As you read about adoption and watch other video profiles you’ll hear many of the same terms over and over. 
This glossary is not exhaustive and only meant to explain the more common words and terms.

Adoption: the function of transferring parental rights from birth parents to adoptive parents legally.

Adoptee: a person who has been placed into an adoptive family.

Adoption Agency: An organization licensed to place children with adopting families or individuals.

Adoption Attorney: an attorney who specializes in performing necessary legal functions associated with a child’s adoption.

Adoptive Parent(s): person or persons legally given parental rights of a child.

Birthfather: The biological male responsible for the birth of a child placed for adoption.

Birthmother: The biological female responsible for the birth of a child placed for adoption.

Birthparent(s): The biological Birthmother or Birthfather.

Closed Adoption: Identifying information of adoptive parents and birthparents is not exchanged between them.  “Confidential Adoption” is another term for this.

Confidential Adoption: a more current way of saying closed adoption.

Consent Form: A legal document terminating birthparents' parental rights over their children.

Dear Birthmother letter: A written letter of introduction for birthparents to read. It contains insights into their life they think a birthparent will want to know.

Home Study: A process prospective adoptive parents go through to legally adopt. It evaluates a couple's criminal background, and financial situation among other factors.

Open Adoption: Identifying information of adoptive parents and birthparents is exchanged between them.  Arrangements for future contact and visitation may be arranged.

Special Needs Adoption: an adoption where suspected or known disabilities exist with a child.  Drug and alcohol exposure, mental, physical, and emotional disabilities are commonly considered as special needs.

Video Profile, a.k.a Profile Video: A video interview created for adoptive couples to introduce themselves to birthparents allowing a glimpse into the couple's life.  Video profiles function as an up-to-date version of the Dear Birthmother letter with the added advantage of non-verbal communication important in making a placement decision.