Glossary of Terms

Note about statistics:

Both the Home of Relative and Licensing information provided is non-duplicated, point-in-time data based on information available on the last day of the reporting period.

Family/child opening and closing data may be duplicative, because either a family or child case might be opened and/or closed more than once during any reporting period.

All of the substitute care information provided is point-in-time data, based on information available on the last day of the reporting period. Therefore, all counts are non-duplicated.

Family/child opening and closing data may be duplicative, because either a family or child case might be opened and/or closed more than once during any reporting period.

- A -

ADOPTION ASSISTANCE.

The number of open child cases where the Department is providing financial assistance to the adoptive parents after the finalization of an adoption.

- B -

- C -

CAPACITY (facility).

The number of children a facility is entitled to serve as determined by the licensing worker.

CHILD CASE CLOSINGS.

The total number of child cases that were closed during the reporting period.

CHILD CASELOAD.

The total number of open out-of home child cases that were open as of the last day of the reporting period. NOTE: AN OPEN CHILD CASE WHERE THE CHILD IS PLACED OUTSIDE THE NATURAL HOME IS COUNTED IN CASELOAD COMPUTATIONS. AN OPEN CHILD CASE WHERE THE CHILD IS PLACED IN THE NATURAL HOME IS NOT COUNTED IN CASELOAD COMPUTATIONS.

CHILD CASE OPENINGS.

The total number of child cases that were opened during the reporting period.

CHILD DEATH REPORTS.

The number of alleged child victims in abuse/neglect reports where the child has allegedly died from the abuse/neglect.

CHILD PROTECTIVE CUSTODIES.

The number of alleged child victims in abuse/neglect reports where the child was taken into temporary protective custody.

CHILD REPORTS.

The number of alleged victims in fancily reports of suspected abuse/neglect. A family report can contain multiple alleged child victims and for statistical purposes all alleged victims are counted.

- D -

DEPARTMENT FOSTER CARE.

The number of open child cases where a Department caseworker serves the child in a non-related foster care living arrangement.

DEPARTMENT RELATIVE CARE.

The number of open child cases where a Department caseworker serves the child in a relative foster care living arrangement

DEPARTMENT RELATIVE HOME CHILDREN.

The number of open child cases where the child is in relative care and the child(ren) are supervised by Department staff.

DEPARTMENT RELATIVE HOMES.

The number of relative homes with at least one child in placement where the home and child(ren) are supervised by Department staff.

DEPARTMENT WARDS. Those open cases counted in total child caseload plus non-Adoption Assistance cases currently placed in the home of parent

- E -

EMERGENCY SHELTER CARE.

The number of open child cases where the child is in a youth emergency shelter or the Emergency Reception Center.

EXPIRED LICENCES.

The number of facilities where the current license has expired and a renewal license has not yet been issued.

- F -

FAMILY CASE CLOSINGS.

The total number of family cases that were closed during the reporting period.

FAMILY CASE OPENINGS.

The total number of fancily cases that were opened during the reporting period.

FAMILY REPORTS.

A single investigation of suspected abuse/neglect. A family report can contain multiple adult subjects and children but for statistical purposes the report is counted only once.

- G -

GROUP HOME CARE.

The number of open child cases where the child is in a group home living arrangement.

- H -

HOSPITAL & HEALTH FACILITIES.

The number of children in a hospital or health treatment facility. Care in these facilities is often on a short-term basis for treatment of an acute illness or injury.

- I -

INDICATED.

An investigation of suspected child abuse/neglect has revealed credible evidence that the abuse/neglect occurred.

INSTITUTIONAL CARE (NON-EMERGENCY).

The number of open child cases where the child is in an institutional care living arrangement. The term institution includes Department of Corrections, Department of Mental Health, Department of Public Health, Department of Rehabilitative Services facilities, Nursing Care Facilities, Private child care facilities, and Department shelters.

INTACT FAMILY CASES.

The number of open family cases (as of the last day of the reporting period) where there are no children in the family placed outside of home of parent. NOTE: AN OPEN INTACT FAMILY CASE IS COUNTED IN CASELOAD COMPUTATIONS.

INITIAL INVESTIGATION.

An investigation of suspected abuse/neglect that determined there was no good faith indication of potential abuse/neglect and a formal investigation is not warranted. Initial investigations result in an "unfounded" finding.

- J -

- K -

- L -

LICENSED.

The number of facilities who have a current license. In most cases, licenses are valid for a four year period, after which a renewal of the license is required.

LICENSING AGENT.

A Department or private agency licensing worker who is responsible for making a particular licensing reconimendation/decision.

- M -

- N -

NON-INTACT FAMILY CASES.

The number of open family cases (as of the last day of the reporting period) with at least one child having DCFS legal involvement and placed outside of home. NOTE: AN OPEN NON-INTACT FAMILY CASES IS NO-T COUNTED IN CASELOAD COMPUTATIONS.

- O -

- P -

PENDING INVESTIGATIONS.

An investigation of suspected child abuse/neglect has not been completely investigated or the investigation finding has not yet been data entered into the Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System (CANTS).

The number of new facilities currently under study for a license. The count does not include facilities requesting a renewal of an existing license.

PENDING LICENSES.

The number of new facilities currently under study for a license. The count does not include facilities requesting a renewal of an existing license.

Both the Home of Relative and Licensing information provided is non-duplicated, point-in-time data based on information available on the last day of the reporting period.

PRIORITY 1 REPORTS.

The number of family reports of alleged abuse/neglect where at least one of the alleged child victims was reported for a priority 1 allegation or was taken into temporary protective custody.

PRIVATE FOSTER CARE.

The number of open child cases where a private agency caseworker serves the child in a non-related foster care living arrangement.

PRIVATE RELATIVE FOSTER CARE.

The number of open child cases where a private agency caseworker serves the child in a relative foster care living arrangemen

PRIVATE RELATIVE HOME CHILDREN.

The number of open child cases where the child is in relative care and the child(ren) are supervised by private agency staff.

PRIVATE RELATIVE HOMES.

The number of relative homes with at least one child in placement where the home and child(ren) are supervised by private agency staff.

- Q -

- R -

REFUGEE ASSISTANCE. The number of open child cases where the child entered the country unaccompanied by a parent or immediate relative. The vast majority of these children are from IndoChina.

RELATIVE FOSTER CARE. The number of open child cases where the child is in a relative foster care living arrangement.

- S -

S.E.I. REPORTS.

The number of alleged child victims under age one who have been reported for allegation(s) 15 and/or 65 (Substance Misuse). S.E.I. denotes a Substance Exposed Infant.

SEXUAL ABUSE VICTIMS. The number of alleged child victims in abuse/neglect reports where the alleged victim is reported for at least one allegation of sexual abuse.

SOR REPORT.

SOR denotes a Subsequent Oral Fan-dly Report of suspected abuse/neglect, i.e. the family has previously been "indicated" for abuse/neglect or there is a previous "pending" report of suspected abuse/neglect on file in the CANT'S computer system.

- T -

TOTAL CASELOAD.

The total number of open intact family and out-of-home child cases that were open as of the last day of the reporting period.

TOTAL CASE CLOSINGS.

The total number of family and child cases that were closed during the reporting period.

TOTAL CASE OPENINGS.

The total number of family and child cases that were opened during the reporting period.

TOTAL FAMILY CASES SERVED.

The total number of family cases that were open at least one day during the reporting period.

TOTAL FOSTER CARE.

The number of all open child cases where the child is in a non-related foster care living arrangement.

TOTAL RELATIVE FOSTER CARE.

The number of all open child cases where the child is in a relative foster care living arrangement.

TOTAL RELATIVE HOME CHILDREN.

The number of open child cases where the child is in relative care and the child(ren) are supervised by Department or private agency staff.

TOTAL RELATIVE HOMES.

The number of relative homes with at least one child in placement where the home and child(ren) are supervised by Department or private agency staff.

TOTAL SUBSTITUTE CARE.

The number of open child cases where the child is in a non-related foster care home, relative care home, institution, group home, or a hospital /health facility.

- U -

UNFOUNDED.

An investigation of suspected child abuse/neglect has revealed no credible evidence that the abuse/neglect occurred.

- V -

- W -

- X -

- Y -

YOUTH IN INDEPENDENT LIVING.

The number of open child cases where the child is in an independent living arrangement category (excludes college university studies and armed services populations).

- Z -