Glossary of Acronyms and Terms

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ADRC - Aging & Disability Resource Center. 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.

Tribal ADRS - 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.

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 clients of DVR to resolve disputes over services and responds to questions on what DVR can or cannot do.

Comprehensive Community Services (CCS) - 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 are in need of 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.

Coordinated Services Teams Initiative (CST) - a child and family team that will create and carry out a coordinated service plan for a child with complex behavioral health needs. Uses wrap around principles and community-based supports to address the needs of the child and family. This allows the student to live in their home and community, and realize their hopes and dreams Members include: child/youth, family, services providers, other natural supports Students are eligible if they are in multiple systems of care, such as mental health, substance use, child welfare, juvenile justice, special education, or developmental disabilities.

County Community on Transition (CCoT) – CCoT is a group of stakeholders who have made the commitment to collaborate around identifying barriers to transition planning, to organize the supports needed and to develop solutions for youth with disabilities in the local county they serve. Also known as Transition Advisory Councils (TAC).

Children’s Long-Term Supports (CLTS) – The CLTS Program is a Medicaid program for children and youth that provide community services and supports to assist individuals with significant disabilities access care, including but not limited to employment related services.

Consent - Permission by a parent legal or guardian or supported decision-maker, in writing, to share confidential information described on the consent form to the person/agency identified on the consent form.

Crisis Intervention Services—Coordinated system of mental health services which provides an immediate response to help a person experiencing a mental health crisis.

DHS – Department of Health Service.

DCTS – Division of Care and Treatment Services.

DPI - Department of Public Instruction.

DVR - Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.

DWD - Department of Workforce Development.

Employment Planning Consultation - DVR providing schools districts with technical assistance for students who have not yet applied for DVR services including information related disabilities, employment, post-secondary education, assistive technology, accommodations, community resources, labor market, etc.

FACETS – Wisconsin Family Assistance Center for Education, Training, and Support is a statewide non- profit organization, with its main office in Milwaukee.

Family Care - Family Care is a Medicaid long-term care program for frail elders and adults with physical, developmental, or intellectual disabilities. Members in the program receive long-term care services to help them live in their own home and participate in their community, including competitive integrated employment.

Family Care Partnership - The Family Care Partnership Program is 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. Members in the program receive long-term care services to help them live in their own home and participate in their community, including competitive integrated employment.

Guardian – A guardian is a person appointed by a court under WI s. 54.10 to manage the income and assets and provide for the essential requirements for health and safety and the personal needs of an individual found incompetent or a spendthrift or to manage the income and assets of a minor. A guardian is a person who has assumed the care and protection of another person and is responsible for all legal decisions on behalf of that person, and his property. All parents are legal guardians of their child(ren) till the child attains 18 years of age. After that parents are no longer the legal guardians.

IDEA - Individuals with Disability Education Act.

IDT - Interdisciplinary Team for MCOs includes the MCO Registered Nurse, MCO Case Manager the enrolled member, supported decision-maker if one is appointed, and any other support that the member identifies as part of their team.

IDT Staff – Interdisciplinary Team Staff which only includes the MCO Registered Nurse and MCO Case Manager.

IEP - Individualized Education Program.

Independent Living Plan - Required by DHS for youth placed in out of home care beyond age 15. Addresses life skills development, goals and transition planning for independent living.

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.

IPE - Individualized Employment Plan/Program. This plan outlines how DVR eligible consumers will achieve their work goals and services that will be provided. It is the roadmap to their vocational rehabilitation.

IPS – Individual Placement and Support (IPS) is an evidence-based practice that helps people with mental illness find and maintain employment.

IRIS – Within the DHS “Include, Respect, I Self-Direct”. Self-directed Long-term Care support wavier. IRIS is built on the principles of self-determination and self-direction. Participants in IRIS will have the freedom to decide how they want to live their life and participate in their community including competitive integrated employment.

ISP - Individual Service Plan for County CLTS services.

ISSP - IRIS Service and Support Plan for IRIS participants.

Legal Decision Maker – A parent of a minor child, court appointed guardian, 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, IRIS, Children’s Long Term Support Program.

MCP - Member Centered Plan for MCO members.

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

PATH - Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope.

PCP – Person-centered planning (PCP) is 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 - Grants 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.

SDS - Self-Directed Support, available in Family Care and IRIS waivers.

SSC – A Support and Service Coordinator is the person assigned to assist youth receiving CLTS services through case management, service planning, referrals, advocacy, and other waiver-related activities.

Supported Decision Making - Supported decision-making enables people with disabilities to ask for support where and when they need it. Supported Decision-Making is NOT a form of guardianship or a power of attorney. When entering into a supported decision-making agreement, those who can provide help in making decisions are called supporters. https://wi-bpdd.org/index.php/supporteddecision-making/

TAG (Youth) - Transition Action Guide for Youth.

TAG (Adult) - Technical Assistance Guide for Adults.

Transition - A coordinated set of activities for student with a disability focused on improving the academic and functional achievement of the student with a disability to facilitate the student’s movement from school to post-school activities, including post-secondary education, vocational education, competitive integrated employment (including supported employment), adult services, independent living, and community participation.

WSPEI – WSPEI is all about partnerships, helping families and school districts to find the resources that will help them build positive working relationships leading to shared decision making and positive outcomes for children’s learning. WSPEI services are free of charge.

TIG – Transition Improvement Grant is a discretionary grant funded by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

WiCoT – Wisconsin Community on Transition. The WiCoT is comprised of state level leadership whose focus is on areas of transition for youth with disabilities in Wisconsin. This team was created with the purpose to make informed decisions around transition issues and sustain policies and practices that build capacity and lead to positive post school outcomes for youth with disabilities.