A Guide to Commonly Used Acronyms

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A  TOP

AAA Area Agencies on Aging
AAIDD American Association on Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities
AAP American Academy of Pediatrics
ABA Applied Behavior Analysis
ABS Adaptive Behavior Scale
AC Advisory Council
ACA Affordable Care Act
ACCH Association for the Care of Children’s Health
ACDD Accreditation Council for services for people with Developmental Disabilities
ACES Automated Client Eligibility System
ACL Administration for Community Living
ACLD Association for Children with Learning Disabilities
ACO Accountable Care Organization
ACRES American Association on Rural Special Education
ACT Assertive Community Treatment
ADA Americans with Disabilities Act
ADARA American Deafness & Rehabilitation Association
ADD Depending on usage: Administration on Developmental Disabilities or Attention Deficit Disorder
ADHD Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder
ADL Activity of Daily Living
ADLs Activities of Daily Living
AFB American Federation for the Blind
AFFM Adoptive & Foster Families of Maine
AFP Alliance for Full Participation
AGI Adjusted Gross Income
AIDD Administration on Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities
AIDS Auto Immune Deficiency Disorder
AIN Advocacy Initiative Network
ALF Assisted Living Facility
ALS Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
AMCHP Association of Maternal & Child Health Program
APA Administrative Procedures Act
APS Adult Protective Services
APSE Association for Persons in Supported Employment
ARCH Access to Respite Care & Help
ARF Association of Rehabilitation Facilities
ARRA American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009
ASD Autism Spectrum Disorder
ASDC American Society for Deaf Children
ASL American Sign Language
ASM Autism Society of Maine 
ASO Administrative Service Organization
ASQ Ages & Stages Questionnaire
AT Assistive Technology
AYP Adequate Yearly Progress (education)
ASPE Assistant Secretary for Planning & Evaluation
ASPIRE Additional Support for People in Retraining and Education
ATC Assistive Technology Center

B   TOP

BBA Balanced Budget Act
BCABA Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst
BCBA Board Certified Behavior Analyst
BHP Behavioral Health Specialist
BI Depending on usage: Behaviorally Impaired or Brain Injury
BIIN Brain Injury Information Network
BOD Board of Directors
BRAP Bridging Rental Assistance Program
BS1 Behavior Specialist 1

C  TOP

CAB Community Advisory Board
CAFAS Child & Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale
CAHC Consumers for Affordable Health Care
CAP Client Assistance Program
CAP Agency Community Action Program Agency
CARE Children At Risk Educationally
CARES Consulting, Advocacy, Research & Evaluation Services
CARF Commission Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities
CASA Court Appointed Special Advocate
CBA Curriculum Based Assessment
CBHS Children’s Behavioral Health Services
CBT Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CCD Consortium of Citizens with Disabilities
CCIDS Center for Community Inclusion & Disabilities Studies
CCM Community Case Manager
CCS Depending on Usage: Clinical Care Specialisto or Community Care Services
CCSM Consumer Council Systems of Maine
CD Consumer Directed
CDC Depending on Usage: Center for Disease Control (Maine) or Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (U.S.)
CDDO Community Developmental Disabilities Organization
CD-PAS Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Services
CDS Depending on Usage: Child Development Services or College of Direct Supports
CDW Child Development Worker
CEC Council for Exceptional Children
CEI Coastal Enterprises Inc.
CF Cystic Fibrosis
CFI Children & Family Institute
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
CHADD Children & Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
CHAT Children’s Habilitation Assessment Tool
CHIP Child Health Insurance Program
CHIPRA Child Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act
CHQS Coalition for Housing & Quality Services
CIAT Commissioner’s Implementation Advisory Team
CIMP Continuous Improvement Monitoring Process
CLASS Community Living Assistance Services & Supports
CM Case Manager
CMHS Center for Mental Health Services
CMHSP Community Mental Health Service Program
CMS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
COBRA Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985
COLA Cost of Living Adjustment 
CP Cerebral Palsy
CPS Child Protective Services
CSC Client Services Coordinator
CSHN Children with Special Health Needs
CSR Continued Stay Review
CSS Community Support Services
CQI Continuous Quality Improvement
CW Child Welfare
CYSHCN Children & Youth with Special Health Care Needs

D TOP

DAB Drug Affected Baby
DAD Disability Advocacy Database
DAFS Department of Administrative & Financial Services
DBT Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
DD Depending on Usage: Developmental Delay or Developmental Disabilities
DD Act Developmental Disabilities Assistance & Bill of Rights Act
DDC Developmental Disabilities Council
DDP Developmental Disabilities Profile
DDPC Dorthea Dix Psychiatric Center
DEL Drugs for Elderly & Disabled Program
DHHS Department of Health & Human Services
DLS Daily Living Skills
DME Durable Medical Equipment
DOC Department of Corrections
DOE Department of Education
DOL Department of Labor
DOT Department of Transportation
DRA Deficit Reduction Act (Federal Law)
DRG Disease Related Groups
DRM Disability Rights Maine
DSA Designated State Agency
DSM Diagnostic & Statistical Manual
DSP Direct Support Provider
DT Developmental Therapy/Therapist
DVR Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

E TOP

EBP Evidence-Based Practice
ECS Early Childhood Services
ECT Early Childhood Team
EFA Epilepsy Foundation of America
EHB Essential Health Benefits
EHR Electronic Health Record
EI Early Intervention
EIM Elder Independence of Maine
EIS Enterprise Information System
ELC Elizabeth Levinson Center
ELL English Language Learner
EMA Emergency Management Agency
EMR Electronic Medical Record
EOB Explanation of Benefits
EPS Essential Programs & Services
EPSDT Early & Periodic Screening, Diagnosis & Treatment
EQRO External Quality Review Organization
ERISA Employee Retirement Income Security Act
ES Enrollment Specialist
ESEA Elementary & Secondary Education Act
ESL English as a Second Language
ESY Extended School Year

F TOP

FAC Family Advisory Council
FAE Fetal Alcohol Effect
FAME Financial Authority of Maine 
FAPE Free & Appropriate Public Education
FAS Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
FAQ Frequently Asked Questions
FBA Functional Behavior Assessment
FC Foster Care
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
FERPA Federal Education Right to Privacy Act
FFP Federal Financial Participation
FFS Fee For Service
FFT Functional Family Therapy
FFY Federal Fiscal Year
FHM Fund for a Healthy Maine
FICC Federal Interagency Coordinating Council
FIS Family Information Specialist
FLS Functional Living Skills
FMAP Federal Medical Assistance Percentage
FMLA Family Medical Leave Act
FOIA Freedom of Information Act
FPL Federal Poverty Level
FQHC Federally Qualified Health Center
FSA Flexible Spending Account
FY Fiscal Year

 G TOP

GA General Assistance
GAL Guardian Ad Litem
GBSD Governor Baxter School for the Deaf
GEAR Gaining Empowerment Allows Results
GED General Education Diploma
GF General Fund
GHS Goold Health System
GOHPF Governor’s Office of Health Policy & Finance

H TOP

HAVA Help America Vote Act
HBC Home Based Care
HCBS Home & Community Based Services
HCFA Health Care Financing Administration
HCI Home Counselors Incorporated
HCT Home & Community Based Treatment
HDHP High Deductable Health Plan
HEAP Home Energy Assistance Program
HEDIS Health Plan Employer Date & Information Set
FERPA Federal Education Right to Privacy Act
HH Health Homes
HIPAA Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act
HIE Health Information Exchange
HIN Health Information Network
HIT Depending on Usage: Health Information Technology or Help In Transition
HMO Health Maintenance Organization
HOTS Higher Order Thinking Skills
HRA Health Reimbursement Account
HRSA Health Resources & Services Administration
HSA Health Savings Account
HUD Housing & Urban Development 
HVJ Homeless Voices for Justice

 I TOP

IADL Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
IAP Individual Accommodation Plan
IASA Improving America’s Schools Act
ICAP Inventory for Client & Agency Planning
ICC Interagency Coordinating Council
ICF Intermediate Care Facility
ICF/MR Intermediate Care Facility for persons with Mental Retardation
ICFID Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities
ICM Integrated Case Management
ID Intellectual Disability
IDEA Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
IDEIA Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (known as IDEA)
IDT Interdisciplinary Team
IEP Individual Education Plan
IEU Independent Education Unit
IFSP Individualized Family Services Plan
IHP Individual Habilitation Plan
IHS Indian Health Services
IHSS In-Home Supportive Services
ILC Independent Living Center
IMD Institute for Mental Disease
IPP Individual Program Plan
ISC Individual Support Coordinator
ISO Intermediary Service Organization
ISP Individual Service Plan
ITP Depending on Usage: Individual Transition Plan or Individual Treatment Plan
ITRET Intensive Temporary Residential Treatment
ITRT Intensive Temporary Residential Treatment

 J TOP

JCAHO Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
JCCO Juvenile Community Correctional Officer

K TOP

KMCC Keeping Maine’s Children Connected
KVCAP Kennebec Valley Community Action Program

 L TOP

LCPC Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
LCSW Licensed Clinical Social Worker
LD Depending on usage: Learning Disability or Legislative Document
LDA Learning Disabilities Association 
LDAME Learning Disabilities Association of Maine
LEA Local Education Agency
LIHEAP Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
LINCS Linking Community Supports (Grant)
LMSW Licensed Master’s of Social Work
LOC Level of Care
LR Legislative Request
LRE Least Restrictive Environment
LSE Legal Services for the Elderly
LSS Long-term Services & Supports
LSW Licensed Social Worker
LTC Long Term Care
LTCOP Long Term Care Ombudsman Program

 M TOP

MAAR Maine Alliance for Addiction Recovery
MACSP Maine Association of Community Service Providers
MADSEC Maine Association of Directors of Services to Exceptional Children
MAFO Maine Association of Family Organizations
MAHN Maine Affordable Housing Network
MAIN Maine Association of Interdependent Neighborhoods
MaineCITE Maine Consumer Information & Technology Training Exchange 
MAMHS Maine Association of Mental Health Services
MAPSRC Maine Association of Peer Support & Recovery Centers
MBM MaineCare Benefits Manual
M-CHAT Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers
MCA Maine Children’s Alliance
MCBVI Maine Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired
MCCA Maine Community Action Association
MCD Maine Center on Deafness
MCDC Maine Center for Disease Control
MCH Maternal & Child Health 
MCLU Maine Civil Liberties Union
MCO Managed Care Organization
MCT Maine Children’s Trust
MD Depending on usage: Medical Doctor or Muscular Dystrophy
MDA Depending on usage: Muscular Dystrophy Association or Maine Dental Association
MDDC Maine Developmental Disabilities Council
MDS Minimum Data Set
ME PASA Maine Personal Assistance Services Association
MECMS Maine Claims Management System
MeHAF Maine Health Access Foundation
MEJP Maine Equal Justice Partners
MEMA Maine Emergency Management Agency
MH Mental Health
MHMC Maine Health Management Coalition
MHPA Mental Health Protection & Advocacy Program
MHRA Maine Human Rights Act
MHRT/C Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician/Community
MHSS Mental Health Support Specialist
MI Mental Illness
MIMHS Maine Integrated Health Management System
MOU Memorandum Of Understanding
MPF Maine Parent Federation
MPHO Maine Physicians Health Organization
MPHP Maine Preventive Health Program
MR Mental Retardation
MR/DD Mental Retardation & other Developmental Disabilities
MRSA Maine Revised Statutes Annotated
MS Multiple Sclerosis
MSLR Maine State Learning Results
MST Multi-Systemic Therapy
MSW Masters of Social Work
MTA Maine Teachers’ Association
MTARS Monitoring & Technical Assistance Review System
MUSER Maine Unified State Regulations

 N TOP

NACDD National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities
NAD National Association of the Deaf
NADD National Association for the Dually Diagnosed
NAEYC National Association for the Education of Young Children
NAMI National Association on Mental Illness
NCLB No Child Left Behind
NDRN National Disability Rights Network
NEA National Education Association
NICD National Information Center on Deafness
NIDRR National Institute on Disability & Rehabilitation Research
NIH National Institute of Health
NIMH National Institute of Mental Health
NORD National Organization for Rare Disorders
NPRM Notice of Proposed Rule Making
NRA National Rehabilitation Association

O TOP

OAA Older Americans Act
OADS Office of Aging & Disabilities Services
OBRA Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
OCA Office of Consumer Affairs
OCD Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
OCFS Office of Child & Family Services
OCR Office of Civil Rights
ODD Oppositional Defiant Disorder
OHCDS Organized Health Care Delivery Systems
OHP Office of Health Policy
OIAS Office of Integrated Access & Support
OMB Office of Management & Budget
OMS Office of MaineCare Services
OQMHT Other Qualified Mental Health Professional
ORS Office of Rehabilitation Services
OSA Office of Substance Abuse
OSEP Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education
OSERS Office of Special Education & Rehabilitative Services, U.S. Department of Education
OT Occupational Therapy

 P TOP

P&A Protection & Advocacy System
PA Prior Authorization
PAA Parents As Advocates
PAAP Personalized Alternate Assessment Portfolio
PAAT Protection & Advocacy for Assistive Technology
PABSS Protection & Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security
PACE Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly
PADD Protection & Advocacy for Persons with Developmental Disabilities
PAIMI Protection & Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness
PAIR Protection & Advocacy for Individual Rights
PASE Parents Association for Special Education
PASS Plan for Achieving Self-Support
PATBI Protection & Advocacy for Persons with Traumatic Brain Injury
PAVA Protection & Advocacy for Voting Access
PBS Positive Behavioral Supports
PCA Personal Care Attendant
PCCM Primary Care Case Management
PCIP Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan
PCMH Patient-Centered Medical Home
PCP Depending on usage: Person Centered Plan or Primary Care Physician or Primary Care Provider
PCPID President’s Committee for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities
PCS Depending on usage: Personal Care Services or Preventive Care Services
PDD Pervasive Development Disorder
PDD-NOS Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified
PDL Preferred Drug List
PDN Private Duty Nurse
PEDS Parents Evaluation Developmental Status
PERS Personal Emergency Response System
PHIPS Private Health Insurance Payment System
PHN Public Health Nurse(ing)
PHP Depending on usage: Preventive Health Program or Prepaid Health Plan 
PL Public Law
PLEP Present Levels of Educational Performance
PMPM Per Member Per Month
PNMI Private Non-Medical Institution
PCA Personal Care Attendant
PPO Preferred Provider Organization
PR Public Relations
PROP People’s Regional Opportunity Program
PSL Project for Supported Living
PT Physical Therapy
PTSD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
PWD Person with a Disability
PWN Prior Written Notice

 Q TOP

QA Quality Assurance
QI Quality Improvement
QIS Quality Improvement Specialist
QMB Qualified Medicare Beneficiary

 R TOP

RAC Rental Assistance Coupon
RAI Depending on usage: Resident Assessment Instrument or  Request for Additional Information
RAP Resident Assessment Protocol
RCC Regional Children’s Cabinet
RCF Residential Care Facility
RCS Rehabilitative & Community Services
RFI Request for Information
RFP Request for Proposal
RFQ Request for Quotation
RN Registered Nurse
RPC Riverview Psychiatric Center
RSA Rehabilitation Services Administration
RSU Regional School Unit
RTI Response To Intervention
RTP Regional Transportation Program
RTTT Race To The Top
RUG Resource Utilization Group

 S TOP

SABE Self Advocates Becoming Empowered
SAD School Administrative District
SAMAI Schaller Anderson Medical Administrators Incorporated
SAMHS Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services (state)
SAMHSA Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (federal)
SAU School Administrative Unit
SB School-Based
SCHIP State Children’s Health Insurance Program
SDI Specially Designed Instruction
SEA Depending on usage: State Education Agency or Sheltered Employment Association
SED Severely Emotionally Disturbed
SEP Service Entry Point
SFY State Fiscal Year
SGA Substantial Gainful Activity
SI Specialized Instruction / Sensory Integration
SIDS Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
SIG School Improvement Grant
SILC State Independent Living Council
SL Shared Living
SLD Specific Learning Disability
SLP Speech & Language Pathologist
SMPA Southern Maine Parent Awareness
SNF Skilled Nursing Facility
SOC System of Care
SOP Depending on usage: Statement of Objectives & Priorities or Summary of Performance
SOS Secretary of State
SP Speech Pathologist
SPIN Statewide Parent Information Network
SPMI Severe & Persistent Mental Illness
SSA Depending on usage: Social Security Act or Social Security Administration
SSDI Social Security Disability Income
SSI Supplemental Security Income
SSP State Supplemental Payment
ST Speech Therapy
STEM Science, Technology, Engineering & Math
SUFU Speaking Up For Us

 T TOP

TANF Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
TASC Training & Advocacy Support Center
TASH International Association for Persons with Severe Disabilities
TASR Technical Assistance Site Review (CMHS)
TBI Traumatic Brain Injury
TCM Targeted Case Management
TDD/TTY Telecommunications Device for the Deaf
TEFRA Tax Equity & Fiscal Responsibility Act 
TWAC Ticket to Work Advisory Council
TWWIIA Ticket to Work – Work Incentives Improvement Act (Federal Law)

U TOP

UCEDD University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Services
UCP United Cerebral Palsy (national organization)
UCR Usual, Customary & Reasonable (charges)
UOM Unit Of Measure
UR Utilization Review

V TOP

VR Vocational Rehabilitation
VRA Vocational Rehabilitation Association
VSA Very Special Arts

W TOP

WIC Women, Infants & Children (Program)

Y TOP

YDC Youth Development Center
YMM Youth Move Maine