TERMS and DEFINITIONS
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The following information was obtained from the
Washoe County Department of Social Services (WCDSS).

Terms:

 
    Term: Foster care
    What it means: Temporary Care of a child who is in the legal custody of the county or state.
    What you do:
  • Work with the birth family
  • Help child transition to permanency with relative, kin, or adoptive family
  • Be Part of the team for the child
  • Facilitate child’s growth and development through positive parenting
       
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   Term: Relative foster care
    What it means: Temporary care of a child who is a blood relative and who is in the custody of the county or state.
    What you do:
  • Work with the birth family
  • Be a part of the team for the child
  • Facilitate child’s growth and development through positive parenting
  • Help child transition to permanency with relative, kin, or adoptive family or become the permanent resource through adoption or guardianship
       
  Term: ICPC
    What it means: Temporary care of a child who is in the legal custody of another state or county.
Care giver is usually relative or kin
    What you do:
  • Work with the Nevada team and the team from the other state regarding the needs of the child resulting in either reunification or permanency.
  • Facilitate child’s growth and development through positive parenting
       
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   Term: Adoption only
    What it means: Permanent care of legally available child who has been in the custody of the county or state.
    What you do:
  • Upon being matched for a child, become licensed as specific foster parent until the adoption is finalized.
  • Be part of the team for the child.
  • Become the legal parent of the child with all the rights and responsibilities.
       
  Term: Flexible family
    What it means: Foster care of a child who is in the custody of the county or state and willingness to become a permanent resource for the child
    What you do:
  • Foster to permanency
  • Work with birth family
  • Help child transition to permanency with relative, kin, or become the adoptive family
  • Be part of team for the child
       
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   Term: Respite care
    What it means: Providing care for the foster children while the foster
parents are away.
    What you do:
  • Temporary, "babysitting" care for the foster child
  • May be cleared to do the care in the home of the foster
    parent.
  • May become licensed as a foster parent to do respite
    care in your own home