Child Protective Services (CPS): A branch of a state’s social services department government agency responsible for providing child protection, which includes assessment, investigations, and intervention in responding to reports of child abuse or neglect.
Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA): Plans, directs, coordinates, and manages the education programs for War Department (DOW) dependents. One of only two federally operated school systems. DODEA is responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, and managing quality educational opportunities and services for military dependents around the globe. More details can be found at: dodea.edu
Department of War Instruction (DOWI): DOW issued guidances for implementing services via DOW policy. An extensive list of all DOW Instructions can be found at: esd.whs.mil/Directives/issuances/dodi
Family Advocacy Program (FAP): War Department program responsible for addressing child abuse and neglect, domestic abuse, and problematic sexual behavior in children and youth for service members and their families. FAP practitioners and professionals are core MDT members. More details can be found at: https://www.militaryonesource.mil/benefits/family-advocacy-program/
Military Criminal Investigative Organizations (MCIO): The Service MCIOs, including the Criminal Investigation Division (CID), Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), and Department of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), have overall investigative responsibility for cases that meet the threshold of a criminal offense under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).
Multidisciplinary Team (MDT): An assembly of professionals with different areas of expertise working in collaboration to address the needs of families, children/youth, and the on-installation military community. The PSB-CY MDT can include core and expanded members. More details can be found at: https://www.militaryonesource.mil/documents/multidisciplinary-team-roles-responsibilities-and-primary-managing-authority-powerpoint-d1311/
Non-Clinical Referral Tool (NCRT): DOD Education Activities (DODEA) and Child Development/Youth Program (CD/YP) personnel utilize the Non-Clinical Referral tool (NCRT) to gauge cases of youth sexual behavior along a continuum from normative to cautionary to problematic. This tool assists DOW service providers to determine if a consultation or referral to FAP (Family Advocacy Program) personnel is warranted based on the sexual behavior(s) exhibited by the child(ren) or youth. The NCRT is available for appropriate personnel at the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State. More details on the tool can be found at: https://psbreferraltool.militaryfamilies.psu.edu and at: https://www.cstsonline.org/safe-old/vol-1/volume-1-issue-1/what-is-the-ncrt-and-how-do-i-use-it
Outside the Continental United States (OCONUS): Refers to states and U.S. territories that are not a part of the continental U.S., such as Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, Puerto Rico, other U.S. territories, and foreign locations.
Problematic Sexual Behavior (PSB): Behaviors initiated by children and youth under the age of 18 that involve private, sexual body parts (genitals, anus, buttocks, or breasts) in a manner that deviates from normative or typical sexual behavior and are developmentally inappropriate and/or potentially harmful to the individual initiating the behavior or others. These behaviors are legally defined per local, state, and/or national statutes. More information for children ages 3-12 can be found at https://www.ncsby.org/children, and details for adolescents ages 13-18 are available at https://www.ncsby.org/adolescents.
Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA): Status of Forces Agreements, or SOFAs, provide the legal framework for the day-to-day operations of service members and families while stationed in a foreign country. A SOFA is an agreement between a host country and a foreign nation stationing military forces in that country and are often included as part of a comprehensive security arrangement.
Temporary Duty (TDY): Temporary duty assignment, also known as temporary additional duty (TAD). This is a designation reflecting a United States Armed Forces service member’s—or civilian War Department employee’s—travel or other assignments at a location away from an individual’s permanent duty station.
