OCD
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

ODD
Oppositional Defiant Disorder

older child
In today's adoption world, an older child usually refers to a school-aged child or teenager.

on hold
Hold or on hold means temporarily not available for adoption. A child may be placed on hold because an adoption is pending, because a goal change is pending, because a birth relative is interested, or because the child is currently not ready for adoption.

open adoption
An open adoption or cooperative adoption allows for some form of association between the birthfamily, adoptees, and adoptive parents. This can range from picture and letter sharing, to phone calls, contact through an intermediary, or open contact between the parties themselves. Many adoptions of older children and teens are at least partially open, since the children may know identifying or contact information about members of their birthfamilies, or may want to stay in touch with siblings placed separately.

open adoption agreement
An open adoption agreement spells out the terms of the contact between the parties in an open adoption. An open adoption agreement can specify frequency and manner of contact between adoptive and birthfamilies, and/or between siblings placed separately. However, while it may be drawn up in the form of a contract and signed by both parties, it is not legally binding.

open records
Open records refers to information contained in vital statistics records, such as an original birth certificate and adoption files, which is made available to the adopted person, adoptive parents, or others. Open records may also refer to the policy of allowing such persons access to records, upheld as the right of an adopted person in some states and jurisdictions.

orphan's court
In some jurisdictions, the court in which adoptions are finalized. An orphan's court handles estates and trusts of minors and other incapacitated persons.