Future Changes: Person Centered Planning & Individualized Support Plan

The following update was received from the Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services (DDRS).

DDRS Update: Future Changes: Person Centered Planning & Individualized Support Plan

July 26, 2017

Dear Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services stakeholders, families and providers,

Just over a year ago, the Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services (DDRS) opened a dialogue with all stakeholders on the need for transformation in how Indiana provides services and supports to its citizens with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Since then, we’ve consulted with self-advocates, families, case managers, providers and other stakeholders to better understand our collective vision for services and supports for Hoosiers with disabilities and what we can do to transform our approach to move us toward supporting individuals and families in their community. As a first step, the Division chose to focus its initial efforts on Person Centered Planning (PCP) and case management. These areas were targeted due to the central role both play in supporting individuals and families in designing meaningful plans to encourage effective supports and services to get individuals closer to their definition of a good life.

Using feedback from stakeholders, recommendations from the Case Management Innovation Group and resources from the National Community of Practice for Supporting Families1, the Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services (BDDS) will begin introducing changes to the approach for PCP over the next several months across both the Family Supports Waiver (FSW) and the Community Integration and Habilitation (CIH) waiver. We will also be making minor changes to how the current case management service is delivered to better align with the changes to our PCP approach.

The Division is excited about these future changes and will be working on the following activities to reflect changes to Person Centered Planning and case management: 
    - Update policies, procedures and guidance related to PCP and case management; 
    - Statewide training series to provide concrete, face-to-face learning opportunities regarding person-centered planning and the role of case management; and 
    - Regular updates to stakeholders on our progress toward new person-centered planning implementation to ensure transparency and up to date information.

For today, though, I want to take a few moments to reflect on why I believe this transformation is important and why I hope that you embrace these changes, as well.

As a sibling and as someone who has worked with individuals with disabilities for their entire career, I, along with many of you, am deeply committed to enhancing the way in which supports and services are explained to individuals and families so that their needs, aspirations and opportunities for the achievement of self-determination, interdependence, productivity, integration and inclusion in all facets of community life can be identified and explored. In my former role in the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, this commitment drove the transformation to the Employment Services Model. Today, as the Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services Director, it drives our efforts to improve the PCP approach as a critical component in developing a holistic and meaningful Person-Centered Individualized Support Plan for individuals receiving waiver services.

As we take these steps to evolve as a system and acknowledge the opportunity to develop greater capacity to value and support people to be a part of their community, it reminds me to keep individuals and their families at the forefront of these changes. It is this recognition that has motivated our endorsement and use of the LifeCourse Framework and Principles in shaping these changes and conversations. Within BDDS, keeping individuals and families at the forefront begins with BDDS staff and case managers to ensure individuals and families feel valued and part of the process and these changes are intended to support such efforts in making this happen. As an entire system and community, it is my aspiration that collectively we can use these efforts to fulfill long-time self-advocate Betty William’s vision that Hoosiers with disabilities are “supported in having friends, contributing to the community, in giving back, and being viewed as more than [their] disability.”

Sincerely,

Kylee B. Hope
Director, Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services