Helpful Acronyms

AHP- Affordable Housing Program

This program is available through the Federal Home Loan Bank Association and provides funding for housing programs that serve special needs populations. Amethyst House received $247,000 in 2001 for the purchase and renovation of the Women's House; Old National Bank was our local bank partner.

ARNI- Addiction Resource Network of Indiana, Inc.

A coalition of 8 "independent" (non-mental health center) agencies scattered throughout the state, which is one of the 38 Managed Care Providers (MCP) certified by the state of Indiana's Division of Mental Health and Addictions, to provide addictions services under the Hoosier Assurance Plan. Amethyst House was one of the 6 or 7 founding members in July of 1996.

CARES

The CARES board is comprised of approximately 22 community volunteers who serve as the "Local Coordinating Council" for the Governor's Commission for a Drug-Free Indiana. They coordinate extensive community activities to identify and propose solutions for the most pressing alcohol and drug problems in this area. They also make recommendations to Monroe County regarding the allocation of funds received by the local courts as fines for substance-related offenses. Amethyst House is one of several community agencies that are awarded funding from them on an annual basis.

CARF-Commission for Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities

One of three national accrediting organizations issuing certifications which satisfy the State of Indiana's (DMH) requirements for organizations providing services under the Hoosier Assurance Plan.

CBH- Center for Behavioral Health

Formerly the South Central Community Mental Health Center, CBH is another managed care provider offering both addictions and mental health services locally.

CDBG- Community Development Block Grant

This grant opportunity is financed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and administered through the City. Two funds exist: Social Service and Physical Improvement. Amethyst House has received funding through both funds over the years for various projects and operating expenses.

CHDO- Community Housing Development Organization

C-H-D-O, Community Housing Development Organization, is pronounced "cho-do." Under HOME, 15 percent of the HOME funds allocated to every PJ (a participating jurisdiction - city, County, multi-jurisdictional consortium, or state) are set aside for projects developed by CHDOs. The 15 percent CHDO set aside is Congress's explicit effort to direct HOME program funds into the hands of nonprofit developers. As a private nonprofit organization with a 501 (c) federal tax exemption, the CHDO must include providing decent, affordable housing to low-income households as one of its purpose in its charter, articles of incorporation, or by-laws. It must serve a specific, delineated geographic area; either a neighborhood, several neighborhoods, or the entire community, but not the entire state. Amethyst House applied to become a statewide CHDO in 2003.

DOC-Department of Corrections

DMD-Department of Metropolitan Development

This is the Evansville version of the HAND department.

DMHA- Division of Mental Health and Addictions

The Division of Mental Health and Addiction is part of the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA). This organization is responsible for all state funding of Mental Health and Addictions services.

HAND Department- Housing and Neighborhood Development

The Housing and Neighborhood Development Department (HAND) is responsible for the local administration of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME programs from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the issuance of occupancy permits for all residential rental units within the Bloomington corporate limits.

HAP-Hoosier Assurance Plan

This is the state's managed care system for providing addictions services to low-income persons residing in Indiana. It is a capitated system in which the state disburses a flat rate to Managed Care Providers (MCP) for each client they enroll. Several rates exist for different types of substance abuses. In accepting these funds, the MCP agrees to provide whatever addictions services may be required by that individual for the remainder of the fiscal year. The state's allocation for addictions services funding is considerably less than the demand, and early in the fiscal year the money is exhausted for much of the state and no further enrollments are paid for. The total funds for the state are divided in advance by region, with each geographical area receiving a specific allotment that can only be used by that region. One third of all money disbursed through HAP is reserved for "independents" (i.e. non-mental health center organizations).

HMIS-Homeless Management Information System

Congressional mandate that all agencies that receive federal funding for homeless services must participate in this client tracking program by September 2004. Congress wants to have an unduplicative count of homeless persons served plus provide better coordination of services between agencies.

HUD- Housing and Urban Development

This is a federal grant opportunity for organizations that provide homeless services. We received a three-year grant in 1996 that helped launch our women's program. We have received two three-year renewals, first in 1999 and again in 2002, which runs until February 2005. The grant requires that all of our women residential clients be homeless.

IAIC- Indiana Addictions Issues Coalition

The Indiana Addictions Issues Coalition is an inclusive group of individuals and agencies that collectively utilize their knowledge, concern, education and expertise to actively advocate, promote, and influence state and local addiction issues. Amethyst House is a corporate member; most of Amethyst House staff and board are individual and/or professional members. Two of our staff serve on the IAIC board of directors.

ICAADA- Indiana Counselors Association for Alcohol and Drug Abuse

Indiana Counselors Association for Alcohol and Drug Abuse is the State's recognized group that provides certification for Addictions Counselors. They are affiliated with an International Group called ICRC (The International Counselors Reciprocity Commission), which supplies the ability to move certification from one State to another with minimal hassle. Until recently ICAADA also was affiliated with the National Assoc. of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors.

ICHHI- Indiana Coalition of Housing and Homeless Issues

This is a statewide membership organization that advocates on behalf of agencies that provide housing and homeless services. Amethyst House is a member agency.

LCC- Local Coordinating Council

The Governor's Commission for a Drug-Free Indiana via state legislation established local coordinating councils in all 92 Indiana counties in the late 1980s. These councils receive funding from countermeasure fees collected from persons convicted of a drug/alcohol related offense and grant the funds to local organizations that serve prevention, treatment, and law enforcement community needs. Examples of LCCs: CARES (Monroe County) and SACVC (Vanderburgh County).

MCCPC- Monroe County Community Prevention Coalition

Funded by a large federal grant, this organization is chartered to build grassroots organizations in both the Bloomington and the Ellettsville areas to reduce the problems of substance abuse, particularly among children and adolescents, through prevention efforts (as opposed to intervention or treatment activities).

MCP- Managed Care Provider

MHA- Mental Health Alliance

This is Monroe County's local chapter of the Mental Health Association in Indiana.

MHAI- Mental Health Association in Indiana

NAP- Neighborhood Assistance Program

The Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) offers $2.5 million in tax credits annually for distribution by not-for-profit corporations to build public-private partnerships for neighborhood-based programs and projects in economically disadvantaged areas. The program is designed to benefit targeted populations in socioeconomic distress within these areas. Successful utilization of the Neighborhood Assistance Program requires marketing and fundraising abilities on the part of the grantee.

Benefits of NAP:

NAP tax credits offer an organization a unique fundraising tool;
Organizations leverage greater contributions; and
Contributors to NAP projects receive a credit against their state income tax liability.

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

A not-for-profit ruling from the Indiana Department of Revenue;
Good standing with the Indiana Secretary of State

NAP tax credits may only be applied against Indiana income tax liability. Credits must be claimed for the taxable year of the contribution. Tax credits must be equal to 50% of the contribution ($100 minimum contribution=$50 tax credit; $50,000 maximum contribution=$25,000 tax credit)

Organizations may not accept donations for NAP credits prior to attendance at a mandatory workshop by the Department of Commerce. NAP leveraged funds must be spent within the awarded fiscal year.

In-kind donations are acceptable but limited to the following:

May not exceed 25% of the total cost of the NAP program/project;
Require substantiating documentation;
Building materials must be valued at the cost of materials to the donor;
Land will be valued by the grantee and may include vacant lots and buildings (which may be homes or facilities). Land improvements thereon must be donated together with substantiating documentation for donation records (subject to accepted IRS standards and review by the Indiana Department of Revenue).

PPCHS- Policy and Planning Council on Homeless Services

Fondly known as "Pepper Cheese," this Vanderburgh County organization is made up of agencies that provide services to the homeless and coordinates the continuum of care for homeless services.

SACVC-Substance Abuse Council of Vanderburgh County

The SACVC is comprised of community volunteers who serve as the "Local Coordinating Council" for the Governor's Commission for a Drug-Free Indiana. They coordinate extensive community activities to identify and propose solutions for the most pressing alcohol and drug problems in this area. They also make recommendations to Vanderburgh County regarding the allocation of funds received by the local courts as fines for substance-related offenses. Amethyst House is one of several community agencies that are awarded funding from them on an annual basis.