Teton Behavioral Health Alliance 

Use of Terms + Glossary Approved 1.4.23

The Teton Behavioral Health Alliance uses the following terms: 

• Latino/Latina when referring to individuals who identify as masculine/feminine, as the terms are gendered. 

• Latine when referring to an individual who is non-binary.  

• *Much like asking people their pronouns, it is appropriate to ask if an individual wants to be referred to as Latino/Latina/Latine 

• Latine Community when referring to the community, because it is the most inclusive term, even though Latino Community is more commonly used locally. 

• LGBQ+/gender diverse because it recognizes the separation of gender and sexuality and is inclusive of all who fit into any of these categories.

Behavioral Health 

A field of health that promotes mental health, resilience and wellbeing; the prevention and treatment of mental and substance use disorders; and the support of individuals who experience and/or are in recovery from these conditions, along with their families, friends, and communities. Resource: SAMHSA

Collective Impact

Collective Impact is a framework that is used to solve complex problems.  The framework requires a high-level of collaboration and co-creation among cross-sectoral stakeholders who are committed to a shared agenda and the desired outcome of achieving  population and systems-level changes.

Collective Impact Forum defines it as: a network of community members, organizations, and institutions  who advance equity by learning together, aligning, and integrating their actions to achieve population and systems-level change. Adapted from Collective Impact Forum

Equity

Equity is fairness and justice achieved through systematically assessing disparities in opportunities, outcomes, and representation and redressing those disparities through targeted actions. 

Various structures and systems have contributed to disparities in power and influence throughout history including but not limited to patriarchal society, whiteness, heteronormativity, classism. They continue to exist in modern day and the need for them to be addressed remains.

Targeted actions are needed to dismantle dominant structures that have been historically built and reinforced, break down existing barriers and redistribute resources in order to achieve equity. Adapted from Urban Strategies Council

Behavioral Health Equity 

The right to access high-quality and affordable health care services and supports for all populations, including Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender, and non-binary persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.

Behavioral Health Equity involves ensuring that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. Resource: SAMHSA

Treatment

Practices that help people, including individuals with mental illnesses or substance use disorders, with their behavioral health. Treatment is conducted by a provider and includes various modalities that can serve individuals or groups. Treatment refers to direct service. 

*Clinical treatment is evidence-based and is provided by a licensed professional. Adapted from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Prevention

The use of evidence-based activities aimed at stopping or reducing action and/or behavior, or promoting a positive action and/or behavior while reducing risk in order to create safe and healthy communities.

Prevention's primary purpose is to intervene before risky behaviors occur, therefore prevention often focuses on youth because adults have already engaged with the behavior.  Consequently, different prevention efforts are needed for various topics and diverse age groups. 

Prevention efforts include education, tools, and additional resources that are used to increase protective factors and reduce the need for additional support. Adapted from Department of Social Services SC

Crisis

When one’s mental health and/or environment puts the individual and/or others at risk of harming themselves or others and/or prevents them from performing daily tasks and/or interferes with functioning. Resource: National Alliance on Mental Illness

Person-first language 

puts the person before the diagnosis, disability, symptoms, and/or conditions , and describes what a person has, not who a person is

*Examples:  a person without documentation instead of an undocumented person), a person with bipolar disorder instead of a bipolar person. Resource: Office of Disability Rights

Marginalized communities

Groups of people that experience discrimination and exclusion (social, political and economic) because of  long standing imbalances of power across economic, political, social and cultural dimensions. Resource:  National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health

Lived experience 

Personal knowledge about the world gained through direct, first-hand involvement in everyday events 

*The term is applicable to all people but is most often used in relation to individuals from marginalized communities. Resource: Oxford Reference

Latino/a

Refers to people who are from or descendants of people from Latin America. Latino people may or may not speak Spanish, as many Latin Countries predominantly speak Portuguese or French. This term is most often used to describe a male, a group of males, or a group of people of both genders (Latinos). The female version of the term is Latina(s). Resource: The Communications Network, Cambridge Dictionary

Latine

is a gender-neutral form of the word Latino, created by LGBTQIA+, gender non-binary, and feminist communities in Spanish speaking countries. The objective of the term Latine is to remove gender from the Spanish word Latino, by replacing it with the gender-neutral Spanish letter E. This idea is native to the Spanish language and can be seen in many gender-neutral words like “estudiante”. Resource: callmelatine

Latinx*  

gender-neutral term referring to someone living in the United States who was born in or has ancestors from Latin America; it is an alternative to the masculine (Latino) and feminine (Latina) forms.  The word has been criticized for not following the rules of the Spanish pronunciation and suggesting “linguistic imperialism.” 

*Teton Behavioral Health Alliance  will not use this term given its perception of linguistic imperialism.  It is included in the glossary to inform people as to why we are not using this word.  Resource: Latinx:  Encyclopedia Britannica

LGBQ+

An acronym that collectively refers to individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or queer.  The Q can also stand for questioning. The “+” represents those who are part of the community but for whom LGBQ does not accurately capture or reflect their identity. Adapted from PFLAG National Glossary of Terms

Gender diverse

Refers to persons whose gender identity, including their gender expression, is at odds with what is perceived as being the gender norm in a particular context at a particular point in time, including those who do not place themselves in the male/female binary as well as trans and two-spirit individuals. Resource: United Nations

Gender affirming care

Encompasses a range of social, psychological, behavioral, and medical measures designed to support and affirm an individual’s gender identity when it conflicts with the gender they were assigned at birth. Gender affirming measures help transgender and nonbinary people to align various aspects of their lives — emotional, interpersonal, and biological — with their gender identity. Resource: Association of American Medical Colleges  and World Health Organization

BIPOC

An acronym meaning ‘Black, Indigenous, or Person of color’. This is a modern term that recognizes the historical and modern injustices experienced specifically by Black and Indigenous people in the United States. It avoids making the experiences of all people of color a monolith.  While people of color generally experience discrimination, the experiences of Black people and of Indigenous people is unique and steeped in a long history of racism. Resource: The Communications Network

Very Low Income

Refers to community members living in a household with defined poverty status. Resource: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

*The Behavioral Health Survey Report used the 2020 Poverty Guidelines which place the poverty threshold for a family of four at $26,200 annual household income or lower.

*According to the The Wyoming Cost of Living Index for the Second Quarter of 2022, Teton County has the highest cost of living in Wyoming with a score of 165, as compared to the statewide and national average of 100.    

Low Income

Refers to households with incomes just above the poverty level and earning up to twice (100%-199% of) the poverty threshold. Resource: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Mid/High Income

Refers to those households living on incomes which are twice or more (≥200% of) the federal poverty level. Resource: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Mental Health

Mental health is a state of well-being in which every individual realizes their own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to their community. Resource: World Health Organization

Substance Use Disorder 

Occur when the recurrent use of alcohol and/or drugs causes clinically significant impairment, including health problems, disability, and failure to meet major responsibilities at work, school, or home. Resource: SAMHSA

Wellness 

the active pursuit of activities, choices, and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health. Resource: The Global Wellness Institute

Provider

Providers are trained to evaluate a person’s mental health and use therapeutic techniques based on specific training programs. They can help symptom reduction as well as better ways of thinking, feeling and living.

Behavioral health care providers come from a number of different educational backgrounds and may be psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, advanced practice nurses or clinical nurse specialists, or they may have another kind of background or training.

For more information about types of mental health care providers see: National Alliance on Mental Health

Federal Poverty Level

The Federal Poverty Level is an eligibility threshold set by the Department of Health and Human Services below which a household is eligible for certain welfare benefits. It is meant to represent the minimum pre-tax income that a family requires for food, clothing, transportation, shelter, and other necessities. The FPL for a 2-person household in 2024 is $25,820; in 2021 it was $17,420.