CAF Glossary

Performance measurement and reporting, Outcome assessment and instrumentation, Monitoring and evaluation, Quality improvement, Consumer and family satisfaction, and Audits.

The annual meeting of the Case Conference Committee which is conducted to review and revise, if necessary, a student's individualized education program.

This refers to actions and behaviors that are wrong, such as lying, shoplifting, vandalism, torturing animals or hurting others intentionally.

Is a common mental health problem characterized by fear. The child may be afraid of particular people, things or situations or may just be generally afraid that bad things might happen. An anxious child spends a good deal of time worrying about things.

A Professional review of a child's and family's needs that is done when they first seek services for 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 caregiver and family decide what kind of treatment and supports, if any, are needed.

This refers to a condition where the child has difficulty paying attention, sitting still, or concentrating. The child may often act without thinking. As an effect of this condition, the child may be disruptive in school or at home.

Rules and regulations for special education services in Indiana.

Is a developmental disability characterized by severe impairments in communication, learning and reciprocal social interaction. Autism is a lifelong disability which typically becomes evident in infancy or early childhood.

Commonly known as manic depressive illness, bipolar disorder involves mood swings from "high" episodes of mania to periods of depression. Between episodes, the manic depressive often experiences the normal range of moods. The manic episodes are distinguished by feelings of euphoric happiness, irritability, and high levels of energy. There are different categories of bipolar disorder. Most respond to various kinds of treatment.

Child Mental Health Initiative, working from a government grant to provide individualized services, along with a system of care (see SOC) for children that are either SED or LD and their families.

A person who has special training to help people with mental health problems. Examples of people with this special training are social workers, teachers psychologists, psychiatrists, and mentors.

Are the 'glue' which holds the system together, assuring continuity of services for the child and family. Case Managers see to it that the various service components are coordinated and that service needs are assessed and reassessed over time.

A service that helps people arrange appropriate and available services and supports.

The group composed of public agency personnel, parents, and others who meet to determine a student's eligibility for special education and related services, to develop, review or revise the student's individualized education program and to determine an appropriate educational placement.

Such as stuttering, impaired pronunciation, language or voice impairment which adversely affect educational performance, social, emotional or vocation development.

The written plan required by Indiana Code 20-1-6 specifying how the public agency will provide special education and related services in accordance with this rule.

A plan to provide training and information to public agency personnel, parents and pertinent others regarding the provision of a free appropriate public education to students with disabilities.

Help that is sensitive and responsive to cultural differences. Caregivers are aware of the impact of their own culture and possess skills that help them provide services that are culturally appropriate in responding to people's unique cultural differences, such as race and ethnicity, national origin, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, or physical disability. They adapt their skills to fit a family's values and customs.

Is a service that provides an integrated set of educational, counseling, and family interventions which typically involves a youngster for at least five hours a day. Day treatment programs frequently involve collaboration between mental health and education agencies.

Is a strongly held belief in something that does not exist, a strange thought process.

Is a common mental health problem where a person becomes very sad for an extended period of time. In children, depression sometimes appears as irritability. That is, a depressed child may be unusually sensitive and reactive over several weeks or months. Other forms of depression include: trouble sleeping or drastic changes in sleeping patterns, withdrawing from others and changes in eating patterns and weight.

Has both hearing and visual impairment, the combination of which causes severe communication and other developmental and educational problems which cannot be accommodated in programs or services solely for students with heating impairments or visual impairments.

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 quickly and prevent problems from becoming worse.

Is an emotional condition which, over a long period of time, and to a marked degree, consistently interferes with a student's own learning process.

Advocates are knowledgeable about children's mental health issues through their own experiences and work with current consumers to provide emotional support, advocacy and linkage within the community.

Help designed for the specific needs of each individual child and his or her family. Children and families should not be expected to fit into services that don't meet their needs.

Support group for families who are enrolled with Circle Around Families grant services.

This plan is offered by the Indiana Family and Social Service Administration - Division of Mental Health. It helps low-income individuals who qualify pay for some of their mental health or addiction treatment.

A hearing loss which, with or without amplification, adversely affects education performance and developmental progress. A hearing impairment may be permanent or fluctuating, mild to profound in nature, unilateral or bilateral, and may also be referred to as hard of hearing or deaf.

A written document developed by a Case Conference Committee in accordance with this Rule, which contains all of the components required in 511AC 7-11-1(k).

The inability to control urges. Impulsive behavior is a particular problem when it involves dangerous things such as hurting oneself, running out into the street or hurting someone else.

The office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education, helps states carry out their responsibilities to provide all children with disabilities (age 3-21 years) a free appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for employment and independent living. Children with emotional disturbances may be eligible for special education and related service under IDEA.

Child and family team that includes the informal and formal supports in a family's life. Teams may include; friends, pastors, co-workers, neighbors, teachers, coaches, doctors, extended family members therapist, and so on.

Is a federally funded parent-to-parent training projects that began in 1980. By disseminating information and material and conducting workshops throughout Indiana, IPTP instructs parents about their rights and responsibilities in the special education process that are guaranteed by state and federal laws.

The Indiana Resource Center for Families with Special Needs. Is to provide parents, families and service providers in Indiana with the information and training necessary to help assure effective educational programs and appropriate services for children with disabilities.

A written document developed by the Case Conference Committee, which contains the desired post-school outcomes in community living, employment or post-secondary education and training and the transition activities to occur for the remainder of a student's educational program.

Where an individual observes a worker doing a particular job to better understand and gain information about that job.

Is a not-for-profit organization that strives to provide quality programs for children and families in Lake County, Indiana. One of the ways this is done is through the vouchering program.

Is characterized by severe specific deficits in perceptual, integrative, or expressive processes which severely impair learning efficiency.

School have in writing and in place, policies and procedures which insure that: To the maximum extent appropriate, students with disabilities, including those in public or private residential institutions and other care facilities are educated with students who are not disabled. Special Classes or removal of students from the regular education environment to special classes or separate facilities, occurs only when it is documented that education classes using supplementary aids and services cannot be satisfactorily achieved.

A county level committee required by Indiana Code 31-6-14 which reviews residential placement for students in other than the home a relative or a foster home in the county of legal residence. The Committee is composed of at least a representative of the resident school corporation, the community mental health center, and the county Department of Public Welfare . Juvenile court may be represented if a student is under its jurisdiction.

The use of various techniques and procedures to manage access, quality and cost in health care services. Often associated with risk-based financing methods, such as capitation and case rates, that change the financial incentives in health systems. In public behavioral health care systems, the implementation of managed care usually involves some form of Medicaid waiver and has often included privatization efforts and large scale procurements.

Is a jointly funded, federal-state program that provides healthcare coverage to low-income individuals and families. Medicaid eligibility is based on family size and family income.

After all major utilities, current medical expenses including medicine and housing are formulated, an amount of expenses per month must be met before you are issued medicaid services.

A mental disability is demonstrated by significant below average general intellectual functioning existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behavior and manifested during the period from birth through eighteen.

Will generally exhibit measured intelligence two or more standard deviation below the mean or average of the testing instrument used.

Will generally exhibit measured intelligence three or more standard deviation below the mean or average of the testing instrument used.

Is two or more disabilities interacting and resulting in learning needs so complex that a single disability cannot be in identified as primary. The term does not include dual sensory impairments.

Is characterized by repeated, intrusive, and unwanted thoughts (obsessions) or usual habits and rituals (compulsions). Common obsessions are fear of contamination or a serious illness, fixation on lucky/unlucky numbers, fear of danger to self and others. Common compulsions are repetitive rituals such as cleaning or washing, touching, counting, repeating, arranging or organizing, and hoarding.

A child's failure to follow rules and do what parents or teachers or other adults ask. This may include arguing all the time about rules or request. All children become oppositional at times. Oppositional Defiant Disorder required that a child refuse to follow rules or listen to parents or teachers most of the time for at least six months.

Is one which adversely affects educational performance and includes the following: physically disabling condition determined to be a serious orthopedic impairment of a students locomotion or motor function or a health impairment which results in limited strength, vitality, or alertness due to chronic or acute health problems.

The National Evaluator

Are neurological disorders and are usually evident by age 3. In general, children with PDD have one of the following problems: difficulty in talking and communicating, unusual repetitive movements, a marked difficulty playing with other children and relating to others, including their family.

Any public or private agency which has direct or delegated authority to provide special education and related services.

A Federation of Families local Chapter, is open and free of charge to all Lake County residents. This is a group where parents are welcome to support and encourage one another in seeking solutions to their child rearing problems. (Mental Health Association)

Results from experiencing severe trauma such as physical/sexual abuse, neglect or witnessing acts of violence. Many children with PTSD have nightmares, vivid memories in which they "re-live" the trauma. Or wet their beds. Psychosis Refers to a type of major mental illness. Psychotic disorders have a medical basis and include schizophrenia as the most common form. Examples: hearing or seeing things that aren't real, very strange behavior, unusual thoughts or ideas.

Those services which are supplementary and complementary to the instructional program, and are required to assist a student to benefit from special education. Such services may be developmental, corrective, or supportive in nature and are generally provided by persons other than the teacher to whom the student in assigned. Respite Care Planned relief for parents of children who exhibit difficult behaviors and/or are severely emotionally disturbed , offered through local agencies in community homes with trained personnel. RPR (Regional Parent Resource) Individual parents serve as sources and information to parents in their local communities. (IN*Source)

From the first time wraparound contact is made until services are no longer needed a plan is developed. Service plan is where the family determines all needs and goals, a Service Map can be based on what is already working for the family. Source: Training Institutes 2000 and The Indiana Department of Education

Will generally exhibit measured intelligence four or more standard deviations below the mean of average of the testing instrument used.

They provide information about the places you can get mental health and addiction treatment anywhere in the State of Indiana. They can also answer question about the Hoosier Assurance Plan (HAP). For more information call (1-800-813-6511) or go online at

Is designed to provide healthcare for children who come form working families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid, but too low to afford private health insurance. In Indiana, CHIPs is also known as Hoosier Healthwise.

Are the things we do well, our values, the skills or attitude that have helped us through hard times, the things that make us smile, and even the things that others like about us. Sometimes strengths can be discovered by looking at ourselves from a different perspective. Look at the positive aspects of the situation. A Wraparound Team may need to spend some time developing a list of child/family strengths this is a Strengths-base Assessment.

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 received once or repeated over a course of time as determined by the child, family and service provider.

Is a comprehensive spectrum of mental health and other necessary services which are organized into a coordinated network to meet the multiple and changing needs of children and adolescents with severe emotional disturbances and their families.

Cash assistance program in Indiana, it is still administered by the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) through the county offices of the Division of Family and Children (OFC) Also through the TANF program you could receive services for: Welfare-to-Work, Workforce Investment Act, Child Care and Food Stamps.

The special education teacher to whom a student with disabilities is assigned. They monitor the implementation of students' IEP.

Provides matching grants to non-profit organization to fund projects that improve the quality of, and the public access to, education, healthcare, public safety and other community-based services. -Family Access Project

Individual community homes that provide a stable, supportive environment for children and adolescents who have been removed from their home. Each child has an individual plan for stabilization.

Services that help children leave the system that provides help for children and move into adulthood and adult service system. Help includes mental health care, independent living services, supported housing, vocational services, and a range of other support services.

Has an impairment which adversely affects the student's educational performance and is manifested by limited strength, vitality, alertness, or other impaired or arrested development.

Is a vision loss which, even with best correction, adversely affects educational performance.

Wraparound is not a program or a service - It's a process and an approach. Used with individual students, based on unique child and family needs, built upon child, family and provider strengths, uses traditional and non-traditional interventions, encompasses multiple life domains, resources are blended, services are planned, implemented, and evaluated by a team, team supports child, family and providers, and unconditional - if the plan doesn't work change it.

Is an organized way that humans in communities support other humans who need help.