The DDS Definitions Appendix defines the terms and acronyms relevant to the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) service delivery system.
- G -
General Intellectual Functioning
The results obtained by assessment with one or more of the individually administered general intelligence tests developed to assess mental capacity for learning, reasoning, problem solving, and so on, and administered by a person or persons formally trained in administration and interpretation of the test.
Goals
Means measurable supports or training to achieve an outcome.
Grievance
A grievance is the formal expression by any individual of their dissatisfaction or unhappiness with supports and services or treatment provided by or through DDS, their provider agency, or someone employed or volunteering to provide them with supports and services. A grievance differs from a complaint only in procedures used to resolve the individual's dissatisfaction or unhappiness and the severity of the underlying issue. Typically, a grievance deals with lesser violations or restrictions of basic human rights or freedoms that would not in the usual course be subject to the reporting requirements of the Incident Management Policy or eligible for administrative proceedings under Medicaid, e.g., request for services denied.
Grievance File
A separate file that contains all documents related to the grievance filing and grievance hearing.
Grievance Hearing
A separate file that contains all documents related to the grievance filing and grievance hearing.
Group Home for Individual with Developmental Disability Persons (GHMRP)
DOH/HRLA licensure categories.
Guardian
An individual named by a court order to make decisions for someone else pursuant to the District of Columbia Official Code, Title 21. The individual named may include, but is not limited to, the individual’s parents, siblings, next of kin, court appointed advocate, etc. A guardian’s powers can be general or can be limited to specific types of decisions.
- H -
Health and Wellness
The individual receives health care and related services which are sufficient and appropriate to optimize their health and well-being.
Health Care Management Plan (HCMP)
A document that identifies types of medical and health care interventions that are to be implemented to manage identified risks, the individual(s) responsible for carrying out intervention, in what time duration the interventions are to be implemented, and the individual(s) responsible for providing evaluation of outcome of plan (monitoring).
Home
Refers to the house, apartment, condominium, or other place in which the individual lives in the community, including those owned or rented by the consumer, or residential facilities licensed by the District of Columbia. Homes can include, but are not limited to, independent living situations, the family home of the consumer, Community Residential Facilities (CRF), Intermediate Care Facilities, Mental Retardation (ICF/MR).
Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver
The District of Columbia DD Medicaid Waiver program operated by DDA with administrative oversight provided by DHCF that offers eligible individuals with a wide range of community-based residential, vocational, clinical and support services via a choice of Medicaid Waiver enrolled providers.
Hospitalization
Unplanned hospitalization or emergency room visit for treatment of a chronic physical or mental illness or condition (i.e. an illness or medical condition that result in an emergency room visit, but does not require inpatient hospitalization).
Host Home
Host Home services are provided in a private home by a person who lives in the home and either rents or owns the home and is the primary support giver for a HCBS waiver participant. . Host Home services enable participants to retain or improve skills related to health, activities of daily living, money management, community mobility, recreation, cooking, shopping, use of community resources, community safety and other adaptive skills needed to live in the community.
HRLA
Health Regulation and Licensing Administration located in the Department of Health.
Human Care Agreement
Is a legal document between DDS authorized providers/vendors that defines the scope of work and funding for human care services provided.
Human Rights Advisory Committee (HRAC)
The Department on Disability Services HRAC is charged with the responsibility of providing guidance and oversight in all matters pertaining to the human rights of individuals receiving services as part of the DDS service delivery system. Through its oversight and recommendations, the Committee safeguards and promotes the rights and freedoms of all consumers of Department on Disability Services by ensuring that all allegations of human rights violations are properly reviewed and resolved. The Director of DDS appoints members and the Chairperson of the HRAC. The Committee is comprised of community representatives, community service providers, consumers, family of consumers, advocates, and DDS staff.
Human Rights and Freedoms
Basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled, including but not limited to life, liberty, freedom of thought and expression, privacy, religion, freedom of choice, self-determination and equality before the law.
Human Rights Committee
The provider’s committee that protects the rights of the individuals served by either (1) reviewing behavioral treatment plans for possible rights violations; or (2) reviewing incident reports and research proposals; or (3) providing recommendations to change possible rights violations.