§7 Glossary

Children’s Division Glossary "T"

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.

- T -

TEMPORAL:
Referring to the side of the head.
TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE NON-PARENT CARETAKER RELATIVE PAYEE:
A relative as defined below providing care to a child who is eligible to receive the temporary assistance benefit as provided in sections 208.040 and 208.047, RSMo. Non-parent caretaker relative payees are:
  1. Any blood relative including those of half-blood and including first cousins, nephews, or nieces. Relationships to persons of preceding generations as denoted by prefixes of grand, great, or great-great are within this definition.
  2. Stepfather, stepmother, stepbrother, and stepsister. (The blood relatives of a step-relative are not nonparent caretaker relative payees for temporary assistance.)
  3. Persons who legally adopt a child or adopt the parent of a child, and other relatives by adoption meeting the criteria established for blood relatives.
  4. Spouses of any persons named in the above groups. Such relatives may be considered within the scope of this provision even though the marriage is terminated by death or divorce.

NOTE:  The Division applies the definition of a temporary assistance non-parent caretaker relative payee to those relatives who elect to become "licensed" in order to receive IV-E alternative care as payment for the care of the relative child.

TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS:
A judicial proceeding freeing a child from all custody and control by a parent or parents, so that the child can be adopted by others.
TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS (TPR) HEARING:
A legal proceeding in a juvenile court which considers the need to sever the legal ties of a child from his/her natural parents, adoptive parents, or guardian.
TESTIMONY:
A statement or declaration made to establish a fact or facts and given under oath.
THIRD-PARTY INFORMATION (in Children’s Division records):
Any information obtained by the Children’s Division that is generated by a sending agency or court pursuant to the statutes governing their operations (i.e., juvenile courts - Chapter 211). Such information is maintained in a separate administrative file. Exceptions to this policy are information generated and/or contracted for by Children’s Division or obtained from other sources as a result of an investigation or assessment conducted pursuant to 210.110 to 210.145, RSMo.
THREATS OF DANGER:
Specific family situation or behavior, emotion, motive, perception or capacity of a family member that is out-of-control, imminent and likely to have severe effects on a vulnerable child.
TIME-LIMITED SERVICES:
Services provided to a family for a limited length of time based upon a goal-specific treatment plan.
TIME LINES:
Diagram consisting of straight lines on which to chronologically document critical events within a family.
TO FOSTER:
To help to grow or develop; to nourish, bring up with care.
TORT:
A private civil wrong or injury as opposed to a crime which is a public wrong.
TRANSFER:
The sending of a case from the juvenile court to adult court for trial.
TRAUMA:
An internal or external injury or wound brought about by an outside force. Usually trauma means injury by violence, but may also apply to the wound caused by a surgical procedure. Trauma may occur accidentally or, as in the case of physical abuse, non-accidentally. Trauma is also a term applied to psychological discomfort or symptoms resulting from any emotional shock or painful experience.
TRAUMA X:
Designation by some hospitals for abuse and neglect.
TREATMENT PLAN (AS RELATED TO FAMILY-CENTERED OUT-OF-HOME CARE):
An agreement designed through a mutual process of negotiation between the Division, the parent(s), and the juvenile court (if required by the court) setting out those activities necessary for achievement of reunification of the child with the parents and incorporating the following:
  1. Attention to some or all the barriers which prevent return of the child;
  2. The length of the treatment plan (30 days minimum, 180 days maximum);
  3. A visiting plan for the parents and the child;
  4. Basic items that deal with problems that contributed to the child’s need for placement;
  5. Statements which clearly identify the expected and desired behavioral changes (change objectives) for the parent and which are consistent with the parents capabilities;
  6. An appropriate number of tasks which are reasonable and feasible for the parents;
  7. Statements which direct a fair evaluation of progress at agreed upon time intervals.