Children's Division Glossary "E"

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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ECCHYMOSIS:  The passage of blood from ruptured blood vessels into subcutaneous tissue, marked by a purple discoloration of the skin that is larger than a pinpoint and usually several centimeters in size.

ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS APPROACH:  Observing relationships within the family and its relationship to outside systems.

ECO MAP:  Family charting diagram which uses circles and lines to depict the family’s  ecological systems.

EDEMA:  Swelling caused by an excessive amount of fluid in body tissue.  It often follows a bump or bruise.

EDUCATION:  The process of training and developing the knowledge, skill, mind, character, especially by formal school teaching, training.

EDUCATION NEGLECT:  Failure by the person responsible for the care, custody, and control of the child to provide an appropriate education and to promote school attendance as required for children ages 7 to 16, and children 5 and 6, when they have been enrolled in public school.

ELIGIBILITY SPECIALIST (ES):  The Children's Services professional responsible for Title IV-E and Title XIX eligibility determinations and the completion and coordination of SSI applications and appeals.

EMANCIPATED MINOR:  A juvenile who has been released from parental control and supervision.

EMERGENCY:  A situation where there is reason to believe an immediate threat to a child’s safety or well-being exists.

EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE SERVICES:  A program under Title IV-A of the Social Security Act which is designed to assist families through a family crisis.  The crisis may be the result of a CA/N report, a child needing, or at risk of needing, out-of-home care, or a family emergency which places a child at risk of CA/N.  The Emergency Assistance Services (EAS) program includes investigatory, eligibility determination and purchased services activities delivered in a 365 day time period once within a 12 month time period.

EMERGENCY FOSTER HOMES:  Children’s Division licensed specifically-for-emergency-foster-care homes who are available 24 hours/day to receive children placed in the custody of the Division; or other licensed/approved private or juvenile court homes/facilities who have approved contracts/agreements with Children’s Division.  These homes are only used for children on a short-term basis of no more than 30 days.  When a child is placed, a per diem is paid.

EMERGENCY FOSTER HOME PAYMENT:  Agreed upon monthly availability rate paid to licensed foster family for maintaining their home for immediate placement of a child at any time during a 24 hour period.

EMERGENCY PLACEMENT:  Placement made on short notice at any time during a 24 hour period and which will not exceed 30 days.

EMOTIONAL/MENTAL HEALTH:  Barriers exist which prevent or could prevent a child from healthy social, psychological and emotional development (emotional maltreatment, isolation of family, exposure to violence or illegal acts, targeted child and lack of positive social stimulation by a caregiver).

EMOTIONAL MALTREATMENT OR NEGLECT:  A passive or active patterned, non-nurturing behavior by a parent or caretaker that negatively affects and/or handicaps a child emotionally, psychologically, physically, intellectually, socially, and/or developmentally.

EMPOWERMENT:  Services planned to give power and authority to the family.

ENCOPRESIS:  Involuntary passage of feces.

ENURESIS:  Involuntary passEPHPHYSIS:  Growth center near the end of a long bone.  It is usually wider than the shaft of the bone and is separated from the shaft by a growth plate.

EPIDURAL HEMATOMA:  Blood that is above the dura.

ETHNIC GROUP:  People who identify with others in a group through common ancestry.

EVIDENCE:  Generally, any sort of proof put forth during a trial for the purpose of influencing the judgment.

1. Circumstantial:  Evidence of circumstances from which another fact may be inferred.
2. Direct:  First-hand evidence, usually of a witness who saw an act committed.
3. Hearsay:  Second-hand evidence, generally consisting of a witness' testimony that he heard someone say something.  Though there are numerous exceptions to the rule, hearsay evidence is generally inadmissible because the person making the statement is not available for cross-examination, and because it is inherently unreliable.
4. Opinion:  If a witness is qualified as an expert in a particular field, he or she will be allowed to state his or her opinion as an expert based on certain facts.
5. Physical:  Any tangible piece of proof (document, x-ray, weapon, etc.).  Also called "real" evidence.

EXPERT WITNESS STATUS:  That status accorded a witness when asked to provide testimony for the purpose of providing greater understanding to the court in arriving at a decision.  Such status is based on education, background and experience.  The parties may stipulate that a witness is an "expert", or a series of questions may be asked to establish a witness' "expert" qualifications.  Such questioning establishes that the witness' opinion is of sufficient weight to be admissible and advisory in nature to the court.  This is not to be confused with testimony provided by Division staff when subpoenaed to provide facts relating to the provision of protective services in a specific family situation.

EXPUNGEMENT:  The destruction of identifying information.

EXTRAVASTED BLOOD:  Discharge or escape of blood into tissue.

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