Anyone faced with dealing with a mental illness can be easily overwhelmed by the vast "alphabet soup" of organizations, government agencies and programs that touch the lives of persons with mental illness. In addition, there is the huge learning curve to be overcome concerning the illness itself, the brain and medications.

For assistance with the illnesses, the brain and medications, check out the following web locations:

• NAMI Helpline
• Internet Mental Health

This glossary is our attempt to help you understand the "players", the services available, and some of the concepts used in the world of mental health in Maryland. The glossary is derived from definitions from NAMI members and definitions from the following glossaries:

• Maryland Mental Hygiene Adminstration
• Common Acronyms, Training Institutes Conference on Developing Local Systems of Care in a Managed Care Environment for Children and Adolescents with Serious Emotional Disturbances and their Families, June, 1998

Maryland Mental Health Glossary of Terms

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S

SACWIS - State Automated Child Welfare Information System

SAMHSA - U.S. Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

SB - Senate Bill - Proposed legislation in the Maryland Senate (e.g., SB21).

SCC - State Coordinating Council - An executive group composed of representatives from the Developmental Disabilities Adminstration, Mental Hygiene Administration, Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Education. and Department of Human Resources. the group is charged with approving funding for all out-of-state residential placements.

SED - Seriously Emotionally Disturbed - Generally this term refers to children and adolescents with serious mental illness.

Self Insured - When an employer pays medical claims directly without buying coverage from an insurance company. Self insured companies are exempt from state insurance regulations, and instead are governed by the federal ERISA laws.

SEP - Supported Employment Program - Support provided on an ongoing and long term basis to assist individuals with psychiatric disaabilities in choosing, funding and sustaining competitive employment. The environment is usually a competitive work site with a majority of non-disabled individuals. PRPs, independent employment agaencies, and other programs generally provide this service.

Service Type - Care in a psychiatric unit in an acute care hospital, IMD, RTC, residential services, outpatient mental health clinics, mobile treatment, psychiatric rehabilitation, individual therapy services,or other outpatient services, and ancillary services (laboratories, pharmacies).

SGHC - Spring Grove Hospital Center. A state hospital in Catonsville, Baltimore county.

SH - Supported Housing (See Supported Living)

SHC - Springfield Hospital Center. A state hospital located in Sykesville, Carroll county.

SL - Supported Living - This initiative is designed to increase housing options available to persons with serious mental illness. Through supported living programs, individuals with psychiatric disabilities may access an array of flexible services and supports to enable them to live in the housing of choice and to become participating members of the community.

SMH - State mental hospital

SMI - Seriously mentally ill persons - Sometimes used to describe adults with serious and persistent mental illnesses. Another term often used is individuals with psychiatric disabilities.

Sole Source Provider - Government contract for services awarded without a competitive bidding process because there is judged to be no alternative provider.

Special Populations - Whether the individual is deaf or hard of hearing, is homeless, is in jail, or is court ordered to DHMH pursuant to HG Title 12.

Springfield - See SHC.

Spring Grove - See SGHC.

SSA - U.S. Social Security Administration

SSBG - Social Security Block Grant. Title XX of SSA

SSDI - Social Security Disability Insurance - A disability program of the Social Security Administration. A person must be considered medically disabled, and have worked and paid social security taxes (F.I.C.A.) for a specific number of years to be eligible.

SSI - Supplemental Security Income - A disability program of the Social Security Administration. A person must be considered medically disabled, have little or no income or resources to be eligible.

SSWAHC - Society for Social Work Administrators in Health Care, Maryland Chapter

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T

TITLE IV - Child Welfare Act

TITLE IV-A - Aid to Families with Dependent Children

TITLE IV-B - Child Welfare Services Program

TITLE IV-D - Child Support Enforcement Program

TITLE IV-E - Foster Care & Adoption Assistance Program

TITLE V - Maternal & Child Health

TITLE XVIII - Medicare

TITLE XIX - Medicaid

TITLE XX - Social Security Block Grant

TITLE XXI - Child Health Insurance Program

TNP - Therapeutic Nursery Program - Community-bases clinical program providing a combination of developmental and mental health services to children, aged five or under, at risk for serious emotional, mental behavior, or adjustment problems.

TQM - Total Quality Managment

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U

UM - Utilization Management

UR - Utilization Review

UW - United Way