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Glossary - R
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.
racial disproportionality
The differences in the percentage of children of a certain racial or ethnic group in the country as compared to the percentage of the children of the same group in the child welfare system. For example, in 2000, Black children made up 15.1 percent of the children in this country but 36.6 percent of the children in the child welfare system. Also see overrepresentation.
reasonable efforts
Efforts made by State social services agencies to provide the assistance and services needed to preserve and reunify families.
recurrence of child abuse and neglect
A substantiated report of child abuse or neglect following a prior substantiation that involved the same child victim or family.
refugee
An individual who has left his or her native country and is unwilling or unable to return to it because of persecution or fear of persecution because of race, religion, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.
relative adoption (see kinship adoption)
relative care (see kinship care)
relinquishment
Voluntary termination or release of all parental rights and duties that legally frees a child to be adopted. This is sometimes referred to as a surrender or as making an adoption plan for one's child.
residential services
Services designed for children who need a more structured environment than generally offered in the child's home or in family foster care. They are delivered in a diverse array of settings, with the purpose of providing physical safety and security; maximizing children's growth, development, and potential; supporting and promoting permanency and families' involvement in meeting children's individual needs; and helping children move toward leading productive, satisfying, and independent lives.
residential treatment facility
Structured, 24-hour facility that provides a range of therapeutic, educational, recreational, and support services for children by a professional, interdisciplinary team.
resilience
The ability to adapt well to adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or even significant sources of stress. Parental resilience is considered a protective factor in child abuse and neglect prevention. Resilience in children enables them to thrive, mature, and increase competence in the midst of adverse circumstances. Resilience can be fostered and developed in children as it involves behaviors, thoughts, and actions that can be learned over time and is impacted by positive and healthy relationships with parents, caregivers, and other adults.
resource family
Includes foster/adoptive parents, foster parents, and relative or kinship caregivers.
respite care
Child care offered for designated periods of time to allow a caregiver to tend to other family members; alleviate a work, job, health, or housing crisis; or take a break from the stress of caring for a seriously ill child. Respite for foster and adoptive parents is a preventive measure that enhances quality of care for the child, gives the caregiver a deserved and necessary break, and ensures healthy and stable placements for children.
response time
The time between the log-in of a call to the State agency alleging child maltreatment and the face-to-face contact with the alleged victim, where this is appropriate, or contact with another person who can provide information.
reunification (see family reunification)
reunion
A meeting between birth relatives and an adopted person. Also see search.
reunion registry
A tool that allows adopted persons and birth parents who do not know each other's identity to register the fact that they are searching for each other. If both parties' names are on the same registry, a "match" is made and the organization can inform the parties or arrange a meeting. Most registries are passive, which means both parties must have independently registered in order for a match to be made. The organization will not search for the missing party. By contrast, an active registry will actively search for birth relatives and usually involves a fee. Both types of registries are operated by private and State organizations. An "access veto" may be filed by one party to the adoption to veto contact and/or the release of identifying information to those searching. Also see search.
review hearing
Held by the juvenile or family court to review case progress (usually every 6 months) and to determine the need for continued court jurisdiction. Under the Social Security Act, the status of each child in foster care must be reviewed at least once every 6 months by either a court or by administrative review.
risk
In child welfare, the likelihood that a child will be maltreated in the future.
risk assessment
A measure of the likelihood that a child will be maltreated in the future, frequently through the use of checklists, matrices, scales, and other methods of measurement.
risk factor
Behaviors and conditions present in the child, parent, or family that will likely contribute to child maltreatment occurring in the future. Major risk factors include substance abuse, domestic/family violence, and mental health problems.