Acronym

Description

AAL

Attorney Ad Litem

ACTS

Worker – Aftercare Transitioning Services (through Lifeworks)

ACYF

Administration of Children, Youth and Families – Division of US Health and Human Services

ADA

Assistant District Attorney

ADHD

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

ADO

Adoption Worker

AG

Attorney General

AHT

Abusive Head Trauma, including Shaken Baby Syndrome

AOP

Acknowledgment of Paternity

APS

Adult Protection Services

ARD

Admission Review and Dismissal

BIA

Bureau of Indian Affairs

BVS/VSU

Bureau of Vital Statistics (Vital Statistics Unit)

CAC

Child Advocacy Center

CAPTA

Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act

CAS

Child Advocacy Specialist

CASA

Court Appointed Special Advocate

CCEJ

Court of Continuing and Exclusive Jurisdiction

CDIB

Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood

CFRC

Child Fatality Review Committee

COS

“Circle of Support” Meeting or “Court Ordered Services”

CPA

Child Placing Agency

CPC

Child Protection Court

CPS

Child Protective Services

CPSHB

Child Protective Services Handbook

CPU

Child Placement Unit

CRCG

Community Resource Coordination Group

CRP

Community Reintegration Project

CVS

Conservatorship Worker/Unit

CWB

Child Welfare Board

DADS

Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services

DEIC

Designated Emergency Infant Care (Baby Moses Locations)

DFPS

Department of Family and Protective Services

DIF

Desarollo Integral de Ia Familia

DNR

Do not resuscitate order

DSHS

Texas Department of State Health Services

DSM-V

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

ED

Emotional Disturbance

FA

Father

FAS/FASD

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or Fetal Alcohol Stress Disorder

FBSS

Family Based Safety Services

FGC/FGDM

Family Group Conference or Family Group Decision Making

FP

Foster Parents

FTM

Family Team Meeting

FTT

Failure to Thrive

GAL

Guardian ad Litem

HHS

Health and Human Services

HHSC

Texas Health and Human Services Commission(umbrella agency over DFPS)

HSEGH

Health, Social, Educational and Genetic History

ICAMA

interstate Compact on Adoption & Medical Assistance

ICARA

International Child Abduction Remedies Act

ICPC

Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children

ICWA

Indian Child Welfare Act

IDEA

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

IEP

Individualized Education Plan

ISP

Individualized Service Plan (treatment meeting)

IV-B IV-E

Titles IV B and E of the Social Security Act

JMC

Joint Managing Conservatorship

JPO

Juvenile Probation Officer

LD

Learning Disabled

LOC

Level of Care

lOP

Intensive Outpatient

MEPA

Multi-Ethnic Placement Act

MEPA-IEP

Multi-ethnic Placement Act, as amended by the Interethnic Adoption Act

MGF

Maternal Grandfather

MGM

Maternal Grandmother

MHMR

Former Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation

MO

Mother

MSA

Mediated Settlement Agreement

MSP

Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy

NCIC

National Crime Identification Center (source of criminal background checks)

NOS

Not Otherwise Specified

NSUP

Neglectful Supervision

OAG

Office of Attorney General

PAL

Preparation For Adult Living

PC

Permanency Conference

PGF

Paternal Grandfather

PGM

Paternal Grandmother

PHAB

Physical Abuse

PKPA

Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act

PMC

Permanent Managing Conservatorship

PO

Parole Officer

R/0

Ruled Out

RAD

Reactive Attachment Disorder

RAPR

Refusal to Accept Parental Responsibility

RSDI

Retirement, Survivor and Disability Insurance (Social Security benefit)

RTB

Reason To Believe

RTC

Residential Treatment Center

SANE

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner

SAPCR

Suit Affecting the Parent/Child Relationship (a.k.a Original Petition)

SBS

Shaken Baby Syndrome aka Abusive Head Trauma

SIDS

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

SIJS

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status

SSI

Supplemental Security Income (Social Security benefit for a disabled person)

SWI

Statewide Intake

SXAB

Sexual Abuse

TAC

Texas Administrative Code

TANF

Temporary Aid for Needy Families

Title IV-E

Title IV-E of the Social Security Act

TMC

Temporary Managing Conservatorship

TPR

Treatment Plan Review

TPR

Termination of Parental Rights

UCCJEA

Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Enforcement Act

UTD

Unable To Determine

YFT

Youth For Tomorrow