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Mental Health Acronyms
This list of acronyms was compiled from a variety of sources including the New York State Office of Mental Health website
A
AA/NA Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous
AACAP American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
AACP American Association of Community Psychiatrists
AAMR American Association on Mental Retardation
ABSS Applied Behavioral Sciences Specialist
ACCESS Achieving Culturally Competent Effective Services and Supports
(Monroe County ACCESS)
ACD Alternate Care Determination or Agency for Child Development
ACF Adult Care Facility or Administration for Families and Children
ACS NYC Administration for Children's Services, formerly Children's Protective Services
ACSW Academy of Certified Social Workers
ADA Americans with Disabilities Act
ADD Attention Deficit Disorder
ADHD Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
ADL Activities of Daily Living (sometimes "ADL skills")
AFDC Aid to Families with Dependent Children
AHIP America's Health Insurance Plans
AHRC Association for the Help of Retarded Citizens or Children
AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
AMI Alliance on Mental Illness
AOT Assisted Outpatient Treatment
APA American Psychiatric Association or American Psychological Association
ARC Association for Retarded Citizens (formerly "Children")
ASA/O Adolescent Sexual Abuser/Offender System
ASAP The Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers of New York State or The American Society for Adolescent Psychology
ASFC Agency Sponsored Family Care
ASL American Sign Language
ASSQ Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire
ATF Alcoholism Treatment Facility
B
BAF Baseline Assessment Form
BASC Behavior Assessment System for Children
BCM (OMH) Blended Case Management
BDA Better Days Ahead
BERD Behavior Event Requiring Documentation
BEWD Bureau of Education and Workforce Development
BHS Bureau of Housing Services
BIP Behavior Modification Plans
BOCES Board of Cooperative Educational Services
BOE NYC Department of Education Board of Education
BOR NYS Board of Regents
BPD Borderline Personality Disorder
BSW Bachelor of Social Work
C
C&F Children and Families
C&Y Children and Youth
CACMH Center for the Advancement of Childrens Mental Health
CAFAS Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale
CAIRS Child and Adult Integrated Reporting System
CANS Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths
CANS-MH Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths - Mental Health Instrument
CBCL Child Behavior Checklist
CBT Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Competency Based Training
CCF Council on Children & Families
CCM Comprehensive Case Management
CCRB Civilian Complaint Review Board
CCSI Coordinated Children's Services Incorporated
CDC Centers for Disease Control & Prevention or Child Development Center
CDT Continuing Day Treatment
CEO Chief Executive Officer
CET Crisis Evaluation Team or Community Evaluation Team
CFA Comprehensive Functional Assessment
CFS NYS Children and Family Services
CFT Child and Family Teams
CHAT Childhood Autism Test or Checklist for Autism in Toddlers
CHIP Children's Health Insurance Program
CHP Child Health Plus
CLC Cultural and Linguistic Competence
CLMHD NYS Conference of Local Mental Hygiene Directors
CM Case Management or Manager
CMAT Children's Mobile Assessment Team
CMCM Comprehensive Medicaid Case Management
CME Continuing Medical Education
CMHAN Children's Mental Health Action Network
CMHC Community Mental Health Center
CMHS Center for Mental Health Services or Federal Community Mental Health Services Block Grant or Community Mental Health Services
COBRA Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act
COD Co-occurring Disorders
CON Certificate of Need
COP Conditions of Participation or Comprehensive Outpatient Providers
COPS Comprehensive Outpatient Program Services
COTA Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
CP Cerebral Palsy
CPA Child Protective Agency or Certified Public Accountant
CPS Child Protective Services
CPSE Committee for Preschool Special Education
CQAIMH Center for Quality Assessment and Improvement in Mental Health
CQC NYS Commission on Quality of Care of the Mentally Disabled
CQI Continuous Quality Improvement
CRP Children's Residential Program
CSE Committee on Special Education
CSW Certified Social Worker
D
DCJS NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services
DD Developmental Disabilities or Developmentally Disabled
DDSO Developmental Disabilities Service Office
DFA NYS Department of Family Assistance (formerly Department of Social Services)
DHHS Federal Department of Health and Human Services
DHMH NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
DMH New York State Department of Mental Hygiene
DMHA Division of Mental Health and Addiction
DMHIS Dept. Mental Hygiene Information System
DMHMR NYC Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation & Alcoholism Services
DOH NYS Department of Health
DOJ US Department of Justice
DPCA NYS Division of Probation and Correctional Alternatives
DSS Department of Social Services
DT Day Treatment
E
EAP Employee Assistance Program
EBPs Evidence Based Practices
ECDC Early Childhood Direction Centers
ECEC Early Childhood Education Center
EDP Emotionally Disturbed Person
EMS Emergency Medical Services
EMSS Emergency Medical Services System
F
FA Family Assistance
FACT Family and Children Together
FAS Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
FBA Functional Behavioral Assessments
FBS Functional Behavoral Supports
FBT Family-Based Treatment
FBTP Family-Based Treatment Program
FC Family Care
FCH Family Care Home
FERPA Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
FFS Fee For Service
FMLA Family and Medical Leave Act
FOIA Freedom of Information Act
FOIL Freedom of Information Law
G
GAF Global Assessment of Functioning
GED General Equivalency Diploma
GME Graduate Medical Education
H
HBCI Home-Based Crisis Intervention
HCBS Home and Community-Based Services (sometimes "W", for -Waiver, is appended)
HHS US Department of Health and Human Services
HIPAA Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
HMO Health Maintenance Organization
HR Human Resources
HUD U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
I
ICM Intensive Case Manager or Management
IDEA Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
IDEIA Individuals with Disabilities Educational Improvement Act (formerly IDEA)
IEP Individualized Education Plan or Individualized Educational Program
IOT Involuntary Outpatient Treatment
IPOP Individualized Plan of Protective Oversight
IPP Individual Program Plan
IPRT Intensive Psychiatric Rehabilitation Treatment
IRF Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility
ISP Individual Service Plan
ISPM Individual Services Planning Model
ISS Individual Support Services; also Information Support Services
IT Interdisciplinary Team or Information Technology
ITT Interdisciplinary Treatment Team
ITU Intensive Treatment Unit
J
JAMA Journal of the American Medical Association
JJ Juvenile Justice
L
LCAT Licensed Creative Arts Therapist
LCED Level of Care Eligibility Determination
LCSW Licensed Clinical Social Worker
LD Learning Disability, Learning Disabled
LDANYS Learning Disabilities Association of NYS
LDSS Local department of social services district
LEA Local Education Agency
LGBTQI2-S Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender, Questioning, Intersex, or Two-Spirited
LHA Local Housing Authority
LHCSA Licensed Home Care Services Agency
LMSW Licensed Master Social Worker
LOC Level of Care
LRE Least Restrictive Environment
LTHHCP Long Term Home Health Care Program
M
MAR Medication Administration Record
M-CHAT Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers
MCO Managed Care Organization
MCP Managed Care Provider
MH Mental Health
MHA Mental Health Association
MHANYS Mental Health Association of New York State
MHL New York Mental Hygiene Law
MHLS Mental Hygiene Legal Service
MHTA Mental Health Therapy Aide
MI/MR Mental Illness/Mental Retardation
MICA Mentally Ill Chemical Abuser
MPH Master of Public Health
MRB Medical Review Board
MRDDAC Mental Retardation & Developmental Disabilities Advisory Council
MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging
MSSW Master of Science in Social Work
MSW Master of Social Work
N
NAMI National Alliance on Mental Illness
tal Disabilities Services
NASMHPD National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors
NCCBH National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare
NCLB No Child Left Behind
NFP Not-for-Profit organization
NIMH National Institute of Mental Health
NP Nurse Practitioner
NYAPRS New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services
NYPI NYS Psychiatric Institute
NYS OHIP New York State Campaign for Mental Health Housing
NYSPA NYS Psychiatric Association
NYSRA NYS Rehabilitation Association
NYSSAC NYS Society for Autistic Citizens
O
OASAS NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services
OCFS NYS Office of Children and Family Services
OMH NYS Office of Mental Health
OMRDD NYS Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities
OSERS Office of Special Education & Rehabilitation Services
OSES NYS Office for Special Education Services
OT Occupational Therapy
OTA NYS Office of Temporary Assistance
OTDA NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
OTPT Out-Patient Unit
OTR Registered Occupational Therapist
P
PADD Protection and Advocacy for the Developmentally Disabled
PAIMI Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (formerly "PAMII")
PASS Plan for Achieving Self Support
PBIS Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports
PCP Primary Care Physcian or Person-Centered Planning
PDDST Pervasive Developmental Disorder Screening Test
PDP Prescription Drug Plan
PINS Person in Need of Supervision
PISP Preliminary Individualized Service Plan
PNA Personal Needs Allowance
PNP Psychiatric Nurse Practioner
POCA Plan of Corrective Action
PSC Pediatric Symptom Checklist or Personal Service Coordinator
PT Primary Therapist, or Physical Therapy or Therapist
PTA Parent-Teacher Association
PTSD Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Q
QA Quality Assurance
QCC Quality of Care Commission (same as "CQC")
QI Quality Improvement
QMRP Qualified Mental Retardation Professional
R
RBITU Regional Behavioral Intensive Treatment Unit
RBTU Regional Behavioral Treatment Unit
RCA Root Cause Analysis
RDA Records Disposition Authorization
RFA Request for Application
RFB Request For Bid
RFI Request for Information
RFID Radio Frequency Identification
RFMH Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene
RFP Request for Proposal
RFS Request for Services
RN Registered Nurse
RPC Residential Program Counselor or Rural Preservation Corporation
RTC Residential Treatment Center
RTF Residential Treatment Facility or Request to Fill or Tuition Reimbursement Project
Rx Prescription
S
SAMHSA Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
SBIT School-Based Intervention Teams
SC Service Coordinator
SCIP Strategies for Crisis Intervention & Prevention
SCIP-R Strategies for Crisis Intervention & Prevention-Revised
SCM Supportive Case Manager or Management
SCOC NYS Commission of Correction
SCQ Social Communication Questionnaire, formerly the Autism Screener Questionnaire or ASQ
SD Self Determination
SDQ Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire
SED NYS Education Deptment or Serious Emotional Disturbance or Seriously Emotionally Disturbed
SEIT Special Education Itinerant Teacher
SES Socio-economic status
SETRC Special Education Training & Resource Center
SHNNY Supportive Housing Network of New York
SHSC NYS Health Services Corps.
SIB Self-Injurious Behavior
SIV Self-Inflicted Violence
SLP Speech/Language Pathology
SMHP School Mental Health Project
SMI Serious Mental Illness
SNP Special Needs Plan
SOC System of Care
SODH State-Operated Day Habilitation
SOFA NYS Office for the Aging
SORA Sex Offender Registration Act
SORCCA State Operated Residential Care Center
SOTP Sex Offender Treatment Program
SP Speech Pathology
SPEAK Suicide Prevention Education and Awareness Kits
SPMI Serious and Persistent Mental Illness
SPOA Single Point of Accountability
SPOE Single Point of Entry
SPT Supportive
SPV Supervised
SRO Single Room Occupancy
SRU Small Residential Unit
SSA Social Security Administration
SSD Social Security Disability
SSDI Social Security Disability Insurance
SSHSP School Supportive Health Services Program
SSI Supplemental Security Income
T
TABS Tracking and Billing System or Temperament and Atypical Behavior Scale
TACT Tracking for AOT Cases and Treatments
TADA NYS Temporary and Disability Assistance
TANF Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
TASH The Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps
TBI Traumatic Brain Injury
TBISCC Traumatic Brain Injury Services Coordinating Council
TDD Telecommunication Device for the Deaf
THP Transitional Housing Program
TPHI Third Party Health Insurance
TRO Temporary Restraining Order
Tx Treatment
U
UCPA United Cerebral Palsy Association
UCR Uniform Case Record
UJC Urban Justice Center, Mental Health Project
UPK Universal Pre-K
UR Utilization Review
V
VA Veterans Administration
V-DISC Voice Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children
VESID Vocational & Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities
VODH Voluntary Operated Day Habilitation
VOIRA Voluntary Operated Individualized Residential Alternative
VR Vocational Rehabilitation
W
WHO World Health Organization
WIC Women, Infants and Children
WMS Welfare Management System
WNYCCP Western New York Care Coordination Program
WSM Wellness Self Management
WTI Working Toward Independence
Y
YAI Young Adult Institute
YAI/NIPD Young Adult Institute National Institute for People with Disabilities
Is there family support for me?
Yes! Supporting families is a core principle of System of Care and Better Days Ahead (BDA), a service of the Mental Health Association of Rochester, specializes in providing supports for families who have a child(ren) with emotional and behavioral challenges. Learn more.
You are not alone. Come to a Family Roundtable.
Meet other family members and caregivers who gather monthly to learn about a variety of topics ranging from child behavior to understanding Medicaid and anything else related to raising a child with mental health challenges and provide input into how to change the system. Learn more.
Warning signs – what to look for.
Children and adolescents with mental health issues need to get help as soon as possible. Here is a short list but click here for a more complete list of signs and symptoms.
- Sad or hopeless feelings that
don’t go away - Behavior change coinciding
with a big life change - Withdrawal from friends & family
- Using alcohol or other drugs
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Funding for this website was made possible (in part) by Grant No. SM57043 from SAMHSA and in partnership with the Monroe County Office of Mental Health. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the United States Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.