Building the Path to Home

adaptive functioning

Adaptive functioning refers to how well people cope with the common tasks of daily living. Adaptive functioning is measured against the degree of personal independence expected of someone in his or her particular age group, sociocultural background and community setting.

adult protective services worker

An adult protective services worker supports adults (over 18) with developmental disabilities who live on their own. Services include help with housing, transportation, medical services, dental services, financial services, legal support, spiritual support, vocational programs, leisure programs, educational programs, volunteering programs, and counselling and mental health services.

assertive community treatment (ACT) team

ACT teams deliver customized treatment, rehabilitation and support services to clients who have severe mental health problems. Services are provided by mobile, multidisciplinary teams who meet with clients in the community.

attorney for personal care

An attorney for personal care is someone who is appointed, via a formal agreement by another person, to make personal care decisions for that person if he or she can no longer make those decisions.

attorney for property

An attorney for property is someone who is appointed, via a formal agreement by another person, to make decisions about that person’s property if he or she can no longer make those decisions.

biopsychosocial approach

The biopsychosocial approach proposes that there are biological, psychological and social factors involved in the causes and outcome of health and illness, including mental health problems. One single factor in isolation may have a significant impact, or almost no impact, depending on the person and the situation.

boarding home

A boarding home is housing that provides meals and cleaning services. Some boarding homes have single rooms. However, most rooms are shared by two or more people.

case manager

Case managers work one-on-one with clients to co-ordinate treatment and support services. Case managers may also provide outreach, advocacy, assessment, treatment planning and counselling.

consumer/survivor

“Consumer/survivor” is a term used by some people who have a mental health problem and/or who have used mental health services or programs.

co-operative housing

Co-operative housing is housing that is operated by the people who live in the building. Co-ops can have both “market rent” units and subsidized units. (See “market housing” below.)

crisis

A crisis is any serious deterioration of a person’s ability to cope with everyday life. It does not necessarily involve danger of serious physical harm to him- or herself or others.

day program

Day programs provide social and other therapeutic activities at a location outside of the person’s home. Programs include planned recreation and physical activities, meals, transportation to the program and some personal care.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Disorders (DSM)

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is used in North America to diagnose mental disorders. The fourth and most recent edition, the DSM-IV, organizes mental disorders into 16 major diagnostic classes (e.g., mood disorders and substance-related disorders). Within these diagnostic classes, disorders are further broken down (e.g., depressive disorders and bipolar disorders are included in the mood disorders class). For each disorder, the DSM-IV lists specific criteria for making a diagnosis.

diversion program

Diversion programs redirect clients who are charged with minor offences to mental health treatment services and/or supports in the community. They prevent some people from going to jail and having a criminal record.

emergency

An emergency is a situation where there is an immediate danger that the person will harm either himself or herself or someone else.

family support worker

A family support worker is a case manager who works with people who have developmental disabilities and are living with their families.

group home

A group home is a house with three to ten mental health consumers or developmentally disabled persons living together with a high level of support and an element of supervision. Municipal bylaws may use a more specific definition of group home designed to enforce zoning restrictions.

independent support plan

An independent support plan outlines goals and strategies to meet a person’s needs, capacities and preferences (as identified in an assessment). It identifies the supports, activities, and resources needed to achieve the goals.

market housing

Market housing is owned by private landlords. Tenants pay full rent. They also cook, clean and care for themselves.

mental health disorder

A mental health disorder is a problem with thinking, mood or behaviour (or some combination of the three) that meets the criteria set out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Disorders (see above) for diagnosis of a specific disorder.

mental health problem

A mental health problem has a significant impact on a person’s daily life, but is not severe enough, or does not last long enough, to meet the criteria for a diagnosis of any disorder.

non-profit housing

Non-profit housing is housing created by volunteer organizations (e.g., service clubs, faith organizations). Government provides funding so that housing can be accessible to people with low and moderate incomes.

Ontario Works (OW)

This is a program that gives money and employment help to people with temporary money problems. OW helps people get ready for work. It also helps them find and keep jobs. This program used to be called “welfare.”

rent-geared-to-income

Rent-geared-to-income means that the rent a person pays depends on how much money the person makes. Financial services recommend that rent take up no more than 30 per cent of a person’s income.

respite care

Respite care offers temporary relief to the regular caregiver, who is often a family member. This break helps to give the caregiver a chance to do some things for herself or himself.

rooming house

A rooming house is independent housing where each person has his or her own bedroom in a shared house or building. Bathrooms, kitchens and common areas are usually shared.

safe beds

Safe beds are used as an alternative to custody, emergency room assessments and/or hospital admissions. They provide a non-medical approach to crisis intervention in a short-stay residential setting. Support is provided for immediate crisis issues and referrals are made to other community resources for on-going, non-crisis issues.

shared care team

Shared care teams work with housing and support staff to address the mental and physical health needs of people homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Teams usually include a nurse, an outreach worker, a doctor and a psychiatrist.

shelter

Emergency shelters (also called hostels) are for people who need housing immediately. Most shelters are free. Some shelters house specific groups of people, such as women, men, youth or families. Shelters can also range in size from housing five people to more than one hundred people. They can also differ in the length of time that someone can stay.

social housing

Social housing is affordable housing funded by a government program and run by non-profit or co-operative agencies.

substitute decision maker (SDM)

A substitute decision maker is a person who has legal authority to make treatment or other personal care decisions for a person who is incapable of doing so.

supported employment

Supported employment is work in an integrated setting with ongoing support provided by an agency with expertise in working with people with disabilities.

transitional housing

People may live in transitional housing (e.g., shelters) until they are able to find more stable homes, or have learned the necessary skills to live independently. Most people live in transitional housing for a short time, ranging from a few weeks to several years.