§7 Glossary

Children’s Division Glossary "A"

Section 7 is the glossary and reference chapters. The terms in this glossary are legal, medical, psychological, and practice terms commonly used by Children’s Division (CD). However, some of the definitions may not reflect the meaning that the general public uses.

Select a letter from the row below or scroll down to browse the index. Then select a topic from the index list.

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ABANDONMENT:
A parent or custodian’s act of leaving a child without adequate care, supervision, support, or parental contact for an excessive period of time; an expressed or implied intention to sever the parent-child relationship and avoid the obligations arising from the relationship.
ABDOMINAL DISTENTION:
Swelling of the stomach area caused by internal injury or malnutrition.
ABRASION:
Wound in which an area of the body surface is scraped off skin or mucous membranes.
ABUSE:
Any physical injury, sexual abuse, or emotional abuse inflicted on a child other than by accidental means by those responsible for his care, custody, and control, except that discipline including spanking, administered in a reasonable manner, shall not be construed to be abuse.
ABUSIVE HEAD TRAUMA:

A serious physical injury to the head or brain caused by any means, including but not limited to shaking, jerking, pushing, pulling, slamming, hitting, or kicking. [Section 568.060.1 subsection (2)] - (See also SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME and SUBDURAL HEMATOMA)

In Section 568.060.3 RSMo., A person commits the offense of abuse or neglect of a child if such person recklessly causes a child who is less than 18 years of age to suffer from abusive head trauma.

ACUTE PANCREATITIS:
An acute inflammation of the pancreas (the organ in the body that produces and secretes the enzymes that help digest food; also produces insulin). The most common cause of acute pancreatitis in children is trauma.
ADJUDICATORY HEARING:
A court hearing in which the evidence is presented in support of the petition alleging the child is homeless, abused, neglected or dependent. The parents have an opportunity to respond and a judgment is made regarding the petition. Also known as an adjudication hearing or jurisdictional hearing.
ADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE:
Evidence which can legally and properly be used in court.
ADMISSION:
1. A statement tending to establish the guilt of the person making the statement. 2. The transfer of a minor’s physical custody to a detention or shelter facility.
ADOPTED ADULT:
Any adopted person who is 21 years of age or over. (Section 453.120, RSMo.)
ADOPTED CHILD:
Any adopted person who is less than 21 years of age. (Section 453.120, RSMo.)
ADOPTION SUBSIDY:
A financial grant made to a family adopting a child with special needs to assist in meeting the cost of care, treatment and/or the legal process of adoption.
ADOPTIVE FAMILY NEED FOR SUBSIDY:
An assessment of the family’s ability to meet the anticipated cost of meeting the special needs of a child.
ADULT:
A person 18 years of age or older.
ADULT FRIEND:
One who has reached the legal age of majority and is attached to another by affection or esteem and is not hostile to that person.
ADULT SIBLING:
Any brother or sister of whole or half blood who is 18 years of age or over. (Section 453.120, RSMo.)
AFFIDAVIT:
A written statement of facts signed under penalty of perjury, often before a court clerk or notary public who administers the oath to the signing party, who is the affiant or declarant.
AFTERCARE:
Care and treatment for youths who are in a period of re-adjustment after having been placed either on parole or probation by the courts or returned home after placement in out-of-home care. Aftercare is also defined as support services through the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program for youth who exited foster care after age 17.5 but have not yet reached age 21.
AGENCY REPRESENTATIVE:
Highest ranking Children’s Division staff member in respective office. This person shall present and support the agency’s evidence in the state hearing, and has opportunity to cross-examine applicant/resource and/or witnesses during the state hearing.
ALCOHOLISM:
A behavioral disorder in which the consumption of alcoholic beverages is continuous and excessive, and impairs health, social and occupational functioning; a psychological dependence on alcohol.
ALFORD PLEA:
In an Alford Plea, the criminal defendant does not admit the act, but admits that the prosecution could likely prove the charge. If the court accepts the plea the court will pronounce the defendant guilty. If the Court accepts the plea, an Alford plea therefore has the same result as a guilty plea.
ANEMIA:
A blood disorder characterized by a reduction in red blood cell count.
ANOREXIA NERVOSA:
Disorder in which a person is unable to eat or retain any food, or suffers a prolonged and severe decrease in appetite. The individual has an intense fear of becoming obese, feels fat even when emaciated. The person may also have symptoms of depression.
ANTERIOR:
Front of the body.
ANTI-SOCIAL PERSONALITY:
Also called a psychopath, or a sociopath, this person is superficially charming and a habitual liar, has no regard for others, shows no remorse after hurting them, has no shame for behaving in an outrageously objectionable manner, and is unable to form relationships and take responsibility.
ANXIETY:
An unpleasant feeling of fear and apprehension, accompanied by increased physiological arousal. Anxiety can be assessed by self-report, by measuring physiological arousal and by observing overt behavior.
APNEA:
Temporary absence of respiration.
ASSESSMENT:
The consideration of all social, psychological, medical and other factors to determine diagnostic data to be used as a basis for the treatment plan.
AT RISK:
A substantial risk of harm to a child’s health or welfare, or reasonable cause to suspect a child may be subjected to conditions or circumstances which would reasonably result in abuse or neglect.
ATROPHY:
Wasting away of flesh, tissue, cell or organ.
ATTENTION DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER:
Developmentally inappropriate inability to pay attention and impulsiveness. New DSM-4 term for hyperactivity reflecting the belief that hyperactive children suffer from diminished ability to attend to the task at hand. Also commonly known as ADD or ADHD. A child with ADD does not have the hyperactivity compound. Instead they are primarily inattentive. A child with ADHD has both the hyperactivity and inattentive components.
AUTISM:
A neurological or biochemical brain disorder which impairs the development of physical, social, and language skills. The cause of this lifelong condition is still unclear. Autism appears within the first three years of life and is found among children in every ethnic and social background. Five in ten thousand infants are autistic; it is four times more common in boys than in girls. The primary effect of autism seems to be difficulty in understanding messages from the senses, especially sight and hearing. This affects the child’s ability to understand speech and to communicate. In addition to sight and hearing, autistic children frequently have unusual responses to other sensations; a child’s sense of smell, taste, or reactions to touch or pain may be affected. Often the autistic child is very sensitive to bright lights or loud noises. Autistic children often exhibit unusual behavior patterns. They may appear to be very withdrawn, living in a world of their own, absorbed in self or fantasy as a means of avoiding communication and escaping objective reality. Usually they are unable to relate appropriately to other people.
AVITAMINOSIS:
Condition due to complete lack of one or more essential vitamins. (Also see HYPOVITAMINOSIS.)
AVULSION:
Forcible separation or tearing away of a body part or tissue.