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Glossary - E
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.
For additional information on glossary terms, please see our index Search A-Z.
Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment Program (EPSDT)
A Medicaid program that requires all States to evaluate, treat, and ameliorate any physical or mental conditions found in eligible children under age 21. State programs are required to inform all eligible persons and their families of the benefits available and help them obtain appropriate treatment.
early childhood intervention
A support system or collection of services for infants and children with developmental disabilities or delays and their families under the IDEA Part C program. The term is also used to describe services and supports that promote healthy development and a readiness to learn in children up to age 5 and that create safe, stable, and nurturing families and communities.
educational neglect
Failure to ensure that a child's educational needs are met. Such neglect may involve permitting chronic truancy, failure to enroll a child in school, or inattention to special education needs.
emotional neglect
Failure to provide adequate nurturing and affection or the refusal/delay in ensuring that a child receives needed treatment for emotional or behavioral problems. Emotional neglect may also involve exposure to chronic or extreme domestic violence.
employer-provided adoption benefits
Benefits paid by employers to families who adopt, which usually mirror those available to new biological parents. Benefits may include paid or unpaid leave when a child arrives in the home, reimbursement of some portion of adoption expenses, or assistance with adoption services.
EPSDT (see Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment Program)
equitable adoption
The legal process used in some States to establish inheritance rights of a child when the prospective adoptive parent had entered into an oral contract to adopt the child and the child was placed with the parent, but the adoption was not finalized before the prospective adoptive parent died. Laws vary by State.
ethical practice
Behavior or professional conduct that meets the system of moral principles and perceptions about right versus wrong developed and guided by the profession's standards of conduct or code of ethics.
ethnic
Pertaining to or characteristic of a people who share a common and distinct culture, religion, language, or other quality.
evidence-based practice
Involves identifying, assessing, and implementing strategies that are supported by scientific research as being effective in improving outcomes for children and families. In child welfare practice, evidence-based practices are those that have strong research design, evidence of significant positive effects, sustained effects, and capacity for replication.
exempted provider (in intercountry adoption)
A key player in the intercountry adoption process is the social worker. Social work professionals or organizations that perform home studies on prospective adoptive parents are called exempted providers. Exempted providers can also conduct child background studies in the United States in connection with a Convention adoption, but that is not currently providing and has not previously provided any other adoption service in the case. Exempted providers are not required to be accredited, approved, or supervised by an accredited agency or approved person, but the studies they perform must subsequently be approved.