direct adoption
This term refers to an adoption in which a family is selected for a child and the child is placed by an agency, as opposed to an identified adoption, in which the family identifies a child and then seeks assistance in arranging the adoption.

disclosure
The release of previously confidential or unshared information. "Full disclosure" often refers to a social worker's sharing all known non-identifying information about a child. Information disclosed should be as complete, realistic, and accurate as possible. See Child Profile. Disclosure may also mean revealing to a child that a particular family wants to adopt that child.

disruption
Sometimes called failed placement, disruption occurs when a child leaves the adoptive home prior to the finalization of the adoption. This can occur in three situations: (1) In a legal risk adoption, usually involving a newborn infant, the birth parents revoke their consent to the adoption, during the time period when this is still possible; (2) The adoptive parents choose not to continue with their plan to parent the child for reasons of their own; or (3) The agency disrupts the adoption if the adoptive parents are not complying with postplacement requirements or are endangering the child in some way.

dissolution
Similar to disruption, a dissolution is sometimes called a failed adoption. In a dissolution a child leaves the adoptive home after the adoption has been finalized. Once it has been finalized, birthparents cannot dissolve an adoption, but adoptive parents or the courts can.

domestic adoption
An adoption within the same country in which the adoptive parents reside; the adoption of a U.S. child by a family residing in the United States.

dual licensing
Some agencies are authorized to approve a family for both foster parenting and adoption. When an agency provides dual licensing, foster parents and adoptive parents go through the same homestudy training and background check processes, and in the end receive approval to provide foster and/or adoptive care.