Children's Division Glossary "P" & "Q"
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.
A • B • C • D • E • F • G • H • I • JKL • M • N • O • PQ • R • S • T • UV • WXYZ
PARANOIA: A general term for delusions of persecution, grandeur, or both, found in several pathological conditions. Essentially, a person believes his/her difficulties are intentionally caused by others. It can be produced by large doses of certain drugs, such as cocaine and alcohol.
PARANOID PERSONALITY DISORDER: This person, expecting to be mistreated by others, becomes suspicious, secretive, jealous, and argumentative. He or she will not accept blame and appears cold and unemotional.
PARANOID SCHIZOPHRENIC: Psychotic patient who has numerous systematized delusions, as well as hallucinations and ideas of reference. He or she may also be agitated, angry, argumentative, and sometimes violent.
PARENS PARTRIAE: A Latin phrase used to describe the power of the state to act in place of the parents for the purpose of protecting the property and person of a child.
PARENT: Either biological or adoptive parent of the child regardless of who has primary responsibility for the child.
PATROL: The Missouri State Highway Patrol.
PARTY TO A PETITION: Any individual who brings a legal action, is a named defendant, or is denominated in statute as a party in a court proceeding.
PERINATAL: Around the time of birth, both immediately before and afterward.
PERIOSTEAL ELEVATON: The ripping or tearing of the surface layer of the bone (periosteum) and the resultant hemorrhage, occurring when a bone is broken. The periosteum can be elevated or raised usually because of bleeding between the periosteum and the bone, or it can be elevated because of infection. Bleeding usually occurs because of trauma.
PERITONITIS: Inflammation of the membrane lining of the abdomen (peritoneum); caused by infection.
PERMANENCY PLANNING REVIEW: An administrative process conducted for the purpose of objectively determining the continuing appropriateness of a child's placement, a child's progress in care toward the short and long-range goals, and the need for continued care.
PERMANENCY PLANNING REVIEW TEAM: A group of individuals meeting under Division authorization to determine the permanent plan for a child, the means of achieving that plan and, progress in achieving the plan.
PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL CONTACT (applies only in adoption cases when attempting to secure authorization for the release of identifying information from biological parents/siblings): A "face-to-face" contact or telephone contact with the biological parent/siblings at varying times between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Contact must be made at the individual's last known address or at the address located as a result of a reasonable search. Contact may be made at the individual's place of employment, if this is the only available avenue.
PERSONALITY DISORDERS: A heterogeneous group of disorders listed separately on axis II, regarded as long-standing, inflexible, and maladaptive traits which impair social and occupational functioning but does not impair contact with reality.
PETECHIA: A small spot on a body surface, such as the skin or mucous membrane, caused by a discrete hemorrhage.
PETITION: A written request or plea in which a specific court action is requested.
PIA MATER: The fine vascular membrane that envelopes the brain and spinal cord under the arachnoid membrane and the dura mater.
PLACEMENT (intra or inter state): The arrangement for the care of a child with a foster family, relative family, adoptive family or in a child-caring agency or institution.
PLAINTIFF: A person who brings suit into a court of law; a complainant or victim.
PLEADING: Any one of the formal written statements of accusation or defense in an action at law.
PLEDGE: Usually refers to a written promise by the parent, guardian, or legal custodian to bring their child into court when notified to do so.
PHYSICAL HEALTH: Barriers exist which have or could result in deprivation of medical treatment or intervention which is necessary to remedy or ameliorate a medical condition or injury (health care, dental care, hygiene, lice, etc).
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT: Barriers exist which have or could result in the lack of basic material needs for the child to be safe (safe and sanitary housing, clothing, utilities, food and other physical or safety needs).
POLICE-JUVENILE OFFICER: A law enforcement officer who has received specialized training in working with juveniles, and is responsible for handling juvenile offenses for a law enforcement agency.
POLYPHAGIA: Excessive or voracious eating.
PREMATURE: This describes a child who is less than 2500 grams. at birth; does not relate to gestational age.
PREPONDERANCE OF EVIDENCE: That degree of evidence that is of greater weight or more convincing than the evidence which is offered in opposition to it or evidence which as a whole shows the fact to be proved to be more probable than not. Standard of proof used by the Division to determine the existence of abuse or neglect in an investigation initiated by a CA/N report received on or after August 28, 2004.
PREVENTIVE SERVICE REFERRALS: Referrals for services to prevent CA/N, (Important information transmitted by CA/N Hotline Unit if a family has an open case or pending CA/N investigation), (or non-CA/N child fatalities) which are received at CA/N Hotline Unit and transmitted to county staff. This may also include a self-referral from a parent requesting assistance.
PRIMA FACIE: Lit., "On the first appearance," evidence which on its face makes out the necessary elements of the allegation, and which will suffice to establish the allegation as true until it is contradicted and overcome by other evidence.
PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATION: An individual/professional's obligation to refuse to disclose information shared during the course of business by another individual or agency without that other individual's consent. It is usually exercised when a court has subpoenaed a member of a profession to provide testimony regarding his relationship to a defendant or plaintiff. Currently privileged communication is applied only in the following relationships: husband and wife; priest and penitent; lawyer and client; and doctor and patient. In the instance of a child abuse or neglect proceeding, the only applicable privileged communication is that relationship between the client and their attorney.
PROBABLE CAUSE: Available facts when viewed in the light of surrounding circumstances which would cause a reasonable person to believe a child was abused or neglected. Standard of proof used by the Division to determine the existence of abuse or neglect in an investigation prior to August 28, 2004.
PROBATION: In adult or juvenile court, a disposition which allows the defendant or the minor to remain at liberty under the supervision of a probation officer, frequently with a suspended commitment or sentence of imprisonment and usually requiring compliance with certain stated conditions.
PROTECTIVE CUSTODY: In child abuse and neglect cases, the emergency removal of a child from his home when the child would be in imminent danger if allowed to remain with the parent(s) or custodian(s).
PROTECTIVE SERVICES: A specialized child welfare service provided to a family that carries a delegated responsibility to offer and provide help and treatment in behalf of any child considered or found to be neglected, abused, or exploited.
PROTECTIVE SERVICE CASE: The entire constellation of persons who are receiving protective services which may include out-of-home care services. The case name will be the parent/caretaker designated as the head of the protective service case.
PROXIMAL: Toward the center of the body.
PSYCHOLOGICAL DEFICIT: Term used to indicate that performance of a pertinent psychological process is below that expected of an average person.
PSYCHOSIS: A severe mental disorder in which the individual is so seriously out of contact with reality that thinking and emotional responses are impaired.
PUBLIC OR PRIVATE CHILD CARING/CHILD PLACING AGENCY: A group home facility, residential facility, juvenile court, school, or child placing agency.
PURPURA: A condition caused by hemorrhages into tissues characterized by purplish discolorations running together over any part of the skin or mucous membranes.
A • B • C • D • E • F • G • H • I • JKL • M • N • O • PQ • R • S • T • UV • WXYZ