§7 Glossary

Children’s Division Glossary "U" & "V"

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.

- UV -

UNABLE TO LOCATE:
After thorough physical attempts, as well as Children’s Division automated systems checks, the "subject" family cannot be located, within or outside the state.
UNSAFE:
A child is unsafe when a child is vulnerable to a threat of danger within a family/home and the caregiver’s protective capacities within the home are insufficient to manage the threat thus requiring outside intervention.
UNSUBSTANTIATED:
To establish by proof or competent evidence through investigation that there is insufficient or no evidence for the allegations of abuse and/or neglect.
UNSUBSTANTIATED - PREVENTIVE SERVICES INDICATED:
To establish through investigation that abuse/neglect has not occurred, but the family is experiencing problems, which if unresolved, could potentially contribute to abuse/neglect.
VENEREAL DISEASE:
Commonly syphilis, gonorrhea, chancroid, or AIDS contracted through sexual intercourse with an infected partner.
VENUE:
The place or county in which alleged events from which a legal action arises takes place.
VERIFICATION LETTER:
A letter signed by the case manager provided to the youth on state letterhead verifying the youth’s time in care and exit date. The letter aids youth in receiving assistance after leaving care within the state and out of state for services that require eligibility verification.
VITAL SIGNS:
Signs manifesting life, such as respiratory rate, heartbeat, pulse, blood pressure, and eye response, temperature, and level of consciousness.
VOLUNTARY ACT:
  1. A person is not guilty of an offense unless his liability is based on conduct which includes a voluntary act.
  2. A "Voluntary Act" is:
    1. A bodily movement performed while conscious as a result of effort or determination; or
    2. An omission to perform an act of which the actor is physically capable.
  3. Possession is a voluntary act if the possessor knowingly proceeds or receives the thing possessed, or having acquired control of it was aware of his control for a sufficient time to have enabled him to dispose of it or terminate his control.
  4. A person is not guilty of an offense based solely upon an omission to perform an act unless the law defining the offense expressly so provides, or a duty to perform the omitted act is otherwise imposed by law.