs of the child and share information about themselves and their family routines and traditions. The focus is on the care and well-being of the child.

Identified Adoptive Resource: A family may be considered an identified adoptive resource when they have submitted the Potential Identified Adoptive Resource Application form (PPS5316) to adopt (not necessarily all the supporting documentation).

Imminent: implies more than speculation but less than certainty. An event is imminent if a reasonable person using common sense, training or experience concludes an event will occur without delay unless there is prompt intervention.

Independent Assessor: A trained professional or licensed clinician who is not an employee of the agency and is not connected to or affiliated with any placement setting in which children are placed by the agency. Completes assessments to determine when a child should or should not be placed in a Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP).

Independent Living Setting: An out-of-home foster care placement, including a transitional living program (TLP), community integration program (CIP), or a youth living on their own who continues to be supported by a Child Welfare Case Management Provider.

KanCare: The KanCare program is the State of Kansas’ plan to transition Kansas Medicaid into an integrated care model. Kansas contracted with managed care organizations (MCOs), to coordinate health care for nearly all Medicaid beneficiaries.

KanCare 21: A Federal program to cover low income, uninsured children who do not qualify for Medicaid. This Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is funded with Federal and State money. A small premium is charged depending on the family’s income. This is only for children up to age 19. Previously known as Healthwave 21.

K.A.R.: Kansas Administrative Regulations

K.S.A.: Kansas Statutes Annotated.

Kinship Caregiver: An adult who the Secretary has selected for placement of a child in need of care with whom the child or the child’s parent already has close emotional ties. K.S.A. 38-2202 (w)

Kinship Navigator Program: A program offering information, referral, and follow-up services to kinship caregivers raising children. The program links the kinship family to needed benefits and services for the family or the children.

Likelihood: Implies more than speculation and less than certainty. An event is likely if a reasonable person using common sense, training or experience concludes that, given the circumstances, an event is probable without a change in those circumstances.

Medicaid: A government health care assistance program for families who are below the poverty level. Medicaid funds traditional medical services as well as a variety of behavior management services. A child removed from the home and placed in foster care usually qualifies for Medicaid since they are considered a family of one if their resources do not exceed the established limitations. The Medicaid program is funded with Federal and State money.

Mental Health Consortium: An affiliated group of mental health professionals and centers.

Mitigate: To make less severe or alleviate. To mitigate something means to make it less serious.

Multidisciplinary Team: A group of persons with special knowledge regarding the detection, investigation or treatment of child abuse or neglect. The Kansas Code for Care of Children authorizes DCF to request, and the court to appoint, a multidisciplinary team "to assist in gathering information regarding a child who may be or is a child in need of care" (K.S.A. 38-2228).

National Electronic Interstate Compact Enterprise (NEICE): A national electronic system for quickly and securely exchanging the data and documents required by the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) to place children across state lines. With NEICE, a case can be created by a Sending State caseworker and reach the Receiving State caseworker within a day, sometimes within an hour. NEICE allows child welfare workers to communicate and provide timely updates to courts, relevant private service providers, and families awaiting placement.

Non-Abuse/Neglect (Family in Need of Assessment)- NAN (FINA): Children who come to the attention of the agency for reasons other than alleged abuse or neglect or juvenile offense and who meets one or more of the definitions in K.S.A. 38-2202(d). Non-Abuse/Neglect (Family in Need of Assessment) definition was replaced by Family in Need of Assessment (FINA) upon system changes July 1, 2018.

Non-family/Unregulated Care Giver: A person who is not the child's parent, guardian or other person who regularly cares for the child. (examples: teacher, coach, big brother/sister, neighbor, etc.)

Parent: when used in relation to a child or children, includes a guardian, and every person who is by law liable to maintain, care for or support the child. (K.S.A. 38-2202(u)).

Payment Eligibility: Eligibility for IV-E federal reimbursement for maintenance expenses (primarily room and board) for children in custody who meet all IV-E eligibility criteria.

Permanency: The child is being released from DCF custody after achieving reintegration, guardianship, finalization of adoption, SOUL Family Legal Permanency, or APPLA.

Permanency Hearing: A notice and opportunity to be heard is provided to interested parties, foster parents, pre-adoptive parents, or relatives providing care for the child. The court, after consideration of the evidence, shall determine whether progress toward the case plan goal is adequate or reintegration is a viable alternative, or if the case should be referred to the county or district attorney for filing of a petition to terminate parental rights or to appoint a permanent guardian.

Placement Stability Team Decision Making (PS-TDM): a facilitated meeting held for all out of home placement related decisions (except removal, reunification, or adoption) to decide or recommend whether a child in out of home placement can remain in their current placement setting with supports or if a new placement is needed. In the event of a planned positive move, a PS-TDM will support decision making around what services, actions, or resources can be put in place to ensure the move will lead to stability and timely permanency.

Pregnant Woman Using Substances: Reports assigned by the department indicating a pregnant woman is using substances. The purpose of the assessment is to determine the level of services needed and make referrals as needed.

Preponderance of evidence: Alleged facts and circumstances, more likely than not, meet the abuse/neglect definitions per K.S.A. and K.A.R.

Protective Custody: The status of a child believed by a law enforcement officer (Police Protective Custody (PPC)) or a judge (Order of Protective Custody) that a child alleged to be a child in need of care needs to be removed from danger of harm and placed in a shelter or other emergency or temporary care pending a court hearing.

Provider Agreement: An agreement between a provider of services and DCF for specific services the provider offers to families and children.

Qualified Alien – As indicated in the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996, the term “qualified alien refers to: An alien who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA); An alien who is granted asylum under section 208 of the INA; A refugee who is admitted to the U.S. under section 207 of the INA; an alien who is paroled into the U.S. under 212(d)(5) of the INA for a period of at least one year; an alien whose deportation is being withheld under section 243(h) the INA as in effect immediately before April 1, 1997, or section 41(b)(3) of the INA; an alien who is Cuban or Haitian entrant; an alien (or the child of parent) who has been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty in the U.S.

Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP): Title IV-E eligible congregate placement for a child in foster care meeting specific criteria. To serve as a QRTP, the facility must use a trauma-informed treatment model to address the needs of children with serious emotional or behavioral disorders or disturbances. The facility must have the ability to deliver treatment for the child as determined through an independent assessment indicating appropriateness for placement in the facility.

Reasonable and Prudent Parenting Standard: Careful and sensible parental decisions that maintain a child’s health, safety, and best interests while at the same time encouraging the child’s emotional and developmental growth that a caregiver must use when determining whether to allow a child in foster care to participate in extracurricular, enrichment, cultural and social activities.

Redetermination: A re-assessment of IV-E eligibility criteria when a change in placement or circumstance occurs for a child in foster care.

Referral: Process of referring a child to a provider for out of home or in home services.

Relative: A person related by blood, marriage, or adoption.

Resource Family: A family willing to provide short term care or serve as the adoptive or legal guardian for the child. The resource family is a valued member of the team and will participate in the case planning process, serve as a mentor to birth families, and will encourage parent/child interactions in a natural setting.

Safety Network: A safety network may include family, friends and other natural supports who know about and understand the worries and strengths of the family, and who are actively engaged in the support a family may need to keep a child safe, even after child welfare involvement ends.

Siblings: Children who have one or more parents in common either biologically, through adoption, or through the marriage of their parents, and with whom the child lived before his or her foster care placement, or with whom the child would be expected to live if the child were not in foster care.

Sibling Separation: Separate placement of siblings who are in foster care.

Sibling Split: A decision not in the best interest of siblings to be placed together.

State Wards: Foster children become wards of the state when both maternal and paternal rights have been terminated and the child has not been formally adopted.

Child In Need of Care cases remain open under these circumstances and the DCF retains custody. For children who are directly relinquished to DCF, it will be necessary for the case managing entity and DCF to work together to approach the county/district attorney and request a Child In Need of Care petition.

Structured Decision Making (SDM): The Structured Decision Making^® (SDM) model for child protection assists agencies and workers in meeting their goals to promote the ongoing safety and well-being of children. This evidence- and research-based system identifies the key points in the life of a child welfare case and uses structured assessments to improve the consistency and validity of each decision. SDM was fully implemented for intake with the Kansas Protection Report Center in August 2019. SDM safety and risk assessments were piloted in December 2019, in four (4) counties (Johnson, Wyandotte, Crawford and Cherokee) in the Kansas City and East DCF Regions.

Substantiated Perpetrator: A person regardless of where the person resides, who has been substantiated by the secretary or designee, by a preponderance of evidence, to have either intentionally committed an act of abuse or neglect or failed or refused to protect a child when a reasonable person would have anticipated that the act of abuse or neglect would result in or create a likelihood of serious harm, injury, or deterioration to the child. The substantiated perpetrator’s name is placed on the Kansas Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry, and the person is thereby prohibited from residing, working, or volunteering in a childcare facility pursuant to K.S.A. 65-516, and amendments thereto. (K.A.R. 30-46-10) See also Alleged Perpetrator and Unsubstantiated Perpetrator.

Team Decision Making (TDM): Team Decision Making (TDM) is a meeting with parents, family, community members and others to actively participate in problem solving and decisions about where children can safely live. TDM was implemented in phases across the state beginning in November 2019, with four (4) counties (Johnson, Wyandotte, Crawford and Cherokee) in the Kansas City and East DCF Regions.

Temporary Custody: Custody awarded by a Court based upon evidence in a hearing prior to disposition adjudication.

Trauma-Informed: An organization and treatment framework involving understanding, recognizing, and responding to the effects of all types of trauma. Treatment is in accordance with recognized principles of a trauma-informed approach and trauma-specific interventions to address trauma’s consequences and facilitate healing.

Truant: A child not attending school as required by law.

Unsubstantiated Alleged Perpetrator: means a person who has been determined by the secretary or the secretary's designee, by a preponderance of evidence, to have not committed an alleged act of abuse or neglect. (K.A.R. 30-46-10). See also Alleged Perpetrator and Substantiated Perpetrator.

WARDS account: A separate accounting for each child for whom funds are received by DCF on behalf of the child in custody. The account shows all monetary transactions received for and paid out on behalf of the child in custody.

Web KDHE Request Processor (WKRP): is a system that allows DCF the ability to review names of providers or employees used by other facilities against names in the FACTS Central Registry (CERS) to determine if the provider or employee at the facility is a match to the substantiated person in CERS.

Working Day: A day when the Department is open for business; does not include Saturdays, Sundays, or official state holidays.