Glossary

a way of defining poverty that designates a basic subsistence income level (the absolute version of a poverty line) and anyone who falls below that line is considered poor

A disability that occurs at some point after the disabled person is born. This could be something that happened to them as an infant or at any point afterward.

a single traumatic incident

the period of life following the onset of puberty, while the brain is still developing, and transitioning into adulthood

the social, emotional, and legal process in which children who will not be raised by their birth parents become full and permanent legal members of another family

traumas that occur in an individual’s life before they turn 18, which include neglect, abuse, and household difficulties

a set of fixed beliefs about a specific age group, usually referring to negative beliefs about older adults.

a theory that highlights how attachment patterns are developed from the earliest stages of life

the cohort of people born in the years after World War II, generally including those born between 1946 and 1964.

the modern family structure of having fewer children in each generation, as well as each generation living longer, resulting in a chronologically long but narrow structure

the act of assessing levels of functioning within biological, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions (and how they are connected) to help understand human behavior.

an umbrella term used to identity people of color most affected by White domination

a drug with active chemicals that affect central nervous and immune systems, usually dried.

a professional who is paid to assist with activities of daily living.

an unpaid layperson (often a family member) who assists with a wide variety of daily needs.

the body’s processing center, made up of the brain and the spinal cord.

the intentional emotional, negligent, physical, or sexual mistreatment of a child by an adult

typically refers to any situation where the child’s needs are paramount and their immediate protection takes priority over the other family needs

a traumatic experience that is repeated over a period of time

one of the distinguishing features of a profession, it sets standards and values for workers to uphold.

the act of working with others.

a small institution dedicated to serving people who have mental health struggles in contrast to large institutional hospitals

the sense of fulfillment you feel for the work you do

the sense of fulfillment you feel for the work you do.

a repeated traumatic experience that has been inflicted by a caregiver

A disability that occurs before or during birth; something the disabled person has had for all their life.

being “real”; actions in line with values and beliefs.

being aware that each individual you meet has their own set of beliefs, values, routines, and rituals that contribute to their culture.

shared meanings and shared experiences by members in a group, that are passed down over time with each generation

the processes by which the effects of early economic, educational, and other deficiencies or resources can accumulate over the life course with these becoming magnified over the life span.

the acts of identifying systems of oppressive colonization, dismantling historical records that emphasize the dominant culture’s story, and striving to effect power structures so that they are shared more equitably.

an academic rank conferred by a college or university after completion of a specific course of study.

a drug that reduces functional or nervous activity, slowing down a person’s ability to respond.

social welfare programs are a necessary part of social and economic development

a situation in which one has to make a choice between two options that have competing values and are equally unfavorable.

A physical, cognitive or emotional condition that limits or prevents a person from performing tasks of daily living, carrying out work or household responsibilities, or engaging in leisure and social activities.

emphasizes the complexity of the environments that each individual interacts with.

nonphysical maltreatment of a child through verbal language, including humiliation, threatening, ignoring, and manipulating

Any animal that is used to provide companionship, relieve loneliness, and sometimes help with depression, anxiety, and certain phobias for individuals with mental health disabilities.. Emotional Support Animals can be any type of animal, but they have no specialized training related to disability. Other than being allowed in housing that is generally managed with a “no pets allowed” requirement, Emotional Support Animals have no legal status.

being able to feel and relate to another’s feelings.

a benefit provided by some employers; workers can access quick, temporary mental health support

provision of what each individual needs in order to receive and obtain equal opportunities.

moral principles.

social identity based on the culture of origin, ancestry, or affiliation with a cultural group

an approach based on scientific evidence, client values, and clinical experience.

a credit class in which students apply theory to practice by using what you have learned in coursework in a real world setting with a supervisor/mentor who is invested in the student’s growth and development.

the language an individual learns in early childhood

the first person in their immediate family to go to college.

a temporary placement of a child with another family while parents are resolving issues

A disability-based restriction or inability to perform an action or activity in the same way others who do not have disabilities can do.

the socially constructed perceptions of what it means to be male, female or nonbinary in the way you present to society

using multiple disciplines and methods.

the interdisciplinary study of aging, including biological, psychological, social, economic, and spiritual perspectives among others.

A barrier that causes people with disabilities to be unable to independently complete tasks or activities, but has no impact on people without disabilities.

A disability caused by genetic mutations that are passed down from one or both parents. The disability could be congenital or acquired.

(also known as “homeless”), when a person lacks a reliable place to sleep and care for themselves

conditions that might cause someone to become houseless or that are hazardous to the health of occupants of a home

a professional field focused on helping people solve their problems.

an informal meeting with a professional in the field

social welfare programs are human rights and will always be a part of our society

the use of multiple disciplines, or knowledge branches, working together to solve problems.

a phenomenon in which the descendants of a person who has experienced a terrifying event show adverse emotional and behavioral reactions to the event that are similar to those of the person himself or herself

a credit class in which students apply theory to practice by using what you have learned in coursework in a real world setting with a supervisor/mentor who is invested in the student’s growth and development.

race, class, gender, sexuality, age, ability, and other aspects of identity are experienced simultaneously and the meanings of each identity overlaps with and influences the others leading to overlapping inequalities

action taken to improve a situation or address a problem

any incident or pattern of behaviors (physical, psychological, sexual or verbal) used by one partner to maintain power and control over the relationship

People related to one another. Family

a certification conferred by the government or an educational institution that is required for certain occupations.

the joint federal and state-sponsored program aimed at providing medical care to lower income individuals.

The presumption that the disabled person needs to be treated and “fixed;” this model focuses on what the individual cannot do and considers disability to be “abnormal.”

the federal health care program in the United States provided to adults 65 and older as well as disabled citizens.

an experienced individual who helps to guide a mentee, the less experienced person in their learning and growth.

a mental state of focusing attention on the present moment, accepting and acknowledging one’s feelings, thoughts, and physical sensations.

a professional organization for social workers and those studying social work.

a professional association for human services professionals and those studying human services.

the failure to meet the basic needs of a child

the federal legislation, originally authorized in 1965, that authorizes a majority of community services for older adults, including community centers and nutrition programs.

a substance used to treat moderate or severe pain by binding to receptors in the central nervous system

system of shared assumptions, values, and beliefs that show people what is appropriate and inappropriate behavior in a particular agency or workplace.

refers to the geographical location that a person was born and spent (at least) their early years in

a problem affecting individuals that the affected individual, as well as other members of society, typically blame on the individual’s own personal and moral failings

any act, completed or attempted, that physically hurts or injures a child, including hitting, kicking, scratching, and pulling hair

awareness of your own social identities and how those fit with others and within a power structure.

the state of lacking material and social resources needed to live a healthy life

measures the difference between the poverty line and the actual income level of the average poor family

a calculation that assumes people spend about ⅓ of their budget on food; taking the most frugal diet that the Department of Agriculture has recommended as potential bases for family food budgets and multiplied it by three.

a credit class in which students apply theory to practice by using what you have learned in coursework in a real world setting with a supervisor/mentor who is invested in the student’s growth and development.

develop strategies that fend off problems

a model that looks at three ways to help people solve problems.

a paid career that involves education, formal training and/or a formal qualification.

the conduct, qualities, and qualifications recognized as part of a profession.

something that affects the mind, typically a drug.

a guideline for the entire lifespan and suggests certain primary psychological and social concerns throughout life.

see definition for social problem

socially created and poorly defined categorization of people into groups on basis of real or perceived physical characteristics that has been used to oppress some groups

a society or environment where there is a culture of disbelief and lack of support for sexual violence survivors through normalizing and trivializing sexual violence despite its prevalent occurrence

A change in the usual and customary practice or activity which allows a disabled person to participate more independently in spite of the limitations their disability causes. Reasonable accommodations are most frequently found in educational and employment settings but can also include social settings. Accommodations can be made through structural changes, use of mechanical and technological devices, and reassignment of duties.

relearn or reform behaviors

a way of defining poverty considers a person poor when their income is much lower than the typical income in that population

shared systems of beliefs and values, symbols, feelings, actions, experiences, and a source of community unity

the correction or reversing of actions or behaviors

social welfare programs should exist only in times of particular need to avoid becoming crutches that people rely on.

an alternative approach to criminal justice that centers the survivor, taking into account what they need to experience healing. It also involves the participation of the perpetrator, requiring them to recognize the harm they did in the process of holding them accountable.

strategies that build, strengthen, and repair relationships among individuals, as well as connections within communities.

action to preserve and improve one’s own physical and mental health.

A dog or miniature horse that has been trained to perform specific tasks in order to assist a specific disabled person to maintain independence and/or to protect them from harm or death. Service animals work with people with all types of disabilities, including sensory losses, physical mobility, seizure disorders, chronic and persistent mental illness, diabetes and more. Service animals are considered working animals, not pets, and have legal authority to accompany their human partner anywhere they go.

a biological descriptor involving chromosomes, primary, and secondary reproductive organs.

maltreatment, violation, and exploitation where a perpetrator forces, coerces, or threatens a child into sexual contact for sexual gratification and/or financial benefit, including molestation, statutory rape, prostitution, pornography, exposure, incest, and other sexually exploitative activities

a person’s emotional, romantic, erotic, physical, and spiritual attractions toward another in relation to their own sex or gender.Sexuality exists on a continuum or multiple continuums

a term used to describe the skewing of the population toward older ages.

a theory that emphasizes the shared understandings agreed to by members of a society.

a group of programs that take into account any contributions that the beneficiary has made to the program and may be considered preventative in nature.

viewpoints and efforts toward every person receiving and obtaining equal economic and social opportunities; removal of systemic barriers.

The perspective that considers disability to be part of what makes the individual who they are. This model acknowledges disability-related limitations but also recognizes that disabled people have shared community, values and aspirations.

any condition or behavior that has negative consequences for large numbers of people and that is generally recognized as a condition or behavior that needs to be addressed. Multiple factors contribute to the complexity of social problems. Typically the solution to the problem needs to be systemic in nature; in other words, it cannot be solved by any one individual.

a federal program established in 1935 to provide protection against poverty to older Americans.

a group of programs meant to alleviate the effects of poverty, and applicants must pass a means test in order to receive benefits.

process through which we learn the culture of the social groups that we belong to.

the ability to understand individual experience within the context of social structures.

connection to something larger than you (a higher power), a quest for meaning, and a commitment to live each day in a sacred manner

Agreed upon level of quality in selected areas.

speed up the CNS by increasing heart rate and breathing and raising blood pressure.

the practice of using the strengths of individuals, families, and communities to solve problems.

relates to the interaction of one or more substances or other agents, to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of the original components.

focuses on the bi-diorectional impacts of an individual with different aspects of society

Any animal trained and certified to provide comfort and affection to people other than their handlers or owners. Therapy animals do not focus on the needs of their handlers but instead are socialized to be petted by anyone and are often found in hospitals, nursing homes, schools and other institutions. They may also work in clinical mental health settings under the control of their handlers.

results from an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life threatening and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being

recognizes that trauma has impacts that can be named and managed; it acknowledges that the person who is helping someone who is suffering from trauma may also suffer.

a collection of approaches that translate the science of the neurological and cognitive understanding of how trauma is processed in the brain into informed clinical practice for providing services that address the symptoms of trauma

practices that directly treat the trauma that an individual has experienced and any co-occurring disorders that they developed as a result of this trauma

belief that everyone has worth and deserves our consideration.

secondary traumatic stress, which is an occupational challenge for people working in the human services field due to their continuous exposure to victims of trauma and violence.

well-being

focusing on the accomplishments of White people and groups,and excluding BIPOC strengths and accomplishments