- Accreditation
When an organization performs an assessment of HCBS and compares the results to the recognized standards. An organization that achieves accreditation has provided evidence to an outside association or group in order to receive formal confirmation that the organization is meeting regulatory requirements and high standards of practice.
- Action Plan/Planning
An action plan is used to organize the work that needs to be done by breaking down a more complex task into smaller steps. Action plans are often used to keep a team focused and to monitor progress over time.
- CARF International
A nonprofit organization that assists organizations in improving the quality of services provided to people with disabilities, addiction and substance abuse, home and community services, retirement living, and other human services. Organizations that meet the CARF standards are showing that the services provided are meeting the high standards.
- Coaches or Coaching
The act of supporting a person in learning a new skill while working directly in educational or service settings. Two types of coaching are often described: 1) a peer-to-peer interaction process where one person with more information about a practice shares how to engage in skills as a way to learn together over time, and) an expert-driven approach where a person who has mastered skills related to a practice is modeling and providing feedback to another person, usually in a formal and systematic manner. Research supports the use of coaching strategies as a sustainable method that ensures a practice will be used and maintained in HCBS over Culture of Safety
- Council on Accreditation
An organization that helps organizations provide high standards of service and continuous improvement. Organizations that seek support from the Council on Accreditation are seeking to meet regulatory requirements, reduce duplication of oversight, support staff members, and improve outcomes for people served.
- Cultural Responsiveness Strategies
This term refers to the ability of people or organizations to learn about and become more aware of one’s own and other persons’ cultural values in ways that are respectful and contribute to a multicultural community. Being culturally responsive helps people to become more aware of implicit bias and systemic racism and to act in ways that can improve outcomes for people of color
- Direct Support Professional
A person who works with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to achieve their highest potential is referred to as a direct support professional (DSP). The role of the DSP is to support people in living their own lives, making important life choices, and supporting them to live independent and inclusive lives.
- Empathy
This skill is described as the ability to feel, understand, and sense another person’s emotions. People who are considered high in empathy can imagine what another person is feeling and place themselves in another person’s position and try to experience the same emotions. Three types of empathy include cognitive (knowing how someone feels), emotional (having the same feelings as another person), and compassionate (being moved to help a person if we can).
- Fidelity or Fidelity of Implementation
Fidelity of Implementation refers to how well a practice is implemented in the way it was intended. This is important for Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 practices. At Tier 1, which is the focus of these modules, a team needs to implement person-centered and positive support practices in a consistent manner so that the team can decide if the changes that are made are working effectively enough to continue putting in time, energy and resources. Tools like the Minnesota Team Checklist are used by providers to guide implementation of person-centered and positive supports. Measuring and ensuring fidelity of implementation can help teams make sure the action plan created by a team to implement a practice results in positive outcomes and to make sure these changes are woven into HCBS.
- Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS)
Federal, state, local, and tribal governments develop and finance Home and Community-Based (HCBS) services to help ensure people across the lifespan can get long-term supports and services in their homes and communities instead of within institutional settings, if that is their choice. These services help people live their lives as independently as possible. Examples of services include medication management support, assistance in preparing meals and shopping in the community, or receiving access to evidence-based practices that help people achieve the highest quality of life possible.
- Mentors or Mentoring
A process that involves people with expertise and training in a particular practice who provide training to others, oversee coaching systems, and helps ensure that fidelity of implementation is achieved in HCBS and remains at high levels over time.
- One-Page Description
Information, often one page in length, that captures important details about a person, including sections to organize simple summaries. These sections can include what people like about me, what is important to me, and what you can do to support me. These descriptions have been used to support a variety of people across the lifespan who receive services and to support HCBS staff, county, or state professionals.
- Performance-Based Staff Development
Performance-based management staff development is used to provide evidence that training in person-centered and positive support practices is resulting in observable change. A group developing performance based staff development will start by defining the mission and goals for the targeted training. Measures are designed to show that there are changes in staff behavior while supporting people receiving services. Data are used on a regular basis to assess progress, adjust the training, and celebrate successes. Strategies for recognizing and rewarding staff who are actively embedding new skills into their everyday work are highly visible and data are used to hold everyone accountable for creating a person-centered and positive culture.
- Person-Centered Practices
Three are three elements of person-centered practices:
- Person-centered strategies that everyone can use to help people learn about what brings joy to someone and makes life worth living. These tools are also used to find out what is important to a person as well as understanding their needs for health, safety, and well-being.
- Person-centered planning is a process that is used to create a plan for a positive and meaningful life for someone by building on his or her interests and strengths. There are different methods that can be used to help a person create their dreams for a better future.
- Person-centered organizational changes address how services and supports are planned and delivered. Changes that are made include fixing policies, adding ongoing opportunities for learning, and building community supports. Services for people across the lifespan are changed in ways that improve quality of life outcomes.
- Person-Centered Thinking
The foundational value-based skills that change the way in which someone sees another person that makes it possible for person-centered plans to be effective. Tools used in person-centered thinking encourage active listening and relationship building and includes problem solving in ways that supports a deeper understanding of what is important to a person. The goal of person-centered thinking is to understand who someone is by their strengths and abilities, and what they can contribute.
- Personal Care Attendant
A term used to describe a position involving a staff person trained to provide HCBS services to people who are living in homes in the community. Personal Care Attendants (PCAs) support people with physical, mental health related, or intellectual and developmental disabilities with the everyday tasks that help them to live in the community.
- Positive Support Practices
The term positive support refers to practices that are; a) person-centered, family-centered, student-centered, and community-centered; b) evidence-based with research studies that show how effective an approach is and who benefits from the practice; c) sensitive and respectful to the unique culture of each person involve; d) adapted and improved over time using data to guide use; and e) often implemented with other practices within complex everyday settings.
- Psychological First Aid
This evidence-informed approach helps people who are experiencing disaster and related trauma. Eight actions in Psychological First Aid include: 1) initiate contact and engagement with people experiencing trauma, 2) address safety and comfort, 3) work to stabilize people who may be overwhelmed or disoriented, 4) gather information about current needs and concerns, 5) provide practical assistance, 6) connect people with social supports, 7) provide information on coping and stress reduction, and 8) link survivors with available services needed now or in the future.
- Quality of Life
This is a common term used to describe the standard of health and wellbeing as it is experienced by a person. Quality of life can be broken down into domains that are considered assessed as part of quality of life: emotional wellness, social interactions, work and employment, financial status, living environment, physical health, intellectual stimulation, and spiritual growth.
- Staff Retention and Attrition
Retention rate of staff refers to the percentage of employees that choose to remain working in an organization over a defined period of time while attrition is the percentage of staff that leave the organization and may not have been replaced yet.
- Strategic Planning
An improvement process used to set priorities, allocate resources, and improve the way an organization manages work involved in HCBS. A strategic planning process brings employees and other stakeholders together to create a common vision and goals for improving outcomes for people.
- The Joint Commission
An organization that provides accreditation to healthcare settings. Accreditation is a voluntary process that involves peer reviewers evaluating the healthcare organization's compliance with regulatory standards and compares it with performance standards.
- Trauma-Focused Care Philosophy
Traumatic life experiences such as child or domestic abuse, natural disasters, or other negative life events can have a lasting impact on a person’s health and emotional wellbeing. Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavior Therapy is an evidence-based practice that addresses this issue. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy is a positive support that teaches children and adults skills to recognize negative or unhealthy thoughts associated with past experiences and to engage in stress management and coping strategies when these thoughts occur. This approach can also include teaching new skills for parents and caregivers of children involved in therapy. A family therapy approach is used to help recognize family dynamics, teach new parenting skills, support stress management for both child and family members, and work on improving communication skills. Trauma-Focused Care Philosophy refers to the core values and messages that describe why it is important for organizations to be sensitive to the past trauma most people have in their lives.
- Workers Compensation
A type of business insurance that provides benefits to employees who have had work-related injuries or illness caused by working in their jobs. This type of insurance helps pay for medical costs, and lost wages.