§7 Glossary

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.

- E -

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.
EDUCATIONAL NEGLECT:
Educational neglect is the 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 by Missouri Law. Section 167.031 RSMo., requires all children ages 7 up to 17 to attend school, except that any child who has successfully completed 16 credits toward high school graduation is not required to attend and therefore does not meet the criteria for educational neglect. Children ages 5 and 6 are required to attend school, when they have been enrolled in a public school by their parent or guardian.
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 ABUSE:
Emotional abuse is included in the legal definition of child abuse. Under Missouri law, child abuse is defined as, ”any physical injury, sexual abuse, or emotional abuse inflicted on a child other than by accidental means by those responsible for the child’s care, custody, and control, except that discipline including spanking, administered in a reasonable manner, shall not be construed to be abuse.” §210.110(1) RSMo.

Emotional abuse is defined by case law as, “an injury to the child’s psychological capacity or emotional stability, which is demonstrated by an observable or substantial change in the child’s behavior, emotional response, or cognition, including anxiety, depression, withdrawal, or aggressive behavior.” The court also held that the state could use witnesses outside of the mental health profession to present evidence that the child’s injury resulted in an observable or substantial change in his behavior, emotional response, or cognition. State of Missouri v. Moran, WD 69397 (Mo.App.W.D. 2009).

EMPOWERMENT:
Services planned to give power and authority to the family.
ENCOPRESIS:
Involuntary passage of feces.
ENURESIS:
Involuntary passage of urine.
EPHPHYSIS:
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.
EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCE:
Exigent circumstance refers to an emergency, a pressing necessity, or a set of circumstances requiring immediate attention or swift action. This could include circumstances when time is of the essence, and the health and safety of the child are involved, for other matters in which it is deemed necessary to ensure the best interest of the child. The term “exigent circumstances” includes unplanned or urgent placements of a child in the custody of the Children’s Division (Compact Council May 2008). Exigent circumstances do not include routine foster or licensed care situations, visitations with relatives or kin, or for the purposes of a child/youth to attend a sleep-over with friends. Exigent circumstances could include a placement disruption in which a perspective relative or kinship provider comes forward with a request for placement consideration of a child already in the custody of the Children’s Division.
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.