Glossary: Terms and Definitions

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Find Alaskan resources for a child or adult who experiences a physical, mental, or emotional disability.

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Mental Health - News and Announcements

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ABADA

Advisory Board on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse: Settlement ordered planning body for AMHTA and advisory body to the administration.

Abandonment

The belief and expectation that others will leave, that others are unreliable, that relationships are fragile, that loss is inevitable, and that you will ultimately wind up alone.

Access

The ability to get necessary services for people who need them in a way that encourages their use.

Actuarial

The calculation of future costs and obligations to determine the value of benefits or the expense of creating the benefits. Among other considerations, the calculation is based on mathematical formulas that use mortality tables and the discounted value of a given amount of money at its current value in terms of its estimated future value.

Acute

Marked by a sudden onset, lasting a short time, but requiring urgent attention.

ADA

Americans with Disablilities Act

Advocacy

Advocacy is when someone who speaks on behalf of others in the way they would want to speak for themselves if they had more opportunity, knowledge or confidence. Peer advocacy is when someone who speak on behalf of other in the same position as him or herself, eg a service user presentative on a client care planning team.

If you can remember times when you have been ignored, excluded, or treated unfairly, then you know how important it is to be able to stand up for yourself or have someone on your side.

Advocacy is not new. People do it everyday for themselves, for their children, for their elderly relatives and for their friends. Concerned individuals do it for people who are particulary vulnerable or undervalued.

Advocacy is about empowerment. Advocacy gives people a stronger voice so that their wishes and needs are known.

Advocacy is about people speaking up or acting for themselves, possibly with the support of another person or advocate.

Aggregate

A group of persons that have certain traits or characteristics in common.

Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia: an intense fear of feeling trapped in a situation, especially in public places, combined with an overwhelming fear of having a panic attack in unfamiliar surroundings. This word means, literally (in Greek), "fear of the marketplace."

Source: NAMI

AKAIMS

Alaska Automated Information Management System, involved in data collecting with the purpose of providing information to all behavioral health care service stakeholders.

Alternative Delivery Systems (ADS)

A term referring to any organized method of providing healthcare other than private practice, fee-for-service reimbursement.

AMHB

Alaska Mental Health Board: A state agency charged with planning and coordinating mental health services funded by the State of Alaska, an advocate for Alaskans with mental illnesses.

AMHTA or Trust

Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority: An agency that enhances and protects The Trust. They provide leadership in advocacy, planning, implementing, and funding of a comprehensive integrated mental health program.

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a serious, often chronic, and life-threatening eating disorder defined by a refusal to maintain minimal body weight within 15 percent of an individual's normal weight. Other essential features of this disorder include an intense fear of gaining weight, a distorted body image, and amenorrhea (absence of at least three consecutive menstrual cycles when they are otherwise expected to occur). In addition to the classic pattern of restrictive eating, some people will also engage in recurrent binge eating and purging episodes. Starvation, weight loss, and related medical complications are quite serious and can result in death.

Source: NAMI

Antidepressants

Medications that are used in the treatment of depression, as well as other psychiatric disorders.

Source: Medication for Children and Youth with Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Needs

Asperger Syndrome

Asperger syndrome (AS) as marked by "severe and sustained impairment in social interaction" along with "restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior."

Assertive community treatment

As used in Medicaid, this term refers to a program of services for individuals with serious mental illness that: employs an inter-disciplinary team with shared caseloads, 24-hour mobile crisis teams, assertive outreach for services in the consumer's own environment, individualized treatment, medication, rehabilitation and support services.

Assistive Technology (AT)

A device or service used to improve the capabilities of a child with a disability to function in school. From a pencil grip to a computer and everything in between.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is an illness characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

Source: NAMI

Atypical drugs

The newer, second generation medications used that have fewer and less severe side effects then the older, typical, or first generation medications.

Source: Medication for Children and Youth with Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Needs

Authorize

Give permission for.

Source: Medication for Children and Youth with Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Needs

Autism Spectrum or Spectrum

Complex neurobiological disorders that affect an individual's ability to communicate, regulate their behavior, and socially interact, also called "spectrum" disorder because it produces a wide variety of symptoms or characteristics ranging from mild to severe.

Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP)

A positive behavior intervention plan created by the IEP team to modify a child's behavior to enable the child to gain educational benefit.

Behavioral Health Care

Treatment of mental and/or substance abuse disorders.

Benchmarks

Also called short-term objectives, are objective, measurable steps that gauge a child's progress towards achieving their annual goals.

Best Research Evidence

Clinically relevant research, often from the basic health and medical sciences, but especially from patient-centered clinical research into the accuracy and precision of diagnostic tests (including the clinical examination); the power of prognostic markers; and the efficacy and safety of therapeutic, rehabilitative, and preventive regimens.

Bipolar Disorder

Manic Depressive Disorder and Manic Depression, Bipolar Affective Disorder is an emotional disorder created by a chemical imbalance in the brain that causes unusual shifts in a person's mood, energy, and ability to function. Bipolar Disorder causes ups and downs that are different from the normal ups and downs that most people experience. The effects of Bipolar Disorder can be and usually are severe.

Types of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar I Disorder: One or more manic episodes or mixed episodes and often 1 or more major depressive episodes. Depressive episode may last for several weeks or months, alternating with intense symptoms of mania that may last just as long. Between episodes, there may be periods of normal functioning. Symptoms may also be related to seasonal changes.

Bipolar II Disorder: One or more major depressive episodes accompanied by at least 1 hypomanic episode. Hypomanic episodes have symptoms similar to manic episodes but are less severe. Between episodes, there may be periods of normal functioning. Symptoms may also be related to seasonal changes.

Cyclothymic Disorder: Chronic fluctuating mood disturbance involving periods of hypomanic symptoms and periods of depressive symptoms. It is a milder form of bipolar disorder; the periods of both depressive and hypomanic symptoms are shorter, less severe, and do not occur with regularity. Many, but not all, people with cyclothymic disorder may ultimately develop a more severe form of bipolar disorder.

Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified: When the bipolar disorder is not characterized by any of the above mentioned types of bipolar disorder.1 The experiences of bipolar disorder vary from person to person. Occasionally someone will experience the symptoms of a manic episode and a major depressive episode, but not fit into the above mentioned types of bipolar disorder. This is known as Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified.

Source: DSM IVR

Bipolar Mood Episodes

Types of Mood Episodes Associated With Bipolar Disorder 1

Manic Episode (Mania) is a distinct period during which there is an abnormally and constantly elevated, expansive, or irritable mood. In adults this lasts at least 1 week and in children/youth it may occur more than once in a day.

Hypomanic Episode (Hypomania) is a milder form of mania that lasts at least 4 days in adults or happens for short periods in a day in children.

Major Depressive Episode (Depression) is a period during which there is either depressed mood or the loss of interest or pleasure in nearly all activities, lasting for at least 2 weeks in adults or repeating daily or weekly in children.

Mixed Episode is a period of time during which a person experiences both manic and major depressive symptoms nearly every day for at least 1 week in adults or with some regularity with children.

Source: DSM IVR

Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is characterized by impulsivity and instability in mood, self-image, and personal relationships.

Source: NAMI

Brain Function

How the brain works.

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is a serious eating disorder marked by a destructive pattern of binge-eating and recurrent inappropriate behavior to control one's weight.

Source: NAMI

CANS

Child and Adolescents Needs and Strengths, short pencil and paper test that summerizes day to day interactions and functioning of the child within the community, peers, school, etc.

Case Management

A process by which the services provided to a specific enrollee are coordinated and managed to achieve the best outcome in the most cost-effective manner.

Categorical Eligibility

Medicaid eligibility policy that defines certain groups or categories of individuals as eligible for the program, such as children, the aged, or individuals with disabilities. Individuals who fall into approved categories must also satisfy financial eligibility requirements, including income and, in most cases, resource tests imposed by the states in which they reside.

CDN

Clinical Directors Network, non-profit care clinicians who provide and improve community oriented primary and preventative health care services for poor, minority and underserved populations.

Center for Medicaid and State Options (CMSO)

The agency within the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services(CMS) responsible for administering Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Formerly the Health Care Financing Administration-HCFA,responsible for the administration of Medicaid, Medicare, and CHIP.

Child and Adolescent Services System Program (CASSP)

Located in the Center for Mental Health Services, US Department of Health and Human Services to help states and communities plan, develop and implement services for children with severe emotional disorders.

Chronic Illness and Disability Payment System (CDPS)

Formerly Disaility Payment System, designed to more fairly compensate health plans that serve persons with disabilities and special needs.

Clinical Depression

A more severe form of depression that requires treatment.

Source: Medication for Children and Youth with Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Needs

Clinical Experience

Knowledge in a particular area based upon actual medical or scientific experience.

Source: Medication for Children and Youth with Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Needs

Clinical Expertise

The ability to use clinical skills and past experience to identify and treat each patient's unique state and diagnosis, to assess the individual risks and benefits of potential interventions, and to do so within the context of the patient's personal values and expectations.

Source: SAMHSA

Clinical Trials

A scientific evaluation of a new treatment for a disorder to determine id a drug is safe and effective, at what doses it works best, and what side effects it causes--information that guides health professionals and families in the proper use of medicines.

Source: Medication for Children and Youth with Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Needs

Clinician

A mental health professional who provides mental health services to a child or their family in a clinical, home, or communtiy setting. Clinicians that can prescribe medications are doctors.

Source: Medication for Children and Youth with Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Needs

Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Cognitive therapy is essentially a method that identifies thoughts that produce negative or painful feelings, as well as result in maladaptive behavior or reactions. Beck discovered that the primary point of intervention was at the level of a person’s thoughts, and that if changes are made in thinking (automatic thoughts, assumptions and core beliefs), changes in emotions and behavior will follow. Furthermore, behavioral techniques and strategies are employed as needed to enhance the treatment outcome (i.e., anger management, relaxation training, graduated exposure to feared situations, assertiveness training).

Cognitive Performance

To do things related to the ability to think, take in, and process information, reason, memorize, learn, and communicate.

Source: Medication for Children and Youth with Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Needs

Community based

Care that responds to the needs identified by the community and draws from that community to address those needs. Services are provided as near to the home as possible.

Compulsions

Compulsions are repetitive rituals such as handwashing, counting, checking, hoarding, or arranging.

Source: NAMI

Conduct Disorder

"Conduct disorder" is a complicated group of behavioral and emotional problems in youngsters. Children and adolescents with this disorder have great difficulty following rules and behaving in a socially acceptable way. They are often viewed by other children, adults and social agencies as "bad" or delinquent, rather than mentally ill.

Consent

Permission.

Continuity of Care

Complete care that is provided during all transitions, such as hospital to home, home to hospital, etc. Planning insures linkages with education, health, and community resources.

Continuum of Care

A variety of available services that meets the needs of the covered population in an appropriate and cost-effective manner.

Controlled Clinical Trials

A scientific evaluation of a new treatment for a disorder to determine if a drug is safe and effective, at what doses it works best, and what side effects it causes--information that guides health professionals and families in the proper use of medications.

Source: Medication for Children and Youth with Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Needs

Culturally competent

The system of care that honors and respects culturally related beliefs, values, interpersonal styles, attitudes and behaviors of families. Respect for those values is incorporated at all levels of policy, administration, and practice.

DD

Developmental Disability or Delay

DD Waiver

Helps eligible children in need of nursing facility or hospital services to receive medical care in their home.

DEED

Department of Education: The government agency that oversees the functions of the school system in the U.S.

Defectiveness

The belief that you are flawed, damaged or unlovable, and you will thereby be rejected.

Depression

Major depression is a serious medical illness affecting 9.9 million American adults, or approximately 5 percent of the adult population in a given year. Unlike normal emotional experiences of sadness, loss, or passing mood states, major depression is persistent and can significantly interfere with an individuals thoughts, behavior, mood, activity, and physical health. Among all medical illnesses, major depression is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and many other developed countries.

Source: NAMI

Diagnosis

A label for what is occuring mental health wise with an individual.

Source: Medication for Children and Youth with Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Needs

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), previously referred to as multiple personality disorder (MPD), is a dissociative disorder involving a disturbance of identity in which two or more separate and distinct personality states (or identities) control the individual's behavior at different times.

Source: NAMI

Division of Behavioral Health

A part of the Department of Health and Social Services in the State of Alaska executive branch that is responsible for services related to mental health, substance abuse, suicide prevention, Fetal Alchol Spectrum Disorder (sometmes referred to as FASD or FAS/FAE). DBH also is responsible for the monitoring of the quality of services. It has three advisory boards: Alaska Mental Health Board, Advisory Board on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse and the Suicide Prevention Council.

Source: http://www.hhs.state.ak.us/dbh/

DME

Durable medical equipment; equipment that is not disposable such as wheelchairs, walkers, oxygen concentrators.

DSM IV

An official manual of mental health problems developed by the Americain Psychiatric Association. This reference book is used by psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and other health and mental health providers to understand and diagnose a mental health problem. Insurance companies and health care providers also use this book when they discuss mental health problems.

DSM IV Diagnoses

Diagnosis from an official manual of mental health problems developed by the Americain Psychiatric Association. This reference book is used by psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and other health and mental health providers to understand and diagnose a mental health problem. Insurance companies and health care providers also use this book when they discuss mental health problems.

Source: Medication for Children and Youth with Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Needs

Dual Diagnosis

Individuals who have at least one mental disorder as well as an alcohol or drug use disorder. While these disorders may interact differently in any one person (e.g., an episode of depression may trigger a relapse into alcohol abuse, or cocaine use may exacerbate schizophrenic symptoms), at least one disorder of each type can be diagnosed independently of the other. Generally, co-occurring disorders is a preferred term because dual diagnosis also refers to multiple interacting disabilities, psychosocial problems, and disadvantages.

Source: SAMHSA

DVR

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation: A state agency that assists individuals with disabilities to obtain and maintain employment.

Early Intervention (EI)

Providing services to prevent further deterioration, delay, or increased need.

Eating Disorders

Emotional Deprivation

The belief and expectation that your primary needs will never be met. The sense that no one will nurture, care for, guide, protect or empathize with you.

EPSDT

Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment, mandatory Medicaid benefits and services for Medicaid eligible children and youth under 21 designed to provide preventative care and treatment.

Evaluate

To determin the effect of the medication being dispensed to the individual, to help determine if a certain medication should be used in the future.

Source: Medication for Children and Youth with Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Needs

Evidence-based Practice

Integration of three element: best research evidence, clinical expertise and patient values.

Source: SAMHSA

Evidenced-based Integrated Treatment

Integrated treatment programs mean that the same clinicians or teams of clinicians, working in one setting, provide appropriate mental health and substance abuse interventions in a coordinated fashion and the agency or direct providers take responsibility for combining the treatment and service interventions into one coherent package

Source: SAMHSA

FAE

Fetal Alcohol Effects: A condition where children are born with less dramatic physical defects than those born with FAS, but with many of the same behavioral and psychosocial characteristics.

Family Centered

The system of care that recognizes and builds upon the importance of the family and reflects this in the way services are planned and delivered. It promotes family/professional partnerships and responds to family identified needs, builds upon family strengths and respects the diversity of families.

Family Voices

A national grassroots organization of families and friends speaking on behalf of children with special health care needs.

FAPE

Free and appropriate public education.

FAS

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: a pattern of malformations and disabilities resulting from a pregnant woman drinking heavily during her pregnancy. FAS is currently the leading cause of mental retardation in the U.S.

FASD

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: An umbrella term used to describe the range of disabilities caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

FFFCMH

Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health.

Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA)

When the school district gathers information on a child and their behavior to determine the reason for that behavior.

Functional Level

Intellectual and skills ability.

GAF

Global Assessment of Functioning Scale: Within the DSM-IV, the reporting of overall functioning on Axis V uses scores to track the clinical progress of individuals in global terms, using a single measure.

Gate Keeping

The use of primary care clinicians, case managers or some other mechanism as the initial contact for care in order to ensure that only appropriate and cost-effective care is utilized.

Governor's Council

Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special Education: Uses planning, capacity building, systems change, and advocacy to create change for people with disabilities, in the areas of housing, employment, early intervention, special education, lifelong learning, independent living and inclusion in the community.

HCFA Waivers

Agreements with the federal government that allow states flexibility in the administration of their state's Medicaid plan.

IDEA

Individuals with Disabilities Educational Act

IEP and 504

Individual Educational Program: special education and related services specifically designed to meet the unique educationl needs of a student with a disability. It contains goals and objectives, set by a treatment team and based upon the student's present level of educational performance, as well as any special supports needed to help achieve those goals.

504 - A legal document of instructional services to assist students with special needs who are in a regular education setting (not an IEP as required for special education students).

Institution for Mental Diseases (IMD)

A facility of more than 16 beds that meets the Federal definition. The most significant Federal criterion is that at least 50 %% of the residents have a primary diagnosis of a mental illness. Services in IMDs cannot be paid using Medicaid funds.

Interactive Metronome

The Interactive Metronome is a computerized version of the traditional music metronome used for centuries to improve timing and rhythmicity especially for people with attention deficits and symptoms of ADHD. The exercises are based on accepted research. They improve the middle to higher levels of cognitive, social skills and the basic fundamental level of timing which improve attention and coordination.

Source: http://www.InteractiveMetronome.com

Legislators - House of Representatives - Alaska

Find your Legislator by name, district or picture and click on the address to send an e-mail.

Source: http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/house/23/house.htm

Legislators - Senators - Alaska

Find your legislator by name, district or picture and click onto their address to send them an e-mail.

Source: http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/senate/23/senate.htm

LRE

Least Restrictive Environment - An IDEA mandate that requires schools to educate strdents with disabilities to the maximum estent appropriate with non disabled students while appropriately meeting their educational needs.

Major Depression

Major depression is a serious medical illness affecting 9.9 million American adults, or approximately 5 percent of the adult population in a given year. Unlike normal emotional experiences of sadness, loss, or passing mood states, major depression is persistent and can significantly interfere with an individual’s thoughts, behavior, mood, activity, and physical health. Among all medical illnesses, major depression is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and many other developed countries.

Source: NAMI

Mediation

A voluntary process in which parents and school personnel use an impartial mediator to assist in resolving their differences.

Medicaid

A federal program administered individually by participating states that share in the program's costs to provide medical benefits to specific groups of low income and/or categorically eligible persons.

Mental Health Statistics Improvement Program(MHSIP)

A project, funded and coordinated through the federal Center for Mental Health Services, in which individuals, organizations, state government agencies and asscociations are working to improve the information management capacity to support decision making in meeting the needs of persons with mental health disorders. The goal of MHSIP is to implement uniform, integrated mental health data collection systems.

Mental Illnesses

Mental illnesses include such disorders as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic and other severe anxiety disorders, autism and pervasive developmental disorders, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, borderline personality disorder, and other severe and persistent mental illnesses that affect the brain.

Source: NAMI

Mental Retardation Developmental Disability

A severe, chronic disability of a person attributable to a mental or physical impairment or both, manifested before the person attains age 22, unless caused by a traumatic head injury manifested after age 22.

Metabolic Disorder

An inherited disorder that affects the way the body changes food and essential chemical into energy and waste matter.

Source: Medication for Children and Youth with Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Needs

Mistrust

The belief that others are abusive, manipulative, selfish, or looking to hurt or use you. Others are not to be trusted.

Multiple Personality Disorder

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill

NAMI is a nonprofit, grassroots, self-help, support and advocacy organization of adult consumers, families, and friends of people with severe mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic and other severe anxiety disorders, autism and pervasive developmental disorders, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and other severe and persistent mental illnesses that affect the brain.

Obsessions

Obsessions are intrusive, irrational thoughts -- unwanted ideas or impulses that repeatedly well up in a person's mind.

Source: NAMI

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessions are intrusive, irrational thoughts -- unwanted ideas or impulses that repeatedly well up in a person's mind. Compulsions are repetitive rituals such as handwashing, counting, checking, hoarding, or arranging. Obsessive-compulsive disorder occurs when an individual experiences obsessions and compulsions for more than an hour each day, in a way that interferes with his or her life.

Source: NAMI

OCS/DFYS

Division of Family and Youth Services, now named Office of Children's Services: A service program to help children, where safe and appropriate, return to families from which thay have been removed, or be placed for adoption, with a legal guardian, or placed in some other planned, permanent living arrangement.

ODEP/DOL

Office of Disability Employment Policy/ U.S. Department of Labor: An agency that provides national leadership by developing and influencing disability-related employment policy as well as practice affecting the employment of people with disabilities.

Off Label

When a medication approved by the U.S. food and drug administration for adults and older children, but not for young children, is prescribed by a physician for a young child because its use in practice has shown it to be safe and more effective than other medications.

Source: Medication for Children and Youth with Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Needs

Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) - a recurrent pattern of negativistic, defiant, disobedient and hostile behavior toward authority figures that persists for at least six months. To warrant a diagnosis of ODD, the child must show frequent occurrence of at least four behaviors such as losing temper, arguing with and defying adults, deliberately doing things that will annoy other people. Children and adolescents with ODD are usually angry and resentful and quick to blame others for their misbehaviors.

Paranoid Personality Disorder

A pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others such that their motives are interpreted as malevolent, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts.

Part B

Part of IDEA legislation that pertains to pre-school children and their educational needs.

Part C

Part of IDEA legislation that pertains to infants and toddlers with or at risk for disabilities.

Patient Values

The preferences, concerns, and expectations each patient brings to a clinical encounter that must be integrated into clinical decisions if they are to serve the patient.

Source: SAMHSA

Pervasive Development Disorder

Usually found in the early years of a child's life causing difficuly in areas of development or use of functional skills such as language, communication, social skills, and motor behaviors.

Source: Medication for Children and Youth with Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Needs

Phobia

Phobias are irrational, involuntary, and inappropriate fears of (or responses to) ordinary situations or things. People who have phobias can experience panic attacks when confronted with the situation or object about which they feel phobic. There are three types of phobias; specific phobia, social phobia, and agoraphabia.

Source: NAMI

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can occur after someone experiences a traumatic event that caused intense fear, helplessness, or horror. PTSD can result from personally experienced traumas (e.g., rape, war, natural disasters, abuse, serious accidents, and captivity) or from the witnessing or learning of a violent or tragic event.

Source: NAMI

Problem-Solving in a Relationship

Step 1. Confront the problem - having acknowledged that a problem exists in a calm way point it out and ask the person to choose a time a place when they will feel comfortable discussing it.

Step 2. Understand each other's view - take time to hear each other right through, without interruption. If feelings are running high, leave it until you have both calmed down - or try writing down everything you have to say and swapping what you have written. Give yourselves a day to think about it before talking it through. It may be that you were both failing to understand how the situation seemed to the other - if this is the case, blame is not helpful, be upfront and honest about any misperceptions you have made.

Step 3. Define the problem - start by acknowledging what you agree about. Then try looking at what specific actions - by both of you - keep the problem alive.

Step 4. Search for solutions - do not discount any solution, however outrageous; just come up with as many solutions as possible. Then, together, look at each one and talk through the rational consequences of it.

Step 5. Agree on one solution - to agree on this, both of you must feel as though the problem has been resolved for you. A solution is not a way of letting one of you carry on just as before, while the other continues to feel hurt and unvalued.

Step 6. Implement the solution - keep to the agreement, and if one of you does not, point it out in a calm non-aggressive way; and

Step 7. Review the agreement - if things are not working, repeat of steps 1 to 6 looking at why they are not working. Success in this process is not necessarily that all problems are completely resolved - but the process keeps going and is felt to be worthwhile by you both.

Source: http://www.bi-polar.org.uk/

Psychiatrist

A medical doctor who specializes in the treatment of mental, emotional, or behavoral problems.

Source: Medication for Children and Youth with Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Needs

Psychosis

Refers to a state of being completely out of touch with reality.

Source: Medication for Children and Youth with Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Needs

Psychostimulant

Stimulant medication used to treat psychiatric or mental health disorders.

Source: Medication for Children and Youth with Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Needs

Public Opinion Message

System that allows you to send a 50 word message to some or all legislators.

Source: http://www.legis.state.ak.us/poms/

RTC/RPTC

Residential Treatment Center/ Residential Placement Treatment Center: Out of home placement for children and adolescents needing mental health treatment when their needs cannnot be adequately managed at home, and/or that they are at risk to themselves or to others.

SAMHSA

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, it is responsible for improving the quality and availability of prevention, treatment and rehabilitation services for substance abuse and mental illnesses.

Scattered Attention

The inability of the child or youth to stick with a task, a child or youth who is easily distracted.

Source: Medication for Children and Youth with Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Needs

SCHIP

State Children's Health Insurance Program, a program that establishes a health insurance program for children without insurance from families whose income is too high for Medicaid but below established percentages.

Schizoaffective Disorder

Schizoaffective disorder is one of the more common, chronic, and disabling mental illnesses. As the name implies, it is characterized by a combination of symptoms of schizophrenia and an affective (mood) disorder.

Source: NAMI

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a devastating brain disorder that affects approximately 2.2 million American adults, or 1.1 percent of the population age 18 and older. Schizophrenia interferes with a person's ability to think clearly, to distinguish reality from fantasy, to manage emotions, make decisions, and relate to others.

Source: NAMI

Screening Intake

A process where the individual is assessed under pre-set guidelines to determine eligibility for the program.

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is characterized by recurrent episodes of depression - usually in late fall and winter - alternating with periods of normal or high mood the rest of the year.

Source: NAMI

Section 1115 Waiver

A federal option that allows a state to operate its system of care for Medicaid enrollees in a manner different from that ordered by HCFA to demonstrate the effectiveness and cost.

Section 1915(b) Waiver

A federal option that allows a state to partially limit the choice of providers for Medicaid enrollees; for example, under the waiver a state can limit the choice of enrollees to disenroll from an HMO on more than a yearly basis.

SED

Severe Emotional Disturbance: An emotional handicap, the severity of which results in the need for a program for the full school week and extensive support services, programs provide for lower adult to pupil ratio than programs for emotionally handicapped and are designed to accommodate.

Separation Anxiety Disorder

Developmentally inappropriate and excessive anxiety concerning separation from home or from those to whom the individual is attached.

Simple Phobia

Specific (simple) phobia: an unreasonable fear of specific circumstances or objects, such as traffic jams or snakes.

Source: NAMI

Social Isolation

The pervasive sense of aloneness, coupled with a feeling of alienation.

Social Phobia

Social phobia: extreme fear of looking foolish or stupid or unacceptable in public that causes people to avoid public occasions or areas.

Source: NAMI

Specific Phobia

Sped

Special Education: Classroom or private instruction involving techniques, exercises, and subject matter designed for students whose learning needs cannot be met by standard school curriculum.

SSA

Social Security Administration that oversees SSI and SSDI.

SSDI

Social Security Disability Income, set dollar amount paid to eligible persons and their dependents when they have lost their jobs due to a disability.

SSI

Supplemental Security Income, paid to eligible recipients to offset income loss due to a disability.

Substance Use (drug and alcohol) and Abuse

Substantial Limitation of Major Life Activities Under the ADA

A person is considered an individual with a disability when the individual's important life activities are res-tricted as to the conditions, manner, or duration under which they can be performed in comparison to most people.

This includes walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, sitting, standing, lifting, reaching and learning. and “substantially limits

Symptom

A sign or indicator of disorder, such as problem behavior like poor school performance, irritablity, tics, or a depressed mood.

Source: Medication for Children and Youth with Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Needs

TANF

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, A block grant program that makes federal matching funds available to states for cash and other assistance to low-income families with children.

Tardive Dyskinesia

Tardive Dyskinesia, or TD, is one of the muscular side effects of anti-psychotic drugs.

Source: NAMI

TEFRA

Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982, The Federal law that created the current risk and cost contract provisions under which health plans contract with CMS and that established a new eligibility option for children to receive home-based services if they would otherwise be in institutions.

Tourette's Disorder

Tourette's Syndrome

Tourette’s disorder, or Tourette’s syndrome (TS) as it is frequently called, is a neurologic syndrome. The essential feature of Tourette’s are multiple tics that are sudden, rapid, recurrent, non-rhythmic, stereotypical, purposeless movements or vocalizations.

Source: NAMI

Transition Services

The time between 14 and 23, transition to adulthood (within the school district, OCS, and agency treatment plans focusing on Independent Living Skills).

Traumatic Brain Injury

An injury to the brain caused by an accident.

Source: Medication for Children and Youth with Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Needs

Treatment Plan

A plan focused on individual services for the consumer, developed by a treatment team.

Treatment team

May consist of some or all of these individuals: the person who receives services, their family, clinician, case manager, psychiatrist, teacher, speech therapist and anyone who has information to benefit the consumer.

VR

Voc Rehab or vocational rehabilitation.

Waiver

A process that allows state Medicaid agencies to apply for and receive permission from HCFA to provide services not otherwise covered by their Medicaid plan or to do so in ways not described by the Social Security Act.

Wrap-around

A process of engagement with the individual that results in benefits organized around an individual recipient''s self-identified needs and has a no-eject, no-reject policy with services continued as long as beneficial and necessary with a special focus on outcomes not cost.