REVISED: February 2023
Child welfare is a difficult place to spend your time … it can almost simultaneously provide you with the most rewarding, frustrating, exciting and depressing experiences you have ever felt.
One frustration shared often — even by “seasoned” foster parents — is that it seems like everyone in child welfare talks funny (and writes even worse!) The worst offenders seem to just vomit alphabet soup every time they open their mouth. (Keep in mind, they accumulate these acronyms over a period of time immersed in the system, how’s a foster parent supposed to keep up?)
In our effort to help Foster and Adoptive Parents navigate the system, we’ve compiled a list of more than 550 acronyms that we have accumulated that may help you better understand what your CM means when they say that “The ICPC will be requested by CLS (or SAO/SAG) at the JR unless the GAL or AAL object.” … OK?
If you have any additions, click here. To download this list as a PDF, click here.
0-1 • A • B • C • D • E • F • G • H • I • J • K • L • M • N • O • P • Q • R • S • T • U • V • W • X • Y • Z
120, 120 Hearing – Chapter 120 of the Florida admin code that deals with due process rights with decisions made by agents of the state
4C – Community Coordinated Care for Children (Community Services Council in Orlando, Contracts with ELCs in Orange, Osceola counties to oversee VPK, Headstart and School Readiness)
504 (Plan) – educational plan developed for child with disability that includes accomodations (federal law)
65c-10 – Florida Administrative Code (rules) regarding child protective investigations (DCF is rulemaking authority) REPEALED, Replaced by 65c-29
65c-11 – Florida Administrative Code (rules) regarding child protective services (DCF is rulemaking authority) REPEALED, Replaced by 65c-29
65c-12 – Florida Administrative Code (rules) regarding emergency shelter care (DCF is rulemaking authority) REPEALED
65c-13 – Florida Administrative Code (rules) for foster parent licensing (DCF is rulemaking authority) REPEALED
65c-14 – Florida Administrative Code (rules) regarding child-caring agency licensing (DCF is rulemaking authority) Mostly REPEALED, some parts transferred to 65C-46
65c-15 – Florida Administrative Code (rules) regarding child-placing agencies (DCF is rulemaking authority)
65c-16 – Florida Administrative Code (rules) regarding adoptions (DCF is rulemaking authority)
65c-28 – Florida Administrative Code (rules) regarding out of home care (DCF is rulemaking authority)
65c-29 – Florida Administrative Code (rules) regarding child protective investigations (DCF is rulemaking authority)
65c-30 – Florida Administrative Code (rules) regarding general child welfare provisions (DCF is rulemaking authority)
65c-35 – Florida Administrative Code (rules) regarding psychotropic medications for children in out of home care (DCF is rulemaking authority)
65c-41 – Florida Administrative Code (rules) regarding extended foster care (DCF is rulemaking authority)
65c-42 – Florida Administrative Code (rules) regarding Road to Independence (DCF is rulemaking authority)
65c-45 – Florida Administrative Code (rules) regarding levels of licensure (DCF is rulemaking authority)
A/N – Abuse and/or Neglect
AAL – Attorney ad Litem (Note: plural is “Attorneys as Litem” … possessive is “Attorney ad Litem’s”)
AARC – Adoption Application Review Committee
ABA – American Bar Association
ABA – Applied Behavioral Analysis
ACCESS – Program used by Economic Self-Sufficiency program to allow customers to connect with their public assistance info
ACE/ACES – Adverse Childhood Experiences
ADA – Americans with Disabilities Act
ADD – Attention Deficit Disorder
ADHD – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
ADJ – Adjudication
ADM – Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Office
ADR – Alternative Dispute Resolution
ADS – Affidavit of Diligent Search
AES – Adoption Exchange System
AFCARS – Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (national data collection)
AG – Office of Attorney General (acts as CLS in some counties)
AHCA – Agency for Health Care Administration
AIDS – Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
ALJ – Administrative Law Judge
AP – Absent Parent (Not recommended, careful with context can mean “adoptive parent” or “alleged perpatrator”)
AP – Adoptive Parent (Not recommended, careful with context can mean “absent parent” or “alleged perpatrator”)
AP – Alleged Perpetrator (Not recommended, careful with context can mean “absent parent” or “adoptive parent”)
APD – Agency for Persons with Disabilities
APE – Adapted Physical Education
APHSA – American Public Human Services Association
APPLA – Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement
APS – Adult Protective Services
ARIS – Abuse Reporting Information Services
ARS – Adoption & Related Services
ASA – Assistant State Attorney
ASFA – Adoption & Safe Families Act
ASL – American Sign Language
AT – Assistive Technology
ATC – Adoption Tax Credit
ATTY – Attorney
BA – Behavior Analyst
BA or BA-52 – Baker Act (Involuntary Commitment for mental health; up to 72 hours)
BASP – Behavior Analysts Services Program
BBCBC – Big Bend Community Based Care
BD – Behavior Disorder
BD – Bio Dad or Birth Dad (informal, generally on social media discussions between foster parents)
BFP – Brevard Family Partnership (CBC Circuit 18)
BIA – Bureau of Indian Affairs
BIP – Batterers Intervention Program/Plan
BM – Bio Mom or Birth Mom (informal, generally on social media discussions between foster parents)
BSHCN – Federal Bureau of Special Health Care Needs
BSIU – Background Screening and Investigation Unit
BSW – Bachelor’s of Social Work
C-# – Judicial Circuit (i.e. C-6 or C6 = Circuit 6) Florida has 20 judicial circuits, most consist of multiple counties.
CAC – Community Advisory Committee on Special Education
CAC – Children’s Advocacy Center. In many counties, provides forensic examinations and interviews for allegations of child abuse, and provides therapy for sexually abused children and non-offending parents.
CAM – Child Advocate Manager (part of the GAL office)
CAP – Corrective Action Plan
CAPTA – Child Abuse Prevention Treatment Act
CASA – “Court Appointed Special Advocate” (Florida uses term Guardian Ad Litem (GAL)
CASE – Community Alliance for Special Education
CATT – Child to Adult Transition Team
CBC – Community Based Care
CBCCF, CBCCFL – Community Based Care of Central Florida (CBC serving circuits 9 and 18; Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties)
CBHA – Comprehensive Behavioral Health Assessment
CBT – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT – Competency Based Training
CD – Chemical Dependency
CDRT – Child Death Review Team
CE – Continuing Education
CEC – Continuing Education Credits
CEU – Continuing Education Units (Credits)
CFOP, OP – Children and Families Operating Procedures
CFSR – Child and Family Services Review
CFWB – Child and Family Well-Being
CH – Child
CHAMPs – Children Need Amazing Parents; a national communications and policy campaign focused on quality parenting (Part of QPI program)
Chapter 39 – Florida Statute relating to children
Chapter 409 – Florida Statutes regulating social & economic assistance (also outlines CBC and DCF duties and accountability)
Chapter 63 – Florida Statutes regulating Adoption
CHN – Children’s Home Network
Chrono – Chronological Notes
CHS – Childrens Home Society (child welfare services provider across the state of Florida, services vary by area)
CIC – Child in Care
CIO – Chief Information Officer
CIP – Court Improvement Program/Continuous Improvement Program
CIRRT – Critical Incident Rapid Response Team (Multidiciplinary team from DCF that investigates child fatalities)
CIS – Client Information System
CJC – Child Justice Center
CJIS – Criminal Justice Information Services
CLS – Children’s Legal Services (Attorney)
CM – Case Manager
CMA – Case Management Agency (same as CMO)
CMAT – Children’s Multidisciplinary Team
CMH – Children Mental Health
CMO – Case Management Organization
CMS – Children’s Medical Services
CN or CNI – ChildNet, Inc. Broward and Palm Beach (CBC, Circuits 15 & 17)
CNSWFL – Childrens Network Southwest Florida (CBC in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties; Circuit 20)
CoF – Circle of Friends – http://www.cofsfl.org/index.php
CoP – Circle of Parents
CP – Cerebral Palsy
CP – Case Plan
CPA – Child Placing Agency
CPC – Community Partnership for Children
CPC – Case Planning Conference
CPC – Child Protection Center
CPI – Child Protective Investigator
CPIS – Child Protective Investigator Supervisor
CPP – Child Parent Psychotherapy(ist)
CPS – Child Protection Specialist
CPT – Child Protection Team
CQI – Continuous Quality Improvement (process)
CRC – Case Review Committee
CRP – Citizen Review Panel
CS – Courtesy Supervision
CSA – Abuse Report/Child Safety Assessment
CSA – Caregiver Support Agency
CSC – Childrens Service Council; special taxing district under FS Ch 125 and the agencies created to manage funds and services for the needs of chidren in that community
CSE – Child Support Enforcement
CSEC – Commercial Sexual Exploitation of a Child (Human Trafficking)
CSFR – Child and Family Services Review
CSP – Child Support Program (Formerly CSE – Child Support Enforcement)
CSM – Caregiver Support Manager
CSU – Crisis Stabilization Unit
CTF – Client Trust Fund
CTS – Case Transfer Staffing
CV – Child Victim
CW – Caseworker
CWLS – Child Welfare Legal Services
CWPMHP – Child Welfare Prepaid Mental Health Plan
CWSP – Child Welfare Specialty Plan
Cx – Child/Children
D&A – Drug and Alcohol (Not recommended, only useful in print, verbally challenging as it sounds like “DNA”)
D&E – Diagnostic & Evaluation
DA – District Administrator
DB – Deaf/Blind
DCA – District Court of Appeals
DCF, The Department – Florida Department of Children & Families
DCIC – Dependency Court Improvement Council/Committee
DCM – Dependency Case Manager
DCMS – Dependency Case Manager Supervisor
DD – Developmental Disability
DFL – Directions For Living (a social services provider in the Tampa Bay Area with focus on mental health; also a CMO in Pinellas County)
DHHS – Department of Health and Human Services
DIS – Designated Instruction and Services
Dispo – Dispositional hearing
DJJ – Florida Department of Juvenile Justice
DNA – Deoxyribonucleic acid (Molecular level of blood that contains genetic information, used for paternity/relative testing)
DOAH – Administrative Hearings (120 Hearing) – Acronym stands for Division of Administrative Hearings
DOB – Date of Birth
DOC – Department of Corrections
DOD – Date of Death
DOE – U.S. Department of Education
DOH – Department of Health (usually reference to the state or local entity, federal is HHS or Dept of Health and Human Services)
DOR – Florida Department of Revenue
DPM – District Program Manager
DQM – Data Quality Management
DREDF – Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund
DS – Developmental Services
DSM – Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (currently in 5th edition so sometimes DSM-5); official US classifications for diagnoses of disorders
DTF – Diversity Task Force (Not recommended, there are other informal uses of this acronym that are sexual in nature)
DV – Domestic Violence
DV – Domestic Violence
DVRA – Domestic Violence Risk Assessment
E-MAS – Extended Maintenance Adoption Subsidy
EBP – Evidence Based Practice
ECA – Eckerd Community Alternatives (former name of Eckerd Kids CBCs in Tampa Bay Area) – No longer in service as CBC effective 2023
ECC – Early Childhood Court
ED – Emotionally Disturbed
EFC – Extended Foster Care/Enhanced Foster Care
EH – Emotionally Handicapped
EHS – Early Head Start
EI – Early Intervention
ELC – Early Learning Coalition, local branch of Florida’s office of Early Learning; oversees VPK and school readiness programs (including child care assitance funding)
ELL – English Language Learner (previously ESL)
EMH – Emotionally & Mentally Handicapped
EPSDT – Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, Treatment
ER – Emergency Room
ERAT – Emergency Response Assessment Team
ES – Emergency Shelter
ESI – Early Services Intervention
ESS – Economic Self-Sufficiency (public assistance program)
ESSA – Every Student Succeeds Act, Federal education legislation passed in Dec. 2015, updates/replaces No Child Left Behind in many cases.
ESY – Extended School Year
EYA – Eckerd Youth Alternatives (One of many names of former CBC “Eckerd,” formerly served in circuits 6 & 13)
FAC – Florida Administrative Code, documents how state agencies apply statutes
FAF – Fostering Achievement Fellowship
FAHIS – Florida Abuse Hotline Information System
FAPA – Foster and Adoptive Parent Association
FAPE – Free and Appropriate Public Education
FAS – Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
FASD – Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
FAST – Foster Allegations Support Team
FBA – Functional Behavioral Assessment
FBCH – Florida Baptist Children’s Home (service provider and CMO in many areas of state)
FBO – Faith Based Organization
FC – Foster Care
FC – Foster child (tends to be more casual use, i.e. among foster parents on closed social media groups)
FCC – Florida Coalition for Children (Comprised of various CBCs and child welfare provider agencies)
FCM – Family Care Manager
FCP – Family Centered Practice
FD – Foster daughter (tends to be more casual use, i.e. among foster parents on closed social media groups)
FDLE – Florida Department of Law Enforcement
FDLRS – Florida Diagnostic & Learning Resources System
FERPA – Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
FF – Family Finding/Family Finders
FFA – Family Functioning Assessment
FFCPBC – Friends of Foster Children Palm Beach County (Foster & Adoptive Parent Association)
FFH – Family Foster Home
FFN – Families First Network
FH – Foster Home
FHD – Foster Home Development (Licensing)
FICW – Florida Institute for Child Welfare – http://ficw.fsu.edu/
FIP – Family Integrity Program -St. Johns County Bd. of Commissioners (CBC, Circuit 7)
FL CFSR – Florida Child and Family Service Review
FLAC – Florida Local Advocacy Council
FLAG – Family Law Advisory Group
FMLA – Family Medical Leave Act (Federal law regarding upaid family leave)
FP – Foster Parent(s)
FPA – Foster Parent Association (see also FAPA, FSFAPA & NFPA)
FS – Foster son (tends to be more casual use, i.e. among foster parents on closed social media groups)
FS – Florida Statutes
FSA – Family Safety Alliance
FSC – Family Services Counselor (term used in place of “case manager” or “case worker” in some agencies)
FSFAPA – Foster State Foster/Adoptive Parent Association (Now “FloridaFAPA,” see also FPA & NFPA)
FSFN – Florida Safe Families Network – State controlled database of all case related information
FSPT – Family Services Planning Team
FSS – Familiy Support Services (CBC in circuits 4 & 6)
FST – Family Services Team
FSW – Family Support Worker
FSYR – Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches
FTC – Family Treatment Court
FTF/F2F – Face to Face
FTM – Family Team Meeting
FTT – Failure to Thrive (common diagnosis for children coming into the system, generally associated with undersize, underweight and/or behind on development)
FVS – Family Voluntary Services
Fx – Father
FY – Fiscal Year (Child welfare operates on government fiscal year; July 1-June 30
FYLA – Florida Youth Leadership Academy
GAL – Guardian ad Litem (Note: plural is “Guardians ad litem;” possessive is “Guardian ad Litem’s”)
GAP – Guardianship Assistance Program
GF (GF!) – Go Foster! (online support groups)
GFx – Grandfather
GH – Group Home
GMx – Grandmother
Gulf Coast JFCS – Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services
HB – House Bill (Federal or State legislation)
HCFPA – Hillsborough County Family Partnership Alliance (Foster & Adoptive Parent Association)
HCICA – Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption (Netherlands); governs international adoptions between US and 75 countries, implemented by IAA
HFC – Heartland For Children (CBC in Polk, Hardee & Highlands counties – Circuit 10)
HHS – US Department of Health and Human Services, Cabinet level agency (federal iteration of “health department”)
HI – Hearing Impaired
HIPPA – Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996; often cited for rules establishing data privacy and safeguarding of data
HIV – Human Immunodeficiency Virus (the virus which leads to AIDS)
HKI – Hillsborough Kids Inc (former Tampa CBC)
HMO – Health Maintenance Organization
HOH – Hard of Hearing
Hotline – Child Abuse Hotline
HS – Home Study
HS – Head Start (school readiness program/education)
HV – Home Visit
I&P – Intake & Placement
IAA – Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000, federal law enacting Hague Convention of Intercountry Adoptions in US
ICAMA – Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance
ICCP – Intensive Crisis Counseling Program
ICP – Initial Case Plan
ICPC – Interstate Compact for Placement of Children
ICSA – Initial Child Safety Assessment
ICWA – Indian Child Welfare Act
ICWSIS – Integrated Child Welfare Services Information System
ID – Intellectual Disability (to replace MR)
IDEA – Federal law; Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2004
IDS – Initial Decision Summary
IEE – Independent Educational Evaluation
IEP – Individualized Education Plan/Program (under Federal Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2004)
IEPA – Interethnic Adoption Provisions of 1996 (Federal legislationt that removed many hurdles to adoptions across ethnicities)
IES – Information & Eligibility Specialist
IFPS – Intensive Family Preservation Services
IFSP – Individualized Family Service Plan
IG – Inspector General (Internal compliance inspector within DCF and many other state agencies)
IL – Independent Living
ILP – Independent Living Program
ILS – Independent Living Services
IPP – Individual Program Plan (Regional Center)
IR-3 – IR-3 Visa for intercountry adoption (completed abroad)
IR-4 – IR-4 Visa for intercountry adoption (to be finalized in the US)
IRAS – Incident Reporting and Analysis System
IRS – Internal Revenue Service (federal)
ISS – International Social Services
ITP – Individual Transition Plan
IV-B – Portion of the social security act whose monies are used for services related to prevention of and response to child abuse and neglect
IV-E – Title IV-E funds (Social Security Administration): Federal funds that provide primary funding for social welfare programs and policies
JAC – Justice Administrative Commission
JAC – Juvenile Assessment Center
JDC – Juvenile Detention Center
JJ – Juvenile Justice
JJIS – Juvenile Justice Information Services
JR – Judicial Review
JRSSR – Judicial Review and Social Study Report (filed by Case Manager)
JTT – Just in Time Trainings
JWB – Juvenile Welfare Board (Childrens Service Council in Pinellas County)
KCI – Kids Central Inc. (CBC in Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion and Sumter counties – Circuit 5)
KFF – Kids First of Florida, Inc. (CBC in Clay County, Circuit 4)
LCSW – Licensed Clinical Social Worker
LD – Learning Disability
LE/ LEO – Law Enforcement/ Law Enforcement Officer
LEA – Local Education Agency
LEO – Law Enforcement Officer
LEP – Limited English Proficient
Level 1/L1 – Relative/Nonrelative Foster Homes
Level 2/L2 – Traditional Foster Homes
LGBTQ – Lesbian, Gay, Bisexal, Trans, Queer
LMHC – Licensed Mental Health Clinician
LOC – Level of Care Staffing
LRE – Least Restrictive Environment
LSF – Lake Sumter Families – foster adoptive parent association for Lake and Sumter Counties
LSF – Lutheran Services Florida (CMO or service provider; provides case management in Pinellas County)
MAPP – Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting (one Foster Parent preservice training option)
MAS – Maintenance Adoption Subsidy
MBI – Manifest Best Interest Hearing
MCR – Missing Child Report
MD – Multiple Disabilities
MDCFAPA – Miami Dade County Foster Adoptive Parent Association
MDT – Multidisciplinary Team (also MDT Staffing)
ME – Managing Entity
ME – Medical Examiner
MEPA – Multiethnic Placement Act
MGF/MGFx – Maternal Grandfather
MGM/MGMx – Maternal Grandmother
MGP – Maternal Grandparent
MH – Mental Health
MH – Multiple Handicapped
MIBH – Manifest Best Interest Hearing
Misd – Misdemeanor
MJV – My Jump Vault
MO – Month
MR – Mental Retardation
MRC – Multidisciplinary Review Committee (formally FSPT & CRC)
MS – Multiple Sclerorsis
MSW – Master’s of Social Work
MTAM – Master Trust Account Manager
MTF – Master Trust Fund (Account for holding benefit funds for child in care; genrally Social Security or SSI; can be child support, Veteran’s benefits etc.)
MTSS – Multi-Tiered System of Support Process (part of IEP/504 federal education laws)
Mx – Mother
NACAC – North American Council on Adoptable Children
NAMI – National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
NAS – Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (group of problems that occur in newborns opiate exposed prior to birth)
NCANDS – National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System
NCIC – National Crime Information Center
NCJFCJ – National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
NCLB – No Child Left Behind, passed 2012, generally superseded by ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act in 2015
NCMEC – National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
NCSC – National Center for State Courts
NFPA – National Foster Parent Association
NICU – Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit
NIH – National Instutie of Health (part of US Dept of Health and Human Services)
NIMH – National Institute for Mental Health (part of National Institute of Health under US Dept. of Health and Human Services); researches mental health disorders
NPA – Nonpublic Agency
NPS – Nonpublic School (private)
NYDT – National Youth in Transition Survey
OAG – Office of the Attorney General (Acts as CLS in some counties)
OAH – Office of Administrative Hearings
OCI – Office of Court Improvement
OCR – U.S. Office for Civil Rights
OCS – On-Campus Suspension
OCS – Out-of-county services
ODD – Oppositional Defiance Disorder
OEL – Office for Early Learning
OEO – Office of Equal Opportunity / CDE
OHC – Out of Home Care
OHI – Other Health Impaired
OHU – One Hope United
OI – Orthopedically Impaired
OK – Our Kids Miami-Dade/Monroe, Inc. (FORMER CBC, Circuits 11 & 16)
OOH, OOHC – Out of Home Care (also OHC)
OPA – Operations Program Administrator
OPHA – Other Parent Home Assessment
ORC – Office of Regional Counsel
OSCA – Office of the State Courts Administrator
OSEP – U.S. Office of Special Education Programs / DOE
OSERS – U.S. Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Programs
OT – Occupational Therapy/Therapist
OT/PT – Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy
OTI – Out of Town Inquiry
P4P – Parents for Parents program
Pa – Parent
PA – Performance Agreement
PA – Program Administrator
PA – Parent Ally
PAI – Protection and Advocacy, Inc.
PCFAPA – Pinellas County Foster and Adoptive Parent Association, Pasco County Foster And Adoptive Parent Association
PCIT – Parent-Child Interactive Therapy
PD – Police Department
PD – Program Director
PD – Public Defender
PDA – Present Danger Assessment
PDC – Professional Development Center
PDD – Pervasive Developmental Disorder
PDR – Pre-Dispositional Report
PDS – Predisposition Study
PE, Psych Eval – Psychological Evaluation
PESS – Post Secondary Education and Support Services
PF – Protective Factor (risk factor for abuse/safety of child or caregiver’s ability to protect/bond with child), used in investivgations/removals
PFFC – Preserving Families and Fostering Connections
PFSF – Partnership for Strong Families (CBC in Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Taylor, Baker, Suwanee and Union counties; Circuit 3 & 8)
PG – Permanent Guardianship
PGF/PGFx – Paternal Grandfather
PGM/PGMx – Paternal Grandmother
PGP – Paternal grandparent(s)
PHN – Public Health Nurse
PIP – Program Improvement Plan/Performance Improvement Plan
PL – Public Law
PO – Probation Officer or Police Officer
POA – Program Operations Administrator
POS – Purchase of Service(s) agreement
PPS – Post-Placement Supervision
PRIDE – Parent Resource for Information Development Education (an option for Foster Parent preservice training; alternative to MAPP)
PS – Protective Services or Protective Supervision
PSF – Partnership for Strong Families
PSRS – Procedural Safeguards and Referral Services / CDE
PSS – Placement Support Staffing
PSSF – Promoting Safe and Stable Families program/legislation (federal)
PT – Physical Therapy/Therapist
PTI – Parent Training and Information Center
PTSD – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
PU – Progress Update
PWN – Prior Written Notice
Px – Parent
QA – Quality Assurance (Can also be for a Quality Assurance Review)
QE – Qualified Evaluator
QPI – Quality Parenting Initiative
QPT – Quality Parenting Training (a foster parent pre-service training, alternative to MAPP; may also be used as generic term for any QPI training)
R&R – Rights & Responsibilities
RA – Risk Assessment
RAD – Reactive Attachment Disorder
RAP – Refugee Assistance Program
RCF – Relative Caregiver Funds
RCP – Relative Caregiver Program
RDC – Remote Data Capture
RFA – Request for Assistance/Action
RGC – Residential Group Care
RGC – Residential Group Care
RMD – DCF Regional Managing Director
RSF – Rapid Safety Feedback
RSP – Resource Specialist Program
RTC – Residential Treatment Center
RTI – Response to Intervention
RTI – Road to Independence (the old IL program)
Rule – Usually refers to Florida Administrative Code, documenting how state agencies will implement state statutes
RVP – Regional Vice President (Formerly used by FloridaFAPA as representative designated to an area of the state)
SA – Sexual Abuse (not recommended to use except in close conversation, i.e. to avoid using term in front of child due to confusion with “Substance Abuse”
SA – State Attorney (State Attorney’s Office acts as CLS in some counties)
SA – Substance Abuse
SAMH – Substance Abuse Mental Health
SAMHSA – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
SAO – State Attorney’s Office (acts as Childrens Legal Services – CLS – in some circuits in Florida)
SATP – Sexual Abuse Treatment Program
SB – Senate Bill (Federal or State legislation)
SBS – Shaken Baby Syndrome
SCC – Safe Children Coalition (former Pinellas Pasco CBC, still in Manatee, Sarasota)
SCC – Self-contained Classroom
SCF – Super Cool Foster (Facebook Support Group program of Go Foster!)
SCHIP – State Children’s Health Insurance Program (under Title XXI of Social Security Act) federal funded plan administered by each state
SDC – Special Day Class
SDE – State Department of Education
SDMM – Safety Decision Making Methodology
SEA – State Education Agency
SED – Severely Emotionally Disturbed
SELPA – Special Education Local Plan Area
SEN – Substance Exposed Newborn
SERR – “Special Education Rights and Responsibilities” book
SFFAPA – South Florida Foster Adoptive Parent Association
SH – Severely Handicapped
SIDS – Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
SIPP – Statewide Inpatient Psychiatrist Placement/Program
SLD – Specific Learning Disability
SLI – Speech/Language Impaired
SLP – Speech Language Pathologist
SMS – Safety Management Services
SNA – Special Needs Adoption
SNAP – Supplemental Nutrition Assitance Program (formerly food stamps)
SO – Sheriffs Office (often preceeded by letters representing jurisdiction; i.e. PCSO could be Pinellas County Sheriffs Office … or Pasco, Polk, Putnam etc.)
SOC – Systems of Care
SP – Safety Plan
SPED – Special Education
SPOA – Single Point of Access
SRQ – Sarasota County
SSA – Social Security Administration
SSDI – Social security disability insurance (or income) payments for disability
SSI – Supplemental Security Income
SSN – Social Security Number
SST – Student Study Team
STAR – California’s Standard Testing and Reporting
STFC – Specialized Therapuetic Foster Care
STFH – Specialized Therapuetic Foster Home
STGH – Specialized therapeutic group home
SUD – Substance Use Disorder
SW – Social Worker
TANF – Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
TBI – Traumatic Brain Injury
TBOSS – Therapeutic Behavioral On Site Services
TBRI – Trust-Based Relational Interventions (an emerging intervention model for a wide range of childhood behavioral problems)
TCM – Targeted Case Manager
TF-CBT – Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
TFC – Therapuetic Foster Care (sometimes STFC – adds “Specialized”)
TFH – Therapeutic Foster Home (sometimes STFH – adds “Specialized”)
TGC – Therapeutic Group Care
TGH – Therapuetic Group Home
TIC – Trauma Informed Care
Title IV-E – Part of the Social Security Act; The major source of federal funds for child welfare, specifies eligibility and allowable use of funds
Title XIX, XIX – Portion of the Social Security Act that establishes Medicaid as well as related funding and regularions
TPR – Termination of Parental Rights
TSS – Transitional Support Services
Tx – Treatment/Therapy
UA – Urine Analysis / urninalysis (drug testing)
UCCJEA – Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act
UFC – Unified Family Courts
UHS – Unified Home Study
UM – Utilization Management
UMCH – United Methodist Children’s Home; service provider or case management agency in many areas of state
USCIS – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
USDA – US Dept. of Agriculture
VC – Victim Child
VI – Visually Impaired
VPK – Voluntary PreKindergarten Education (administered by local Early Learning Coalitions – ELC)
VPS – Voluntary Protective Services
WIC – Women, Infants & Children Program
WRAP – Wraparound Services
WWK – Wendy’s Wonderful Kids
XIX (Title XIX) – Portion of the Social Security Act that establishes Medicaid as well as related funding and regularion
YFA – Youth & Family Alternatives (CMO, provides case management in Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties)
YLC – Youth Law Center (started QPI, involved in many child welfare initiatives)
YSS – Youth Support Services
YTM – Youth Transition Meeting
YTT – Youth Transition Team
