Glossary

504 Plan

Plan for students who do not meet special education criteria, but may need temporary special accommodations in the school setting.

Accessible Services

Services that are affordable, located nearby, and provide some evening and weekend hours. Staff is sensitive to and incorporates individual and cultural values.

Acting Out

Self-abusive, aggressive, violent and/or disruptive behavior.

Acute

Marked by a sudden onset, sharp rise, and lasting a short time, demanding urgent attention.

Adult Foster Care

Licensed, sheltered living arrangement for up to four functionally impaired adults in a family-like environment. Adult foster care is available to persons age 18 years or older. Adult foster homes provide food, lodging, protection, supervision and household services. They may also provide living skills assistance or training, medication assistance and assistance safeguarding cash resources.

Adult Rehabilitative Mental Health Services (ARMHS)

Also known as the "MA Rehab Option" and Adult Mental Health Crisis Response Services are Medical Assistance (MA) State Plan Mental Health Services.

Advanced Psychiatric Directive

A written tool used to make mental health care decisions when an individual is unable to do so because of incapacity.

Advocacy

The process of actively supporting the cause of an individual (case advocacy) or group (class advocacy), speaking or writing in favor of, or being intercessor or defender. Action to assure the best possible services for or intervention in the service system on behalf of an individual or group.

Affect

Feeling, emotion.

Affective Disorder

A disorder of mood (feeling, emotion). Refers to a disturbance of mood and other symptoms that occur together for a minimal duration of time and are not due to other physical or mental illness.

Agoraphobia

A Greek word that literally means "fear of the marketplace." This anxiety disorder involves the fear of experiencing a panic attack in a place or situation from which escape may be difficult (or embarrassing).

Ally

Any non-LGBTQ person who supports and stands up for the rights of LGBTQ people.

Anorexia Nervosa (also called Anorexia)

An eating disorder characterized by low body weight (less than 85 percent of normal weight for height and age), a distorted body image, and an intense fear of gaining weight.

Anxiety Disorder

Excessive anxiety and worry, occurring more days than not for a period of at least 6 months, about a number of events or activities.

Appropriate Services

Designed to meet the specific needs of each individual child and family. For example, one family may need day treatment, while another may need home-based services. Appropriate services for one child and family may not be appropriate for another. Appropriate services usually are provided in the child's community.

Asperger's Disorder

One type of pervasive developmental disorder that is characterized by severe and sustained impairment in social interaction and the development of restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, and activities.

Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)

An intensive, non-residential rehabilitative mental health service that is an identified evidence-based practice. ACT services are provided by multidisciplinary staff using a team approach, and directed to adults with a serious mental illness who require intensive services.

Assessment (Adult)

Process of identifying: a) a person's strengths, preferences, functional skills and need for support and services; b) the extent to which natural supports are able to meet the person's need for support and services; and c) the extent to which human services agencies and providers are able to provide or develop needed support or services.

Assessment (Child & Family)

A professional review of child and family needs that is done when services are first sought from a caregiver. The assessment of the child includes a review of physical and mental health, intelligence, school performance, family situation, and behavior in the community. The assessment identifies the strengths of the child and family. Together, the professional-care-giver and family decide what kind of treatment and supports, if any, are needed.

Assessment Protocol

Guidelines that an agency or individual follows when conducting assessments.

Assessment Tools

A variety of instruments (tests) that are used to gather information about a person's functioning and/or level of need.

Attachment Disorder

A condition in which individuals have difficulty forming loving, lasting, intimate relationships.

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

The essential features of this disorder are developmentally inappropriate degrees of inattention, impulsiveness and sometimes hyperactivity.

Autistic Disorder

A disorder (usually appearing by age 3) characterized by lack of communication, lack of social skills, withdrawal and developmental delays.

Avoidance

A symptom of a disorder manifested by avoiding the establishment of new interpersonal contacts to the extent that social functioning is impaired.

Behavioral Disorders

"Acting out" behavior that has gone on for a long period of time and goes against what is socially acceptable for the individual's age and situation, and may be self-destructive and adversely affects the family and others.

Behavioral Healthcare

Continuum of services for individuals at risk of, or suffering from, mental, addictive, or other behavioral health disorders.

Behavioral Therapy

Therapy that focuses on changing unwanted behaviors through rewards, reinforcements, and desensitization. Behavioral therapy often involves the cooperation of others, especially family and close friends, to reinforce a desired behavior.

Best Practices

Guidelines or practices driven more by clinical wisdom, professional organizations, or other consensus. Approaches that do not necessarily include systematic use of available research evidence.

Binge Eating Disorder

A disorder that resembles bulimia nervosa and is characterized by episodes of uncontrolled eating (or bingeing). It differs from bulimia, however, because its sufferers do not purge their bodies of the excess food, via vomiting, laxative abuse, or diuretic abuse.

Biopsychosocial Assessment

The evaluation of a person's biological, psychological, and social factors for the purpose of developing a treatment plan.

Bipolar Disorder

A mood disorder with elevated mood, usually accompanied by a major depressive episode.

Bisexual

A person who is attracted to both men and women.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

A measure to determine the amount of body fat and amount of lean body mass.

Brain-Injury

A condition in which an individual before, during, or after birth has received an injury to or suffered an infection of the brain. As a result of such organic impairment, there may be disorders that prevent or impede the normal learning process.

Bulimia Nervosa (also called Bulimia)

A disorder characterized by episodes of uncontrolled eating followed by purging bodies of excess food by vomiting, laxatives or diuretic abuse.

Care Coordination

Brokering services for an individual to ensure that their needs are met and their services are not duplicated by the organizations involved in providing care.

Caregiver

(1) A person who has special training to help people with mental health problems. Examples include social workers, teachers, psychologists, psychiatrists, and mentors. (2) May also refer to the person responsible for the health, welfare & safety of a child such as a parent.

Case Management

A service that helps people arrange for appropriate services and supports. A case manager coordinates mental health, social, educational, health, vocational, transportation, advocacy, respite care, and recreational services, as needed. The case manager makes sure that the changing needs are met.

Case Manager

An individual who organizes and coordinates services and supports for adult individuals and/or children with mental health problems and their families. (Alternate terms: service coordinator, advocate, and facilitator.)

Child Protective Services

Designed to safeguard the child when abuse, neglect, or abandonment is suspected, or when there is no family to take care of the child. Examples of help delivered in the home include financial assistance, vocational training, homemaker services, and daycare. If in-home supports are insufficient, the child may be removed from the home on a temporary or permanent basis. Ideally, the goal is to keep the child with the family whenever possible.

Child Psychologist

Licensed mental health professional (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) who specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders. Training prepares clinical psychologists to treat children either individually, as part of and involving the family unit, and/or in a group setting. Psychologists also conduct cognitive, academic, and personality testing.

Child Welfare

Child service sector that focuses on child protection, foster care, and the overall care of children's health and living conditions (i.e. Department of Social Services).

Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists

Licensed physicians (M.D. or D.O.) who specialize in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders in children and adolescents. Their medical and psychiatric training with children and adolescents prepares them to treat children and adolescents either individually, as part of and involving the family unit, and/or in a group setting. Child and adolescent psychiatrists can prescribe medications, if needed.

Children and Adolescents at Risk for Mental Health Problems

Children are at greater risk for developing mental health problems when certain factors occur in their lives or environments. Factors include physical abuse, emotional abuse or neglect, harmful stress, discrimination, poverty, loss of a loved one, frequent relocation, alcohol and other drug use, trauma, and exposure to violence.

Chronic

Marked by long duration or frequent recurrence.

Clinical Psychologist

Licensed mental health professional (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) who specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders. Training prepares clinical psychologists to treat adults and children either individually, as part of and involving the family unit, and/or in a group setting. Psychologists also conduct cognitive, academic, and personality testing.

Closeted / "In the Closet"

Describes a person who keeps his/her sexual orientation or gender identity a secret from some or all people.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

A combination of cognitive and behavioral therapies which helps people change negative thought patterns, beliefs, and behaviors so they can manage symptoms and enjoy more productive, less stressful lives.

Cognitive Development

Development of the ability to think and reason.

Cognitive Therapy

Aims to identify and correct thinking patterns that can lead to feelings and behaviors that may be troublesome, self-defeating, or self-destructive. The goal is to replace such thinking with a more balanced view that leads to more fulfilling and productive behavior

Collaboration

(1) The process of communication and partnering with people represent different systems (i.e. juvenile justice, child welfare, education, mental health, and spiritual and neighborhood communities) by sharing power, resources, authority, and control with them. (2) A helping relationship between a family member and a professional in a reciprocal relationship in which the family and professional share power and responsibility. The relationship is grounded in the belief that the family of a child with an emotional disorder can be a resource to the professional and vice versa.

Coming Out

A life-long process of acknowledging one's sexual orientation and/or gender identity to one's self and/or other people.

Communication Disorders

Developmental disorders that include expressive language disorder, which focuses on developmental delays and difficulties in the ability to produce speech, and mixed receptive-expressive language disorder, which focuses on developmental delays and difficulties in the ability to understand spoken language and produce speech.

Community Alternatives for Disabled Individuals (CADI) Waiver

Funding Stream for home and community based services necessary as an alternative to institutionalization that promote the optimal health, independence, safety and integration of a person who would otherwise require the level of care provided in a nursing facility.

Community Support Plan

Person-centered plan that reflects a person's needs and preferences.

Community Support Program (CSP)

Services designed to help adults with serious and persistent mental illness to function and remain in the community. These services may include medication monitoring, assistance in independent living skills, crisis, psychological rehabilitation, and help in applying for government benefits.

Community Supports

Those support/resources in peoples' neighborhoods that can be supportive at little or no cost to the family. Examples include places of worship, YMCA, libraries, park recreational programs, free health clinics or Boys and Girls Clubs.

Community-Based/Community-Based Services

The principle that the System of Care services and supports should be available and accessible within the community where the individual lives.

Conduct Disorder

A behavior disorder characterized by repetitive and persistent patterns of behavior that violate either the rights of others or age appropriate social norms or rules.

Continuum of Care

A term that implies a progression of services that a child may move through. More recently, it has come to mean comprehensive services. Also see system of care and wraparound services.

Coordinated Services

Child-serving organizations talk with the family and agree upon a plan of care that meets the child's needs. These organizations can include mental health, education, juvenile justice, and child welfare. Case management is necessary to coordinate services. Also see family-centered services and wraparound services.

Counselor/Therapist

A professional who helps with person, social, or psychological problems.

Crisis Residential Treatment Services

Short-term, round-the-clock help provided in a nonhospital setting during a crisis. The purposes of this care are to avoid inpatient hospitalization, help stabilize and determine the next appropriate step.

Crisis Services

Provides specific short-term care and intervention strategies to a person due to the need for relief and support. This includes addressing both medical and behavioral needs.

Cultural Competence

Help that is sensitive and responsive to cultural differences. Caregivers are aware of the impact of culture and possess skills to help provide services that respond appropriately to a person's unique cultural differences, including race and ethnicity, national origin, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, or physical disability. They also adapt their skills to fit a family's values and customs.

DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition)

An official manual of mental health problems developed by the American Psychiatric Association. Psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and other health and mental health care providers use this reference book to understand and diagnose mental health problems. Insurance companies and health care providers also use the terms and explanations in this book when discussing mental health problems.

Day Treatment (Adult)

A short-term structured program consisting of group psychotherapy and other intensive therapeutic services provided by a multidisciplinary team. Day treatment services are provided to stabilize a recipient's mental health status while developing and improving his/her independent living and socialization skills. The goal of day treatment is to reduce or relieve the effects of mental illness and provide training to enable the recipient to live in the community. The treatment must be provided to a group of recipients by a multidisciplinary team under the clinical supervision of a mental health professional.

Day Treatment (Child)

Includes special education, counseling, parent training, vocational training, skill building, crisis intervention, and recreational therapy. It lasts at least 4 hours a day. Day treatment programs work in conjunction with mental health, recreation, and education organizations and may even be provided by them.

Defensive Behavior

Behavior that is for the purpose of protecting the individual or avoiding unpleasant ideas, thoughts, and consequences.

Delinquency

Violation of law by a child or youth (usually under 18).

Delusions

A perception that is thought to be true by the person experiencing it, although the perception is wrong.

Depression

A mood disorder characterized by extreme feelings of sadness, lack of self-worth, and dejection, low or irritable mood or loss of interest or pleasure in almost all activities over a period of time.

Developmental Disorders

Disorders that have predominate disturbances in normal development of language, motor, cognitive and/or motor skills.

Deviant Behavior

Breaking formal or informal rules or laws relative to social customs or norms, including sexual behavior.

Diagnosis (DX)

The identification of a disease or problem from signs and symptoms.

Disability

Inability to engage in substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determined physical or mental impairment that can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.

Discharge Plan

A process used by health professionals to facilitate a patient's transition from one level of care to another.

Disintegrative Psychosis (also called Childhood Disintegrative Disorder)

One type of pervasive developmental disorder that is characterized by a marked regression in multiple areas of functioning following a period of at least two years of apparently normal development.

Disorder of Written Expression

A difficulty with writing skills such as understanding grammar or punctuation, spelling, paragraph organization, or composing written information.

Dual Diagnosis

A diagnosis of an emotional disorder and another disorder such as developmental delay, drug and alcohol use or a mental illness.

Dyslexia

A specific learning disorder marked by severe difficulty recognizing and understanding written language; spelling & writing problems. An impairment of the brain's ability to translate written images into meaningful language.

Dysthymia (Also known as Dysthymic Disorder)

Classified as a type of affective disorder (or mood disorder) that often resembles a less severe, yet more chronic form of major (clinical) depression. Persons with dysthymia may also experience major depressive episodes at times.

Early Intervention

A process for recognizing warning signs that individuals are at risk for mental health problems and taking early action against factors that put them at risk. Early intervention can help children get better more quickly and prevent problems from becoming worse.

Eating Disorders

Disorders that are characterized by unusual eating behavior, including anorexia nervosa and bulimia.

Elimination Disorders

The essential feature of these disorders are the lack of control over bladder (enuresis) or bowel (encopresis) not caused by a physical disorder.

Emergency and Crisis Services

A group of services that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to help during a mental health emergency. Examples include telephone crisis hotlines, suicide hotlines, crisis counseling, crisis residential treatment services, crisis outreach teams, and crisis respite care.

Emotional Disorder (or Disability)

Behavior, emotional, and/or social impairment exhibited by a child or adolescent that consequently disrupts the child's or adolescent's academic and/or developmental progress, family, and/or interpersonal relationships.

Empowerment

The ability to exercise influence and control over the services one receives.

Endorphins

Chemicals in the brain that are responsible for positive moods.

Euphoria

A feeling of elation or well-being that is not based on reality and is commonly exaggerated.

Evaluation

A process conducted by mental health professionals which results in an opinion about an individual's mental or emotional capacity, and may include recommendations about treatment. See Assessment.

Evidence

Refers to data resulting from scientific controlled trials and research, expert or user consensus, evaluation, or anecdotal information

Evidence-Based Practices

Interventions which have consistent scientific evidence showing that they improve client outcomes.

Exceptional Children

Children whose performance deviates from the norm (either above or below) to the extent that special programming is needed.

Experiential Therapy

The therapist incorporates one's experiences into treatment.

Expressive Language Disorder

A communication disorder identified by developmental delays and difficulties in the ability to produce speech.

Expressive Therapy

The use of the creative arts as a form of treatment/therapy

Family Support Services

Help designed to keep the family together, while coping with mental health problems that affect them. These services may include consumer information workshops, in-home supports, family therapy, parenting training, crisis services, and respite care.

Family Therapy

A treatment model that involves interaction with family members and family interactions as well as with the individual.

Family-Centered Services

Help designed to meet the specific needs of each individual, child and family. Children and families should not be expected to fit into services that do not meet their needs. Also see appropriate services, coordinated services, wraparound services, and cultural competence.

Family-Driven

Families have a primary authority in decision making regarding the care of their children. Family-driven systems actively demonstrate their partnerships with all families and youth by sharing power, resources, authority and control with them.

Family-Run Organizations

Advocacy and support organizations that are led by family members with expertise/experience in the field of mental health.

Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG)

Index of poverty in the United States that is updated annually; the measure forms the basis of eligibility for a number of programs.

Fee-For-Service (FFS)

Payment to a provider for the provision of services on a service-by-service basis.

Formal Supports

System representatives that are formally involved with a family in times of need. Examples include therapists, child welfare workers, probation or parole officers, teachers or other school personnel.

Functional Assessment

Evaluation of how a child "functions" at school, home, and in the community.

GSA

An acronym for Gay-Straight Alliance, which is a club for LGBTQ students and allies.

Gay

A man whose physical, romantic, emotional and/or spiritual attraction is to other men. Although this term is typically used to describe men, it can be used for either sex (e.g. gay man, gay woman, gay person).

Gender Expression

The manner in which a person outwardly expresses his/her gender.

Gender Identity

A person's inner sense of self as male, female, or somewhere in between. Most people develop a gender identity that corresponds to their biological sex, but many do not.

General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC)

A state-funded program that covers low income individuals who qualify for Medical Assistance (MA) but are not categorically eligible for MA benefits (that is, they are not elderly, not disabled, not parents of minor children, not under age 21).

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

A mental disorder characterized by chronic, excessive worry and fear that seems to have no real cause. Children or adolescents with generalized anxiety disorder often worry a lot about things such as future events, past behaviors, social acceptance, family matters, their personal abilities, and/or school performance.

Group Residential Housing (GRH)

A state-funded income supplement program that pays for room-and-board costs for low-income adults who have been placed in a licensed or registered setting with which a county human service agency has negotiated a monthly rate.

Guidance Counselor

An individual working in a school who is trained to do screening, evaluations, and career and academic advising.

Hallucinations

A strong perception of an event or object when no such situation is present; may occur in any of the senses (i.e., visual, auditory, gustatory, olfactory, or tactile).

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)

Organization that provides an agreed-upon set of basic and supplemental health maintenance and treatment services to an enrolled group of persons in a particular geographic area.

Home-Based Services

Help provided in a family's home either for a defined period of time or for as long as it takes to deal with a mental health problem. Examples include parent training, counseling, and working with family members to identify, find, or provide other necessary help. The goal is to prevent the child from being placed outside of the home. (Alternate term: in-home supports.)

Homophobia

Fear of lesbians and gay men.

Homosexual

A clinical term for people who are attracted to members of the same sex.

Identity

Self knowledge about one's characteristics or personality; a sense of self.

Identity Disorder

Severe subjective distress caused by inability to achieve an integrated sense of self.

Independent Living Services

Support for a person living on his or her own. These services include therapeutic group homes, supervised apartment living, and job placement. Services teach skills needed to handle financial, medical, housing, transportation, and other daily living needs, as well as how to get along with others.

Independent Living Skills (ILS)

Services that develop and maintain the community living skills and community integration of a person. ILS is provided in the home of a person or in the community.

Individual Education Program (IEP)

A plan that guides the delivery of special education supports and services for a student with a disability.

Individual Education Program (IEP) Case Manager

Special education teacher who is a member of the student's IEP team and coordinates instruction for the student.

Individual Interagency Intervention Plan (IIIP)

A multi-disciplinary, interagency, intervention plan for children that coordinates the delivery of special education and other community support services for a student with a disability.

Individualized Services

Services designed to meet the unique needs of each child and family. Services are individualized when the caregivers pay attention to the needs and strengths, ages, and stages of development of the child and individual family members. Also see appropriate services and family-centered services.

Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA)

Federal law requiring schools to provide services to children with disabilities through age 21.

Informal Supports

Community relationships that are formed to support the family. Examples include family, friends, neighbors and faith community

Inpatient

Services received while residing in the hospital or residential care facility.

Inpatient Hospitalization

Mental health treatment provided in a hospital setting 24 hours a day. Inpatient hospitalization provides: (1) short-term treatment in cases where an individual is in crisis and possibly a danger to his/herself or others, and (2) diagnosis and treatment when the patient cannot be evaluated or treated appropriately in an outpatient setting.

Intensive Residential Treatment (IRT)

A short-term (90 day max), service provided in a 24 hour, 7 day a week residential setting to individuals who are in need of a more restrictive setting and are at risk of significant functional deterioration. Services are designed to develop and enhance psychiatric stability, personal and emotional adjustment, self-sufficiency, and skills to live in a more independent setting.

Jarvis

Law concerning non-compliant use of psychotropic medications.

Juvenile Justice

An area of law that applies to children who have not reached the legal age of adulthood/maturity. The goal of juvenile justice is rehabilitation, not punishment. Also refers to the service sector that is responsible for serving children judged to have committed unlawful acts.

LGBTQ

Acronym for "lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning."

Learning Disability (LD)

Condition within the individual that effects learning and relative potential.

Learning Disorder

A chronic condition that interferes with development, integration and/or demonstration of verbal and/or non-verbal abilities.

Least Restrictive Environment

An educational, treatment or living situation that provides appropriate services or programs for persons with disabilities while imposing as few limitations or constraints as possible.

Lesbian

A woman whose physical, romantic, emotional and/or spiritual attraction is to other women.

Linguistic Competence

The ability to communicate effectively and express information in a way that is understood by diverse audiences including people of limited English language proficiency, those who are illiterate or have limited literacy skills, and those with disabilities. The use of bilingual staff, interpreters, and assistive technology are marks of linguistic competence.

Local Advisory Council (LAC) on Mental Health

The Mental Health Act of 1987 and the Children's Mental Health Act of 1989 require counties to establish local mental health advisory councils. The Act gives LAC's a broad role in the review, evaluation and planning of local mental health systems and reporting to the county board. Minnesota Statute 245.466.

Major Depression (also known as Clinical Depression or Unipolar Depression)

A type of affective disorder (or mood disorder) that goes beyond the day's ordinary ups and downs. It is characterized by low mood and loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyed activates and affects major areas of a person's life.

Managed Care

A way to supervise the delivery of health care services. Managed care may specify which caregivers the insured family can see and may also limit the number of visits and kinds of services that are covered by insurance.

Mania

A mood disorder which may be characterized by extreme elation, impulsivity,

Manic Depression (also known as Bipolar Disorder)

Classified as a type of affective disorder (or mood disorder) that goes beyond the day's ordinary ups and downs. Manic depression is characterized by periodic episodes of extreme elation, elevated mood, or irritability (also called mania) countered by periodic, classic depressive symptoms.

Mathematics Disorder

A learning disorder in which a child has problems with skills related to numbers such as counting, copying numbers correctly, adding and carrying numbers, learning multiplication tables, recognizing mathematical signs, and understanding mathematical operations.

Medical Assistance (MA)

Minnesota's basic Medicaid program.

Mental Disorders

Another term used for mental health problems.

Mental Health

Refers to how a person thinks, feels, and acts when faced with life's situations. It is how people look at themselves, their lives and the other people in their lives; evaluate the challenges and the problems; and explore choices. This includes handling stress, relating to other people and making decisions. Mental health is impacted by genetics, brain chemistry, trauma and environment.

Mental Health Practitioner -Defined in MN Statute, (245.4871 Subd26)

A person who provides services in the treatment of mental illness, under the supervision of a mental health professional.

Mental Health Problems

Problems that affect one's thoughts, body, feelings, and behavior. They can be severe, seriously interfere with a person's life, and even cause a person to become disabled. Mental health problems include depression, bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness), attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, schizophrenia, and conduct disorder.

Mental Health Professional - Defined in MN Statute, (245.4871 Subd27)

A qualified and licensed professional providing clinical services in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness. These licensed professionals are able to complete diagnostic assessments to determine appropriate diagnoses and treatment plans.

Mental Illness

(1) General term applied to severe emotional problems or psychiatric disorders. (2) Organic disorder of the brain or a clinically significant disorder of thought, mood, perception, orientation, memory or behavior.

Mentally Ill and Chemically Dependent (MI/CD)

A "dual diagnosis" of at least one form of mental illness and at least one substance use disorder.

MinnesotaCare

A program that provides access to health coverage for lower income persons. MinnesotaCare, which charges enrollment premiums based on household income, is operationally distinct from Minnesota's Medicaid program.

Mixed Receptive-Expressive Language Disorder

A communication disorder that identifies developmental delays and difficulties in the ability to understand spoken language and produce speech.

Mood Disorder (also known as Affective Disorder)

A category of mental health problems which includes manic and depressive disorders and is characterized by pervasive disturbance of mood.

Multisystemic Therapy (MST)

An intensive family and community-based, evidence-based treatment for youth involved with the Juvenile Justice System.

Natural Supports

Individuals who are naturally occurring in a family's life who can support them in times of need. Examples include extended family members, friends or anyone the family views as "family."

Needs Assessment

Body of information gathered on the needs of an individual or family in order to plan services and supports.

Neurological Impairment

Damage or deficiency to the nervous system of the body.

Neuropsychologist

Neuropsychology is a sub-specialty of clinical psychology that specializes in the diagnostic assessment and treatment of patients with brain injury or neurocognitive deficits. A clinical neuropsychologist's typical caseload may include people with traumatic brain injury (TBI), cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) such as stroke and aneurysm ruptures, brain tumors, encephalitis, epilepsy/seizure disorders, dementias, mental illnesses (e.g. schizophrenia), and a wide range of developmental disorders, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning disabilities, autism and Tourette's syndrome.

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals in the brain that regulate other chemicals in the brain.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

An anxiety disorder manifested by intrusive and persistent thoughts (obsessions) or impulses and compulsive behaviors or rituals (compulsions).

Ombudsman

Independent governmental official who receives complaints against government (and government-regulated) agencies and/or its officials from aggrieved persons, who investigates, and who if the complaints are justified, makes recommendations to remedy the complaints.

Openly Gay / Lesbian / Bisexual / Transgender

A person who publicly acknowledges his/her sexual orientation or gender identity.

Oppositional Disorder

The covert display of underlying aggression by patterns of obstinate, but generally passive behavior. Children with this disorder often provoke adults or other children by the use of negativism, stubbornness, dawdling, procrastination, and other behaviors.

Other Health Impairment (OHI)

Broad range of medially diagnosed health conditions that could effect academic functioning.

Outcomes-Based

The principle that the System of Care focuses on the outcomes that need to be achieved.

Outpatient

Children receiving this type of treatment generally live at home and go for treatment at a local mental health clinic or from private therapists.

PFLAG

An acronym for Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, which is a national non-profit organization with over 500 affiliates in the United States.

Panic Disorder

Characterized by chronic, repeated, and unexpected panic attack bouts of overwhelming fear of being in danger when there is no specific cause for the fear. In-between panic attacks, persons with panic disorder worry excessively about when and where the next attack may occur.

Parent Training

Classes or individual instruction designed to improve parenting skills in such areas as discipline, consistency, and communication.

Personal Care Assistant (PCA)

Assistance and support to eligible persons with disabilities and special health care needs, who live independently in the community. Services are provided by a qualified PCA and may be provided in the person's own home or in the community.

Personality Disorders

Identified by a pervasive pattern of experiences and behavior that is abnormal rigid behavior and thoughts with respect to the individuals cultural norms. Associated with severe disruptions in personal or social relationships.

Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD)

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

Phobia

An uncontrollable, irrational, and persistent fear of a specific object, situation, or activity.

Phobic Disorders

Disorders that cause extreme and irrational anxiety when encountering particular situations, objects or activities.

Pica

The persistent eating of non-nutritive substances (such as paint, string, hair, animal droppings, insects, soil) for over a month. The behavior must be developmentally inappropriate and not part of a culturally sanctioned practice.

Plan of Care

A treatment plan especially designed for each individual, based on strengths and needs. The caregiver(s) develop(s) the plan with input from the family or individual. The plan establishes goals and details appropriate treatment and services to meet the needs.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

An anxiety disorder characterized by a terrifying physical or emotional event (trauma) causing the person who survived the event to have persistent, frightening thoughts and memories, or flashbacks, of the ordeal. Persons with PTSD often feel chronically, emotionally numb.

Protection and Advocacy (P & A)

Federally funded organizations located in every state that protect the rights of persons with developmental disabilities. In Minnesota, the Disability Law Center is the designated Protection and Advocacy agency.

Psychiatric Nurse

A masters-level clinical specialist in psychiatric mental health nursing. A psychiatric nurse is educationally and clinically trained in psychopathology, individual, group, family therapy, and crisis intervention.

Psychiatrist

A licensed physician (M.D. or D.O.) who specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders. Their medical and psychiatric training prepares them to treat adults and children either individually, as part of and involving the family unit, and/or in a group setting. Psychiatrists can prescribe medications, if needed.

Psychologist

A licensed mental health professional who specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders. Training prepares clinical psychologists to treat adults and children either individually, as part of and involving the family unit, and/or in a group setting. Psychologists also conduct cognitive, academic, and personality testing.

Psychosis

A general term used to describe any of several mental disorders characterized by social withdrawal, distortions of reality, loss of contact with environment and disintegration of personality.

Psychotherapy

A broad term applied to a variety of approaches to the treatment of mental and emotional disorders.

Psychotropic Medication

Drugs utilized to affect the psychic function, behavior or experience of a person.

Purging

Persons with bulimia nervosa engage in a destructive pattern of ridding their bodies of the excess calories (to control their weight) by vomiting, abusing laxatives or diuretics, taking enemas, and/or exercising obsessively - a process called purging.

Queer

An umbrella term used by some lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth to refer to themselves

Questioning

A person who is unsure about his/her sexual orientation or gender identity.

Reading Disorder

A learning disorder characterized by reading abilities below the expected level for her/his age and/or intelligence.

Residential Treatment Centers

Licensed facilities that provide treatment 24 hours a day and can usually serve more than 12 young people at a time. Children with serious emotional disturbances receive constant supervision and care. Treatment may include individual, group, and family therapy; behavior therapy; special education; recreation therapy; and medical services. Residential treatment is usually more long-term than inpatient hospitalization.

Resiliency

The quality that allows an individual or group to function well despite the odds against them. Two fundamental concepts are associated with resiliency: risk and protective factors. Mental health promotion concepts focus on minimizing the impact of risk factors (such as stressful life events) and enhancing the protective factors such as social support that increase people's ability to deal with life's challenges.

Respite Care

A planned break for a child who has a severe emotional disorder and their parents. Respite can last from a couple hours to a few days and can be provided in the child's home or in another setting. Respite care can be provided by a family member, friend, or an outside person.

Rett's Disorder

One type of pervasive developmental disorder which occurs most often in girls and is characterized by the development of multiple specific deficits following a period of normal functioning after birth.

Schizophrenia

One of the most complex of all mental health disorders; characterized by distorted thinking, strange feelings, and unusual behavior and use of language; involves a severe, chronic, and disabling disturbance of the brain. The individual may also experience hallucinations or delusions.

School Phobia

Fear of going to school associated with anxiety about leaving home and family members.

Screening

An assessment or evaluation for the purpose of determining the appropriate services for a client.

Screening Instruments

A measure to determine one's level of need for treatment (i.e. CANS, YAZI).

Selective Mutism

The inability to speak in specific social situations in an individual who can and does speak in other situations.

Self-Determination

Person, or his or her authorized representative, makes his/her own decisions, plan his/her own future, determines how money is spent for his/her supports and takes responsibility for the decision he/she makes.

Self-Esteem

Feelings about one's self.

Serious and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI) (defined by legislation)

Person age 18 yrs. or older who has a mental illness diagnosis and meets one of the following conditions: a) has undergone two or more episodes of inpatient care for mental illness within the preceding 24 months; b) has experienced a continuous psychiatric hospitalization or residential treatment exceeding six months duration within the preceding 12 months; c) has been treated by a crisis team two or more times within the preceding 24 months; d) has a diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression or borderline personality disorder, evidences a significant impairment in functioning, and has a written opinion from a mental health professional stating he/she is likely to have future episodes requiring inpatient or residential treatment, unless community support program services are provided; e) has, in the last three years, been committed by a court as a mentally ill person under Minnesota statutes, or the adult's commitment as a mentally ill person has stayed or continued; f) was eligible under one of the above criteria but the specified time period has expired or the person was eligible as a child with severe emotional disturbance and the person has a written opinion from a mental health professional, in the last three years, stating that he/she is reasonably likely to have future episodes.

Service

A type of support or clinical intervention designed to address the specific mental health needs of a child and his or her family. A service could be provided only one time or repeated over a course of time, as determined by the child, family, and service provider.

Service Provider Organizations

Mental health or other social service agencies that offer treatment or other services to children and families.

Service System

Refers to multiple agencies in different sectors (mental health, child welfare, juvenile justice, substance abuse, education, and healthcare) that provide services and treatments for the varying needs of children and families.

Severe Emotional Disturbances (defined by legislation)

For purposes of eligibility for case management and family community support services, "child with severe emotional disturbance" means a child who has an emotional disturbance and who meets one of the following criteria: (1) the child has been admitted within the last three years or is at risk of being admitted to inpatient treatment or residential treatment for an emotional disturbance; or (2) the child is a Minnesota resident and is receiving inpatient treatment or residential treatment for an emotional disturbance through the interstate compact; or (3) the child has one of the following as determined by a mental health professional: (i) psychosis or a clinical depression; or (ii) risk of harming self or others as a result of an emotional disturbance; or (iii) psychopathological symptoms as a result of being a victim of physical or sexual abuse or of psychic trauma within the past year; or (4) the child, as a result of an emotional disturbance, has significantly impaired home, school, or community functioning that has lasted at least one year or that, in the written opinion of a mental health professional, presents substantial risk of lasting at least one year.

Sexual Orientation

A person's attraction to members of the same and/or opposite sex. Includes gay, lesbian, bisexual and heterosexual.

Sliding Fee Scale

Payment to a provider based on a percentage of income.

Social Maladjustment

Extreme difficulty dealing appropriately with other people.

Social Phobia

An anxiety disorder in which a person has significant anxiety and discomfort related to a fear of being embarrassed, humiliated, or scorned by others in social or performance situations.

Specific Phobia

A type of phobia characterized by extreme fear of an object or situation that is not harmful under general conditions.

Spend down

Amount of money that a person enrolled in a Minnesota Health Care Program (MHCP) is responsible to pay before they are eligible for Medical Assistance (MA).

State Medical Review Team (SMRT)

Division of the Department of Human Services who makes blind and disability determinations using criteria from the Social Security Administration. SMRT determines disability status for: individuals whose application for SSI or RSDI is pending and individuals who are disabled but are not eligible for SSI or RSDI.

Strengths-Based

The approach to care that utilizes and values the existing preferences, abilities, interests, strengths and resources in the youth, families, and community.

Substance Abuse/Dependence

The misuse of alcohol or drugs.

Suicidal Behavior

Actions taken by one who is considering or preparing to cause his/her own death.

Suicidal Ideation

Thoughts of suicide or wanting to take one's life.

Suicide

The intentional taking of one's own life.

Suicide Attempt

An act focused on taking one's life that is unsuccessful in causing death.

Support Group

A group, also known as a self help group, that aims to provide mutual support for its members.

System of Care

A model of care and an organizational philosophy that involves collaboration across agencies and with families and youth for the purpose of improving access to coordinated, culturally competent, community based services and supports. A system of care helps children and their families function better at home, school, community and in life.

Therapeutic Foster Care

Community based home-like settings that provide intensive treatment services to a small number of young people. These young people work on issues that require 24-hour supervision.

Tourette's Syndrome (also called TS or Tourette's Disorder)

A tic disorder characterized by repeated involuntary movements and uncontrollable vocal sounds. This disorder usually begins during childhood or early adolescence.

Transgender

A person whose gender expression at least sometimes runs contrary to what is generally expected of his/her biological sex.

Transition

The change from moving from one program to another, starting or leaving school, or other important life changes.

Transition-Age Youth

Youth between the ages of 16-21 who are in the process of aging out of the systems designated for children.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Waiver

Funding Stream for Home and Community - Based Services necessary as an alternative to institutionalization that promote the optimal health, independence, safety and integration of an eligible person and who would otherwise require the level of care provided in a specialized or neurobehavioral hospital.

Treatment

Changing behaviors or other conditions related to the child's emotional or behavioral disorder; and/or helping the individual and his or her family to cope with the disability.

Withdrawing Behavior

Behavior characterized by reduced interest in or contact with other people, and can include absence of speech, regression to babyhood, exhibition of many fears, depression, refusing contacts with other people.

Wraparound Services

A collaborative team-based approach to offering services for children with complex needs including emotional and behavioral problems and their families. Team members, who are identified by the child and family and other service providers meet regularly to create goals, implement treatment and monitor the outcome of individualized treatment plans.

Youth Guided

Young people have the right to be empowered, educated and given a decision making role in the care of their own lives. Youth are given the right to be empowered, educated and engaged in the idea that change is possible and are experts and equal partners in the System of Care.

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