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Glossary - D

Many child welfare terms are subject to interpretation. The Glossary identifies commonly held definitions for terms that can be found on the Child Welfare Information Gateway website. It defines common acronyms and includes links to information on major Federal legislation and related child welfare terms. The Glossary will be updated as new terminology emerges in the field, as new legislation is enacted, and as child welfare terms take on new meaning.

decree of adoption
The document signed by a judge to finalize an adoption. It formally creates the parent-child relationship between the adoptive parents and the adopted child, as though the child were born as the biological child of its new parents. It places full responsibility for the child on the new parents.

dependent child
A child who is in the custody of the county or State child welfare system.

Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (see Major Federal Legislation Concerned With Child Protection, Child Welfare, and Adoption)

developmental disability
A diverse group of severe chronic conditions caused by mental and/or physical impairments. People with developmental disabilities may have problems with major life activities such as language, mobility, learning, self-help, and independent living. Developmental disabilities begin anytime during development up to 22 years of age and usually last throughout a person's lifetime.

differential response
An approach that enables child protective services (CPS) to differentiate its response to reports of child abuse and neglect based on several factors, including the level of risk associated with the report, indicators of child safety, and the family's need for services and support. Differential response is an area of CPS reform also referred to as "dual track," "multiple track," or "alternative response."

disaster preparedness
The process of developing and implementing emergency responses in the event of a natural or human-made disaster.

discipline
Training that develops self-control, self-sufficiency, and orderly conduct. Discipline is based on respect for an individual's capability and is not to be confused with punishment.

dispositional hearing
Hearings held by the juvenile and family court to determine the legal resolution of cases after adjudication. Dispositional hearings may determine where the children will live for the time being, who will have legal custody of them, and what services the children and family will need to reduce the risk and to address the effects of maltreatment.

disproportionality (see racial disproportionality)

disruption (see adoption disruption)

dissolution (see adoption dissolution)

domestic adoption
The adoption of children residing in the United States by adoptive parents who are U.S. citizens.

domestic/family violence
Encompasses a range of actions, including assault, battery, rape, and murder, committed by someone to whom the victim is intimately related. Intimate relations include spouses, sexual partners, parents, children, siblings, extended family members, and dating relationships.

dossier
A collection of required documents sent to a foreign country in order to process the adoption of a child in that country's legal system. Adoptive families will have documents translated for those involved in the process of adoption in the child's country of origin. Required information varies by country but generally includes records to prove a family's identity, finances, health, and character.

dual track (see differential response)

due process
The principle that every person has the protection of a day in court, representation by an attorney, and the benefit of procedures that are speedy, fair, and impartial.

Updated on February 2, 2010