Relative Caregiver Glossary of Terms (Definitions)

You may also want to visit the the DCS Glossary

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

any way of settling disagreements outside of the courtroom. Mediation is one of the most common forms of ADR.

Child and Family Team Meeting (CFTM)

DCS defines CFTM as “is a philosophy that supports making the best possible decision in child-welfare cases. The quality of decision making is improved because CFTM includes all parties involved in a child’s case (child if age-appropriate, birth parents and their support system, resource parents, DCS staff, community partners and other involved parties), respecting the expertise that each party brings to the table. CFTM’s should be characterized by respect, honesty, inclusiveness and work towards building consensus in decision-making.” Basically, a CFTM is a meeting where all people that are involved in the child’s case come to talk about what is best for the child in the given situation.

Federal Poverty Guideline

a federal poverty measure given by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It helps agencies determine eligibility for certain programs. It is based upon how many people live in poverty as HHS defines poverty yearly. The guidelines are different based on the size of a family.

Flexible funding

money for services and goods the Department of Children’s Services (DCS) provides to help meet basic needs of children who are at-risk of coming into DCS custody or children in DCS custody. DCS defines flex funds as “monetary resources made available for the purpose of acquiring additional services or goods that can be used to prevent the need for state custody or to return a child home who is in state custody.”

Foster Care Review Board (FCRB)

DCS defines FCRB as “an advisory body appointed by a juvenile court judge(s), which reviews the status of each neglected and dependent, and unruly child’s case in DCS custody at least once in the first 90 days of initial placement and at least within every 6 months thereafter.” Basically, this Board checks to make sure that each foster child is getting the services he or she needs in order to have a safe, permanent living situation.

Guardian ad Litem (GAL)

a GAL is an attorney that the state appoints to represent the best interest of the child.

Home Study

the Department of Children’s Services (DCS) defines this as “the process of evaluating relatives, kin or friends of the family to determine their suitability and willingness to provide a placement for the child before or after they come into foster care.” This involves them visiting the home to make sure that it is safe and appropriate.

Kinship care

the Child Welfare League of America defines kinship care as “the full time care, nurturing and protection of children by relatives, members of their tribes or clans, godparents, stepparents, or any adult who has a kinship bond with a child.

Kinship family

The Relative Caregiver Program defines a kinship family as “all of the members of the relative caregiver’s household.”

Legal Custodian

The Relative Caregiver Program (RCP) defines a legal custodian as “the legal name a relative caregiver may be given after being awarded the temporary legal custody of related child(ren).”

Legal custody

refers to decision-making authority in regards to a child.

Mediation

a practice used to keep people from having to go to court. It is when a neutral person tries to help people, who have a disagreement, create a peaceful compromise.

Parents As Tender Healers (PATH)

the Department of Children’s Service (DCS) defines it as “training for foster care, kinship care and adoptive parents. The training consists of approximately 27 hours of classroom time, and includes homework assignments.” PATH is basically a class for people who want to become a foster or adoptive parent. The class teaches you about being a foster parent, what to expect, and how to deal with certain situations.

Pro Bono

free legal help for individuals or organizations in poor or underserved communities.

Relative caregiver

The Relative Caregiver Program (RCP) defines a relative caregiver as “an individual within a first, second, or third degree of relationship to the parent, or the step-parent of the child. This child is under his or her primary care, control guidance and supervision. Relationship may be established by blood, marriage, or adoption.”

Relative Caregiver Program (RCP)

is a program that was created by the Tennessee General Assembly to support children, who are not living with their parents, and relative caregivers so that the children would not need to enter into state custody. The Department of Children Services (DCS) operates the program. The program offers several supportive services. This includes the following services:

1. Information and Referral (i.e. Material Assistance, Housing Assistance, Legal Services, Mental Health Services, Homemaker Services)
2. Caregiver Support Groups
3. Activity/Support Groups for Children and Teens
4. Educational Workshops
5. Respite & Recreation
6. Family Advocacy (Short-term Case Management for caregiver, child, and birth parents)
7. Outreach
8. Start-up or Emergency Financial Assistance

Respite

a period of rest or relief. Respite care provides a caregiver temporary relief from the responsibilities of caring for individuals.

Shared or joint legal custody

refers to situations in which more than one person has the legal custody and decision-making authority of the child.

Sole legal custody

means that all of the legal custody and decision-making authority of the child is given to one person.

Temporary legal custody

refers to the legal custody and decision-making authority of a child before a final court hearing. However, if no additional court hearing ever happens, temporary legal custody can last until a child is 18 years old. The Relative Caregiver Program (RCP) defines temporary legal custody as “a legal relationship awarded by an appropriate court between the relative caregiver and child(ren).”