(Posted 2022 April)
If you have ever been confused by unfamiliar jargon used by staff in Foster Care and Adoption, you are not alone! Sometimes it can feel like you have to decipher a code to have a conversation.
With that in mind, use this handy cheat sheet for understanding acronyms or abbreviations that you may hear staff in Foster Care and Adoption use from time to time!
Acronym |
Meaning |
Acronym |
Meaning |
| AFCARS | Adoption and Foster Care Analysis Reporting System | FPM | Family Partnership Meeting |
| APR | Administrative Panel Review | GAL | Guardian ad Litem |
| AREVA | Adoption Resource Exchange of Virginia | ICPC | Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children |
| ASFA | Adoption and Safe Families Act | ICWA | Independent Living |
| CFSR | Child and Family Services Review | IV-E | Foster Care Maintenance (refers to Title IV-E of the Social Security Act) |
| CHINS | Child in Need of Services/Supervision | JDRDC | Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court |
| COV | Code of Virginia | LDSS | Local Department of Social Services |
| CPA | Child Placing Agency | MEPA | Multi-Ethnic Placement Act |
| CPMT | Community Policy and Management Team | OASIS | Online Automated Services Information System |
| CPS | Child Protective Services | OOF | Out of Family |
| CRAFFT | Community Resource, Adoptive and Foster Family Training | PIP | Program Improvement Plan |
| CSA | Comprehensive Services Act | PRO | Preliminary Removal Order |
| CSB | Community Services Board | ROCO | Regional Office/Central Office |
| CWLA | Child Welfare League of America | SDM | Structured Decision-Making |
| DBHDS | Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services |
SNAP | Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program |
| DCSE | Division of Child Support Enforcement | SSI | Supplemental Security Income |
| DJJ | Department of Juvenile Justice | TANF | Temporary Assistance for Needy Families |
| DOE | Department of Education | TPR | Termination of Parental Rights |
| EPSDT | Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment |
VAC | Virginia Administrative Code |
| ERO | Emergency Removal Order | VDSS | Virginia Department of Social Services |
| FAPT | Family Assessment and Planning Team | VEMAT | Virginia Enhanced Maintenance Assessment Tool |
| FC(&A) | Foster Care (& Adoption) | VIEW | Virginia Initiative for Employment, Not Welfare |
This article posting is part of the Foster Family News monthly newsletter designed to keep foster parents informed about all the new and notable happenings in Fairfax County.
Learn about what the Foster Care and Adoption program has planned for foster families - stay on top of trends, participate in trainings and learn about policy changes.