Adversary hearing — A court hearing within 14 days after DFPS removes a child. The court determines whether to return the child to his or her home. Parents receive notice of this hearing. If the child is not returned home, the parents will be asked to provide names of people who might be willing to serve as temporary caregivers of a child. 

Attorney Ad Litem/Guardian Ad Litem – The court will appoint a special attorney for the child, known as an attorney ad litem. The court may also appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the child’s best interests. The guardian ad litem may or may not be an attorney. 

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) – A person who has received the court’s approved training and has been certified by the court to appear at court hearings as a volunteer advocate on behalf of the child. 

Family Group Conference – A conference in which the child’s family and trusted friends agree on a plan to ensure safety, permanency, and well-being for the child while seeking or maintaining family placement and support. 

Final Order – A court order that determines the new legal relationship at the conclusion of a DFPS conservatorship case. The final order may return a child to a parent, grant permanent managing conservatorship to a relative or DFPS, or terminate a parent’s rights to the child.

Foster Home Screening/Home Assessment – A report on the safety and appropriateness of the home of any person requesting possession of a child for whom DFPS is the managing conservator. 

Kinship/Relative Placement – The placement of a child in the home of a relative or family friend when parents cannot keep the child safe. 

Kinship Development Worker – The caseworker who works with the kinship caregiver and provides education, support, advocacy, and training. 

Permanent Managing Conservatorship – Permanent legal responsibility for the child given through a court order. Permanent managing conservatorship continues until the child turns 18 or is emancipated (has his or her minority status removed), unless changed by a court order. 

Permanency Conference – When children are in foster care, permanency planning is a process that involves meeting with all concerned parties (foster parents, relatives, social workers, etc.). They meet to determine a permanent living arrangement for the child, known as a permanency plan. 

Family Service Plan – An agreement between DFPS and the child’s parents. It explains what the parents need to do and the services DFPS will provide to help the parents make those changes. The parents must follow the service plan for the child to return home. 

Child Service Plan – A written plan developed by CPS and all persons with an interest in the child’s well-being and safety. The plan addresses the child’s needs, how to address those needs, who is responsible, and the achievement of permanency goals. 

Status Hearing – A court hearing in which the Family Service Plan is discussed and services identified in the plan are court-ordered. The court holds a status hearing within 60 days of DFPS receiving temporary managing conservatorship of the child. 

Substitute Care – A temporary setting for children who are unable to remain safely in their own homes. Substitute care includes foster care, kinship care, and placement in a residential care facility. 

Temporary Managing Conservatorship – A legal order giving all of the following: 

• The right to physical possession of the child. 
• The duty of care, control, and protection. 
• The responsibility to provide for the child’s physical and emotional needs. 

Termination of Parental Rights – A legal action that causes a parent to lose all rights to the child.

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