The following words and terms, when used in this
chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise:
Child-An individual who:
(i) Is under 18 years of age.
(ii) Is under 21 years of age, committed an
act of delinquency before reaching 18 years of age and remains under the
jurisdiction of the juvenile court.
(iii) Is under 21 years of age, was
adjudicated dependent before reaching 18 years of age, and while engaged in a
course of instruction or treatment, requests the court to retain jurisdiction
until the course has been completed.
County agency-The single county
children and youth social services agency.
Department-The Department of Public
Welfare of the Commonwealth.
Family service plan or service plan-A
written document describing short- and long-range objectives for the provision
of care and services to a child and his familiy, prepared by the placing agency
or individual.
Foster family-The living unit,
including the foster family residence and foster parent, approved by a foster
family care agency to provide foster family care to children.
Foster family care-Residential care
and supervision provided to a child placed with a foster family.
Foster family care agency or
FFCA-A public or private agency which recruits, approves,
supervises and places children with foster families.
Foster family residence-The primary
domicile of a foster parent. The residence may be owned or rented by the foster
parent; or it may be provided to the foster parent by the FFCA.
Foster parent-An individual
responsible for providing foster family care to children placed by an
FFCA.
Individual Service Plan or
ISP-A description of the activities which implement the family
service plan.
Licensure or
approval-The certification of FFCA and foster family
compliance with this chapter.
Passive physical restraint-The least
amount of direct physical contact required to prevent immediate harm to the
child or others.
Placement-Twenty-four hour out-of-home
care and supervision of a child.
Placing agency-The agency or
individual with legal authority to refer or place a child for foster family
care. Included are courts, county children and youth social service agencies
and parents.
