Home Glossary

State	Term	Acronym	Definition
CERTIFICATIONS AND CERTIFICATION RELATED TERMS AND ACRONYMS
ME	Alcohol and Drug Counseling Aid	ADCA	Individuals who engage in apprenticeship for the purpose of acquiring knowledge and experience in the performance of alcohol and drug counseling services. They may facilitate individual and direct group counseling or assume other facilitation duties under supervision and may supervise nonclinical activities. An alcohol and drug counseling aide may write treatment chart notations when the notations are cosigned by a certified clinical supervisor. All work performed must be under the supervision of a certified clinical supervisor. They may not engage in independent or private practice. All work must be conducted within an agency. Alcohol and Drug Counseling Aides can work in any agency that provides treatment and clinical services to individuals diagnosed with substance use disorder. This can include inpatient and outpatient treatment settings.
ME	Alcohol and Drug Counselor	ADC	Individuals who provide individual or group alcohol and drug counseling services. All work must be under the supervision of a certified clinical supervisor within an agency. Certified Addiction Counselors may not engage in independent or private practice.
NY	Certified Addiction Recovery Coach	CARC	By becoming a New York Certified Peer Specialist, you are recognized as a qualified professional working with individuals in the mental health system based on "The Shared Personal Experience" paradigm.
ME	Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor	CADC	Individuals who provide individual or group alcohol and drug counseling services. All work must be under the supervision of a certified clinical supervisor within an agency. Certified Addiction Counselors may not engage in independent or private practice. Certified Addiction Counselors can work in any agency that provides treatment and clinical services to individuals diagnosed with substance use disorder. This can include inpatient and outpatient treatment settings.
ME	Certified Clinical Supervisor	CCS	Individuals who provide individual or group alcohol and drug counseling services. All work must be under the supervision of a certified clinical supervisor within an agency. Certified Addiction Counselors may not engage in independent or private practice. Certified Addiction Counselors can work in any agency that provides treatment and clinical services to individuals diagnosed with substance use disorder. This can include inpatient and outpatient treatment settings.
ME	Certified Intentional Peer Support	CIPS	Only used in reference to the Certified Intentional Peer Support Training Program, which is needed to obtain a Certified Intentional Peer Support Specialist (CIPSS) Certification.
ME	Certified Intentional Peer Support Specialist	CIPSS	Intentional Peer Support is a philosophy based on four tasks used to develop and maintain relationships: Relationships enable thinking about help in a new way. Rather than focusing on problem-solving and looking at what people don't want in their lives, peer support challenges individuals to discover their hopes and dreams. People in peer relationships learn and grow together. Individuals are required to have a mental health diagnosis to work in this role. Certified Intentional Peer Support Specialists can work in settings such as hospital systems, behavioral health homes, psychiatric centers, and crisis centers. Typically, Certified Intentional Peer Support Specialists work with individuals who experience mental health symptoms, but may also work with individuals experiencing substance use disorders. Some agencies require a dual certification of Certified Intentional Peer Support and Recovery Coach.
NY	Certified Peer Specialist	CPS	By becoming a New York Certified Peer Specialist, you are recognized as a qualified professional working with individuals in the mental health system based on "The Shared Personal Experience" paradigm.
VT	Certified Recovery Coach	CPRC	Recovery Coaches use a collaborative and strengths-based approach to assist individuals living in or seeking recovery from the effects of substance use disorders.
NY	Certified Recovery Peer Advocate	CRPA	A peer advocate provides outreach, advocacy, mentoring, and recovery support services to those seeking or sustaining recovery.
NY	Certified Recovery Peer Advocate-Provisional	CRPA-Provisional	When you are certified as CRPA-Provisional certification, your services are Medicaid-reimbursable. For this reason, employers want you to be certified. Upgrade to CRPA within 24 months
NH	Certified Recovery Support Worker	CRSW	The CRSS credential is for people who work side-by-side with clinical staff to provide recovery support services to individuals with substance use conditions.
ME	Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor	LADC	Individuals who provide individual or group alcohol and drug counseling services independently within an agency or in private practice. A Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor may also assume clinical supervision duties. Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors can work within any agency that provides treatment and clinical services to individuals diagnosed with substance use disorder. This can include inpatient and outpatient treatment settings. Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors can also practice independently outside of an agency.
NH	Mental Health Certified Peer Support Specialist	MH-CPSS	Certified Peer Support Specialists are members of teams that help individuals with mental health challenges. They have their own experience of mental health challenges and that forms the basis of their work. They are known for their abilities to connect and empathize, for their talents with de-escalating crisis situations, for their intimate knowledge of recovery pathways, and for being a positive example. As of right now, this certification is only available to those working in certain behavioral health facilities. To see if your facility is offering this track and if you are eligible, consult your supervisor. Please check back later this year to see if this track has been opened up to the public!
ME	Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician	MHRT-1	Individuals who provide daily living supports to persons with severe and persistent mental illness in residential settings. They provide personal supervision and therapeutic support helping individuals to develop and maintain the daily living skills necessary to remain oriented, healthy, and safe. Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician Certification can work in a residential setting, in a person's home, on the job, or in the community with the person being served.
ME	Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician/ Community	MHRT/C	Individuals who provide community supports to adults with mental illness. They can provide services such as community integration, assertive community treatment, skill Development, day support services, and family psychoeducation. Mental Health and Rehabilitation Technicians/Community Certification can work in organizations such as community treatment agencies, mental health psychosocial clubhouses, and behavioral health homes.
ME	Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician/ Crisis Service Provider	MHRT/CSP	Individuals who provide Crisis Resolution Services to adults and/or children. These services include screening, assessment, evaluation, intervention, and disposition. Mental Health and Rehabilitation Technician/Crisis Service Providers work in settings such as mobile outreach, crisis lines, crisis response roles, and clinical care teams.
ME	Mental Health Support Specialist	MHSS	"The Mental Health Support Specialist (MHSS) assists individuals who are living with mental illness to maintain the highest level of independence possible. They help those that they support develop and maintain their skills of daily living and progress toward mental health recovery. Mental Health Support Specialists will provide this support to individuals in their own home, in a supported living environment and in their community.
ME	Peer Recovery Coach	PRC	Peer Recovery Coaches are individuals or affected others in recovery from addiction who draw on personal experience with the recovery process to support others through their recovery journey. They transform the knowledge gained from lived experience to build bonds of trust and foster the empowerment of others in recovery. They also provide a range of person-centered and strength-based supports that connect individuals with community resources. Peer Recovery Coach positions are often found in community centers and opioid health homes throughout the state working with individuals who experience substance use disorders. Much like Certified Intentional Peer Support Specialists, Recovery coaches have the potential to help in any setting where individuals who are experiencing substance use disorder can be found such as prisons, primary care, pain management, housing programs, etc.
NH	Rapid Response Certified Peer Support Specialist	RR-CPSS	Rapid Response Certified Peer Support Specialists are members of interdisciplinary teams that help individuals with mental health challenges in times of crisis. They have their own experience of mental health challenges and that forms the basis of their work. They play an advocacy role, provide transportation, promote self-care, illness self-management, and wellness and recovery. As of right now, this certification is only available to those working in certain behavioral health facilities. To see if your facility is offering this track and if you are eligible, consult your supervisor. Please check back later this year to see if this track has been opened up to the public!
NY	Schroeder Management Technologies	SMT	Schroeder Management Technologies is a business that developes and hosts exams for certification and licensing organizations.
NH	Youth Peer Support Specialist	YPSS	Youth Peer Support Specialists connect with peers in their community in a mutual relationship of shared empathy and demonstrated resiliency. They provide the additional support, validation, and encouragement necessary for youth to effectively engage with their support systems during the transition to adulthood.
EDUCATION TERMS AND ACRONYMS
	Zoom		Online Video and Voice streaming platfrom, primarily used in online group meetings Learn more
MEDICAL AND BEHAVORIAL HEALTH CONDITION TERMS AND ACRONYMS
	Mental Health Condition		Interchangeable with Mental Health Challenge. Refers to a wide range of mental states that affect mood, thinking, and behavior. Things that can contribute to a mental health challenge can be physical, things that have happended in the present or past, or a family history of metal health challenges. Examples of mental health challenges are anxiety, depression, eating disorders, self harm, addictive behavior, or post-traumativ stress disorder. Learn more
STATE, FEDERAL, AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATION TERMS AND ACRONYMS
	International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium	IC&RC	International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium is an international non-profit organization that promotes public protection by developing internationally recognized credentials and examinations for prevention, substance use disorder treatment, and recovery professionals. Learn more
NH	New Hampshire Division for Children, Youth and Families	DCYF	DCYF manages protective programs on behalf of NH’s children, youth and families. DCYF Staff provide a wide range of family-centered services with the goal of meeting the needs of parents and their children and strengthening the family system. Services are designed to support families and children in their own homes and communities whenever possible. Source: WelcomeFamiliesNH Learn more
NY	New York Certification Board	NYCB	Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers New York Certification Board
NY	New York Office of Children and Family Services	OCFS	The Office of Children and Family Services serves New York's public by promoting the safety, permanency and well-being of our children, families and communities. We will achieve results by setting and enforcing policies, building partnerships, and funding and providing quality services. Learn more
ME	Office of Child and Family Services	OCFS	"The Maine DHHS Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) is dedicated to helping create a future where all Maine children and families are safe, stable, happy, and healthy. Learn more
	U.S. Department of Health and Human Services	HHS	The mission of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans, by providing for effective health and human services and by fostering sound, sustained advances in the sciences underlying medicine, public health, and social services. Learn more
VT	Vermont Department for Children and Families	DCF	DCF's mission is to foster the healthy development, safety, well-being, and self-sufficiency of Vermonters. We provide benefits, services, and supports to some 200,000 Vermonters every year, including children, youth, families, older Vermonters, and people with disabilities. Learn more