Adjudication Hearing — a court hearing where a judge decides if a child is (by the law’s definition) abused, neglected, or dependent.

Administrative Hearing — a type of legal hearing that happens outside of court. The process of appealing an Indicated finding, for example, happens in this type of hearing, where you can present evidence yourself or through a lawyer or advocate.

Adoption — a legal process in court in which a judge’s decision creates a new, permanent legal relationship between a child and adult. This process gives the adult parental legal rights.

Appeal — a legal process available to challenge certain decisions made against you.

Disposition Hearing — a court hearing where a judge decides if it is in the best interests of a child according to the law to be considered a ward of the court, which means the judge could then make certain decisions about what would be best for the health, safety, and interests of the child and of the public.

Emergency Protective Custody — when DCFS, law enforcement officers, or doctors take a child while investigating a report of abuse/neglect because they believe that the child is in immediate danger. If this happens, DCFS must go to court within 48 hours for the court to decide if DCFS needs to maintain protective custody over the child(ren) or not.

Expungement — a legal process that may be available to you to remove your name and information from the State Central Register, often called the registry.

Finding - when DCFS makes a decision after an investigation, they call that decision a "finding."

Indicated — a finding by DCFS after an investigation that credible evidence of abuse/neglect exists. “Credible evidence” is a legal term, which means here that DCFS has found that there is enough information to believe that abuse or neglect may have occurred.

Intact Family Services — When DCFS determines a report is indicated, the parents or caregivers may be offered services arranged for by DCFS. DCFS may also offer services to the family before making a determination of indicated or unfounded. Whether you accept the services or not should not be a factor in DCFS’ determination.

Permanency Hearing — a court hearing where a judge decides a permanency goal for the child. A permanency goal is a decision about where the child should permanently live when the court case is over. Each permanency goal involves specific legal requirements. Options for permanency goals include: • that the child should return home within 5 or 12 months or that there should be another court hearing to decide if the child should return home; • that the child should stay in a placement away from home until a Termination of Parental Rights trial is held; • that the child should be adopted; • that legal guardianship of the child should be granted to another individual or couple; • that a child over 15 should stay in a placement away from home while considering legal independence; • that the child should stay in a placement away from home due to reasons of developmental or mental health disabilities and needs; or • that the child should continue to stay in a placement away from home.

Safety Plan — a set of arrangements that DCFS believes is needed to ensure the safety of the child(ren) during a child abuse/neglect investigation. This plan is supposed to be a written agreement between you and DCFS that is voluntary, temporary and short-term, reviewed regularly, and signed by you. You should talk to a lawyer if possible if a Safety Plan is suggested or created in your case.

State Central Register — the record of child abuse/neglect reports kept by DCFS, often called the registry.

Subsidized Guardianship — a decision a court can make after a trial process to transfer the responsibility and rights for the care, custody, and supervision of the child to a person or couple other than the child’s parent. Subsidized Guardianship does not require but can involve Termination of Parental Rights.

Temporary Custody Hearing — a court hearing where a judge decides if DCFS needs to take custody of the child. If emergency protective custody has been taken, this hearing must occur within 48 hours.

Termination of Parental Rights – a decision a court can make after a trial process that ends the legal relationship between a parent and child. This decision is subject to Appeal.

Undetermined - a finding by DCFS that it did not have enough information to meet its requirement to make a final decision on an investigation within 60 days. If DCFS shows a good reason for this delay, it will get another 30 days to make a decision of Unfounded or Indicated.

Unfounded — a finding by DCFS after an investigation that no credible evidence of abuse/neglect exists. “Credible evidence” is a legal term, which means here that DCFS has found that there is enough information to believe that abuse or neglect did not occur.