CWDS Glossary
The CWDS Glossary includes a List of Acronyms and defined terms captured from various models, reports, and other artifacts pertaining to the Child Welfare System – California Automated Response and Engagement System (CWS-CARES) Project. The Glossary standardizes terms used across the various project disciplines; each term is defined with its meaning specific to the project domain.
The State may update the CWDS Glossary at any time. Any questions please contact CWDS Communications.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Mobile Application(s)
A computer program designed to run on smartphones, tablet computers, and other mobile devices.
Mobility
The ability for staff to work out of the office, using mobile devices and accompanying Mobile Applications to perform business tasks, either connected to the internet (on-line) or not (off-line).
Modular System
A design approach that subdivides a system into smaller parts called modules that can be independently created and then used in different systems. It can be characterized by functional partitioning into discrete, scalable, reusable modules and making use of industry standards for developing applications.
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Motivational interviewing (MI) is a client-centered counseling approach designed to help individuals resolve ambivalence and find the motivation to change their behavior. It is a collaborative and goal-oriented communication style that emphasizes empathy, active listening, and guiding individuals towards their own reasons for change. MI is particularly useful when individuals are experiencing mixed feelings or resistance towards change.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Encompassing two-factor authentication, or 2FA, along with similar terms, is an electronic authentication method in which a user is granted access to a website or application only after successfully presenting two or more pieces of evidence (or factors)
Multitenant
In the context of software, a software architecture in which a single instance of software runs on a server and serves multiple tenants (i.e., a group of users who share a common access with specific privileges to a software instance).
Narrative
The written or recorded account of interactions, observations, interviews, or other information gathered by workers or provided by others via a self-service function.
National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS)
A voluntary data collection system that gathers information from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico about reports of child abuse and neglect.
National Council on Crime & Delinquency and Children's Research Center (NCCD)
Evident Change (formerly the National Council on Crime & Delinquency and Children's Research Center) is a nonprofit that uses data and research to improve our social systems. Evident Change created the Safe Measures service to help professionals working in our social systems use their data to target the greatest needs and achieve the greatest impact. Numerous agencies have improved their performance through use of Safe Measures' key performance indicators, process and outcome measures, data quality reports, and task lists/to-do reminders.
See Evident Change
See Evident Change
National Electronic Interstate Compact Enterprise (NEICE)
A web-based electronic case-processing system that supports the administration of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) by exchanging data and documents electronically across state jurisdictions. NEICE is expected to significantly shorten the time it takes participating states to place children across state lines and to save mailing and copying costs by automating current processes.