Person-Centered Planning

Learn the difference between person-centered planning and person-centered service planning, what to expect at your annual planning meeting, and how to prepare.

The term person-centered refers to a process of planning that’s driven by the individual and is rooted in community. It’s focused on the person, not the service system. Although services may be part of the picture, they are not the driving force and vision.

The result of this kind of planning is an evolving, living portrait of the person’s strengths, skills, dreams and goals, as well as a road map to the future in work, school, home, relationships and community life.

Until recently, person-centered has referred to planning done with the individual and a group of helpful people chosen by the individual—informally or formally. With a new federal requirement now in place, our state is beginning to use a person-centered approach to service planning for individuals on a Home & Community Based Services waiver.

Although each term has a different purpose and design, they both focus on the person’s strength’s, skills, needs, relationships, and goals.

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Person-Centered Planning

Person-centered planning helps you identify what matters to you and what you want for your life. You guide the process and choose which family members, friends or professionals participate.

Planning can happen informally at home, school or work. You may also work with a trained facilitator using tools such as MAPS, PATH or Futures Planning. Some Developmental Disabilities Administration programs may cover facilitated planning. Ask your case resource manager whether it is available to you.

Who is it for?
Anyone.

Person-Centered Service Planning

Person-centered service planning is the approach the Developmental Disabilities Administration uses during annual service-planning meetings.

The conversation focuses on your whole life, including your:

Strengths and abilities
Interests and relationships
Needs and current supports
Goals for the coming year

You can invite family members, friends, support staff or others to participate. Together, you and your case resource manager will discuss which services and supports may help you reach your goals.

Who is it for?
Developmental Disabilities Administration clients who receive services.

What to Expect

Before your annual meeting, your case resource manager will contact you to schedule a date and location. You may meet at home or another place you choose.

You will also receive My Page, an optional one-page worksheet that can help you think about your strengths, values, needs and goals.

During the meeting:

Share what is important to you now and in the future.
Discuss the support you already have and where you may need help.
Choose available services and supports that can help you reach your goals.
Choose who you want to provide those services, when options are available.

Your ideas, choices and goals should guide the planning process.

Tools to Help You Prepare

My Page
A one-page worksheet that helps you describe your strengths, values, goals and preferred support.

Star Form
A worksheet that helps you identify people, services and other resources that can support a specific goal.

Find a Person Centered Planning Facilitator

PAVE, in partnership with the Dan Thompson Memorial Account, created a free, searchable online database to help people find disability resources across Washington state. The accessible, HIPAA-compliant tool offers secure access to information for people with disabilities, Developmental Disabilities Administration clients and their families, friends, caregivers, educators and other supporters.

Find your Person Centered Planning (PCP) Facilitator

LEARN MORE

Informing Families video series on person-centered planning.

Person Centered-Planning Tools Overview

Using the Star Form to Identify Supports for Reaching a Goal

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DDA Video Series

We’ve received permission to share a video training series created for DDA Case Resource Managers. Each part will be released separately. Keep checking back for the next installment.

Part One: Includes an introduction by Assistant Secretary Evelyn Perez and video on Person Centered Planning by Beth Mount.

Part Two: An Overview of the Values of Person-Centered Planning

Part Three: Tools and Approaches to Person-Centered Planning

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