The terms below appear throughout the Resource Guide. Each is linked to its corresponding definition.

Assessment

Assessment is the clinical process of determining if an individual referred to the TANF SAMH Program may benefit from substance abuse or mental health services. This referral may be the result of a screening, like the TANF SAMH Program Survey or directly by the individual, a family member, or a Regional Workforce Board (RWB) designee. Qualified clinical staff usually completes a full assessment after a TANF SAMH outreach worker has referred a prospective participant to an SAMH service provider.

Case Management/Treatment Coordination

Case Management/Treatment Coordination is a method of providing client-based services whereby a professional mental health/substance abuse provider assesses the needs of the participant and the participant's family when appropriate, and arranges, coordinates, monitors, evaluates, and advocates for a package of multiple services to meet the participant's specific needs. The primary goal of TANF SAMH case management is to optimize participant functioning by assisting the participant in completing his or her TANF SAMH goals in the most effective and efficient manner. Quality case management requires a foundation of professional training, values, knowledge, theory, and skills used in the service of attaining participant directed goals.

Section 65E-4.014(k), FAC, addresses adult treatment coordination as follows: "The provider's treatment staff member responsible for the coordination of treatment or services to the participant who is not assigned a CCMS case manager due to not meeting CCMS priority criteria."

Section 394.497,F.S. discusses case management services to be provided to children and adolescents and their family.

Child-Only Cases

Child-only cases mean only the child in the family is receiving temporary cash assistance. In these cases, there is no adult or teen head of household receiving temporary cash assistance (TCA) because either the relative caregiver may choose to have their needs excluded in the calculation of the amount of cash assistance, or the parent(s) are not eligible for TCA. The families where the parent in a single-parent family or both parents in a two-parent family are not eligible for cash assistance can be due to immigration status, conviction of drug trafficking, SSI status, sanctioning for noncompliance or close of time-limits, or other requirements of federal law. For children who live with relative caregivers, the primary goal of the child-only cases is to support children in homes of relatives without going deeper in the child welfare system. Section 414.045(1)(b), F.S.

Economic Self-Sufficiency

Defined as the ability to support oneself and family through stable employment, having a support network in place, and having stable affordable housing and effective management of SA and MH issues. This individual is not dependent on public assistance as defined in s. 414.0252(10) F.S.

Family Stability

A stable family is one in which the individuals within the nuclear family are interacting in a healthy, non-abusive and interdependent manner that is consistent with their multigenerational family norms, and successfully functioning in the three functional domains; work/school, community, and home.

Non-custodial Parent

Non-custodial parent means a parent and the minor child(ren) live in Florida but does not live in the same household as the minor child. TANF SAMH may provide funding for services to the non-custodial parent if those services are designed to increase his/her ability to pay child support. Both the custodial and non-custodial parent must meet the eligibility criteria of a needy parent before this benefit can be paid.

One-Stop Delivery System

Section 445.009(1), F.S. states "The One-Stop Career Centers are redesigned as "one-stop delivery system", providing for the system to be the state's primary strategy for providing workforce development services. The one-stop delivery system will offer every Floridian access, through service sites or telephone or computer networks . . ." to a multitude of employment related services. One of those services is the TANF SAMH Outreach screenings.

Outreach

Outreach services are provided through a formal program to both individuals and the community that includes education, identification, and linkage with the high-risk groups. Outreach services for individuals are those of encouragement, education, and engagement for prospective participants who show an indication of substance abuse and/or mental health problems or needs. Outreach services will be provided at the Workforce Board One-Stop Delivery System location, in the participant's home, homeless shelters, or in areas where at least 25% of the population are likely to be TCA eligible. If a person appears to be in need of mental health or substance abuse services, the participant is referred to an SAMH service provider for assessment of his/her treatment/intervention needs.

Participant

A Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) participant is an individual who has applied for or receives temporary cash assistance. A TANF SAMH Diversion Family (TDF) participant is a family member who receives TANF SAMH services as part of a diversion effort from the welfare program. For purposes of the TANF SAMH Program, a TANF SAMH participant is any individual who is receiving services through this program.

Post-TANF Recipient

Post-TANF recipients are participants that continue to receive services aimed at maintaining employment stability for up to 12 months following successful completion or voluntary withdrawal from the TCA Program. If a participant is sanctioned for non-compliance with the TCA Program, they are not eligible for Post-TANF services.

Public Assistance

Public Assistance means benefits paid on the basis of the temporary cash assistance, food stamps, Medicaid, or optional state supplementation program. (s. 414.0252 (10) F.S.)

Referral

A referral for services or assessment may be made by an SAMH service provider outreach worker, Regional Workforce Board Designee, family member, or the individual themselves. It may be the result of a formal screening using the TANF SAMH Survey or because an identified need has been demonstrated. It is made to access services for an individual participant or request an assessment of need for substance abuse or mental health services from an SAMH service provider. Sending an applicant to an outreach worker for a screening is not considered a referral. Only after a substance abuse or mental health issue is identified is it considered a referral.

Regional Workforce Boards (RWB)

Regional Workforce Development Boards and local WAGES Coalitions are redesigned as the "Regional Workforce Boards (RBW)". One RWB shall be appointed in each designated service area and shall serve as the local workforce investment board. Workforce Florida, Inc. will oversee the regional workforce boards. In addition to the duties and functions specified by Workforce Florida, Inc., the RWB shall have the responsibility of overseeing the one-stop delivery system in its local area.

Screening

Screening is the initial process used by the TANF SAMH service providers and their outreach workers to assist them in determining if an individual may benefit from a referral for assessment of treatment needs. This is usually done at the one-stop delivery system location using the TANF SAMH Program Survey. It may be used at other locations that prove helpful. However, it is not necessary to use the TANF SAMH Survey for individuals who present with an obvious need of services as determined by the outreach worker at any location.

Service Plan

When mental health services are provided by a case manager, a service plan must be developed. The case manager with the assistance of the person and their family, when appropriate, selects and outlines an array of services and interventions whose purpose is to successfully resolve the issues that resulted in the need for case management services. This plan incorporates the participant's expectations, short and long term goals and objectives to which the participant has clearly identified and agreed. The service plan should clearly identify what goals are to be accomplished, by whom, and the time frame for completion. All parties to the service plan must have clear tasks assigned and should sign the plan.

Social Security Income (SSI) Families

There are families in which the only parent in a single-parent family or both parents in a two-parent family receive supplemental security income (SSI) benefits under Title XVI of the Social Security Act, as amended. To the extent permitted by federal law, individuals receiving SSI shall be excluded as household members in determining the amount of cash assistance, and such cases shall not be considered families containing an adult. Parents or caretaker relatives who are excluded from the cash assistance group due to receipt of SSI may chose to participate in work activities. An individual who volunteers to participate in work activities but whose ability to participate in work activities is limited shall be assigned to work activities consistent with such limitations. An individual who volunteers to participate in a work activity may receive childcare or support services consistent with such participation.

Target Population

The target population groups for mental health services are:

• Children with mental health and substance abuse problems

• Children incompetent to proceed in Juvenile Justice

• Children with serious emotional disturbance

• Children with emotional disturbance

• Children at risk of an emotional disturbance

• Children with substance abuse problems

• Children at risk of substance abuse problems

• Adults with substance abuse problems

• Adults with a serious and persistent mental illness in the community

• Adults in mental health crisis

• Adults with forensic involvement

• Adults in civil commitment

• Adults in forensic commitment