When Hubby and I took our first CORE training classes, the teacher spoke in initials.

DHS
ADD
FAS
TPR

What? Wait, slow down. At the end of the evening I went home and cried.

Years later I understand now that I wasn’t alone. Most new prospective foster parents seem overwhelmed by the terminology, expectations, and needs of the children.

In the last class we took, I could feel other parents sinking into despair as their hopes and dreams about fostering children took on a new meaning:

Am I able to take these children into my home? Will I be able to cope with all the special needs?

Do I want to?

Most of us new foster parents don’t take three or four foster children at a time - although some do. Taking one at a time (or even two) will give you time to adapt and navigate your way through the system while discovering how to figure out how to parent.

All the while one of my challenges was figuring out all the acronyms and trying to keep up in the meetings.

Caseworkers and professionals would talk and I wouldn’t have a clue:

BM is coming after the UA for a visit and then we’ll schedule the FSP. Little Jimmy has been diagnosed with ODD and I”m afraid BM has PTSD. Let’s get the CPA to handle the FCR and then call in the GAL.

Ok. I made up this conversation, but you get the point.

Over the next few posts I’ll cover the acronyms, what they mean, and more importantly, what they mean to you!

You'll want to understand them so you can follow court documents, agency reports, and diagnosis.


Often special needs children have a lot of abreviations that come along with them. To be an effective parents you'll need to dig to find out what the initials all really mean.



to be continued.......