Technical Assistance Guide - Glossary of Acronyms and Terms

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ADA - Americans with Disabilities Act

ADRC - Aging & Disability Resource Center - The ADRC provides information on a variety of programs and services. That includes long-term care options. The ADRC also helps people apply for programs and benefits, including publicly funded long-term care.

ADRS (Tribal)-Tribal Aging and Disability Resource Specialist - The Tribal aging and disability resource specialist serves as a liaison between the Tribe and the aging and disability resource center (ADRC) to ensure that Tribal members receive culturally appropriate information on aging and disability resources and are able to comfortably and effectively access long-term care programs and services.

Assistive Technology Device - Any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of an individual with a disability.

BH - Behavioral Health - A broad term that includes mental health promotion and well-being, as well as treatment of mental and substance use disorders.

CAP - Client Assistance Program - Assists applicants and consumers of DVR to resolve disputes over services and responds to questions on what DVR can or cannot do.

CCS - Comprehensive Community Services - Program that helps individuals of all ages live their best life by providing supports that address unique needs related to mental health and substance use. Intended to assist individuals who need care outside of inpatient settings, but who may have ongoing needs that, if left unaddressed, could result in hospitalizations during times of crisis. Eligibility determined through a screening process by the county-based or tribal-based organization.

CIE - Competitive Integrated Employment – The definition of Competitive Integrated Employment can be found at Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) - Jointly Approved CIE Definition.

CRS - Community Recovery Services – Three specific services (Community Living Supportive Services, Supported Employment, and Peer Supports) provided under the umbrella of Community Recovery Services.

CSP - Community Support Program - A program that coordinates care and treatment services provided to persons with severe and persistent mental illness.

DCTS - Division of Care and Treatment Services

DHS – Department of Health Service

DMS - Division of Medicaid Services

DVR - Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

DWD - Department of Workforce Development

Employment Lead - The Employment Lead or liaison serves as an employment content expert for the MCO or ICA, its members, participants, and providers. Their specific role varies within their MCO or ICA.

Employment Team – A group of professionals working toward the competitive integrated employment goals of a job seeker.

Family Care - A Medicaid long-term care program for frail elders and adults with physical, developmental, or intellectual disabilities. People in the program receive long-term care services to help them live in their own home whenever possible.

Family Care Partnership - An integrated health and long-term care program for frail elderly and people with disabilities. The Partnership Program consists of several managed care organizations located in different geographical regions of Wisconsin.

FS - Functional Screen

IC - IRIS Consultant – A person from the IRIS Consulting Agency who knows about services in the area. The IRIS participant and their consultant work as a team to discover the participants goals and long-term support needs. The consultant also helps create the IRIS plan.

ICA - IRIS Consulting Agency – Provides flexible and specialized support that is responsive to an IRIS participant’s needs and preferences for long-term care services.

Independent mental health provider - Professional with special knowledge and training in mental health and/or substance use disorders; examples include psychologist, psychiatrist, licensed social worker, substance use counselor, community support service facilitator or case manager.

IDT Staff - Interdisciplinary Team Staff for MCOs - Includes RN, MCO IDT staff, member and guardian/supported decision-maker if one is appointed.

IPE - Individualized Plan for Employment – Outlines how DVR eligible consumers will achieve their job goal and services provided to obtain their job goal. It is the roadmap to their vocational rehabilitation.

IPS - Individual Placement and Support - Individual Placement and Support is an evidence-based model of supported employment proven to help people with mental health and substance use disorders find and keep competitive, integrated jobs of their choosing.

IRIS - Include, Respect, I Self-Direct - Within the DHS “Include, Respect, I Self-Direct." Self-directed Long-term Care support wavier.

ISP - Individual Service Plan - Individual service plan for county services.

ISSP - Individual Support and Service Plan - Individual support and service plan for IRIS participants.

LDM - Legal Decision Maker – A parent of a minor child, a court appointed guardian, or the supported decision maker. A person’s legal decision maker is a person who has the legal authority to make certain decisions on behalf of a person. A legal decision maker may be a guardian of the person or estate (or both) registered under Chapter 53 of the Wisconsin Statutes, a guardian of the person or estate (or both) appointed under Chapter 54 of the Wisconsin Statutes, a conservator appointed under Chapter 54 of the Wisconsin Statutes, a person designated power of attorney for health care under Chapter 155 of the Wisconsin Statutes or a person designated durable power of attorney under Chapter 244 of the Wisconsin Statutes. A legal decision maker may have legal authority to make certain kinds of decisions, but not other kinds of decisions. A person may have more than one legal decision maker authorized to make different kinds of decisions.

Long-Term Care Waivers - Family Care, Family Care Partnership, PACE, and IRIS.

LTS - Long-Term Supports – Services provided for disabling conditions and chronic illnesses. Medicaid is the primary payer across the nation for long-term care services.

MA - Medical Assistance/Medicaid (interchangeable terms) - State-administered federal program that provides health coverage to low-income people, the elderly, and people with disabilities, and is one of the largest payers for health care in the United States.

MCO - Managed Care Organization - Family Care, Family Care Partnership and PACE waivers.

MCP - Member Centered Plan for MCO members

MH - Mental health - In Wisconsin, the DHS (Department of Health Services) defines mental health as a state of well-being that enables individuals to cope with life's stresses, realize their abilities, learn and work effectively, and contribute to their communities.

MOU - Memorandum of Understanding – A written agreement between one state agency and another agency (interagency).

PCP - Person-Centered Planning – A process for selecting and organizing the services and supports that an older adult or person with a disability may need to live in the community. Most important, it is a process that is directed by the person who receives the support.

Rehabilitation Act of 1973 – Federal law that grants state vocational rehabilitation programs like DVR the authority to provide vocational rehabilitation services to eligible individuals with disabilities to achieve their employment goals. This includes transition services for eligible students with disabilities.

RAD - Resource Allocation Decision - A process to handle requests for services or equipment when enrolled with an MCO.

SDS - Self-Directed Support – Available in Family Care and IRIS waivers.

SNAP - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (FoodShare)

Social Networks – Refers to contacts in a personal network who provide information, opportunities, and perspectives that can be beneficial to the job seeker.

SSA - Social Security Administration - Has three functions: assign Social Security numbers, oversee the Social Security retirement, survivors, and disability insurance programs and last, manage the Supplemental Security Income program for people who are 65 or older, blind, or with a disability.

SSDI - Social Security Disability Insurance - A benefit paid to a person and certain members of their family if they are "insured," meaning that they worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes.