A Story
Joan
was so excited because she finally got to move into her first apartment after
years of living in a group home. She’s in her thirties and requires quite a bit
of support related to her developmental disabilities and mental health
challenges. Joan wasn’t sure if she would ever be able to have a life that she
could call her own. She’s been looking forward to doing her art, playing the
music she likes, joining a church and all the other things she’s dreamed about
having the freedom to do.
At first, Joan’s support organization developed their plan for the
services and supports they think she needs in her apartment. A team of
professionals did assessments on her needs. From their tests and assessments,
the supervisor developed a plan with a set of goals and action plans to assist Joan to
achieve her goals. Everyday she has a set of training activities that she has to go
through to work on her goals. The staff has checklists and data sheets to fill
out to track her progress. They are pleased with the progress she’s making.
But
what
about Joan?
She thought she was getting her own life at last. This just feels like she’s
still in a program. Her dreams are starting to fade away again.
There is a better way.
What is
Person-centered Planning?
Authentic
Person-centered Planning is a life planning process rooted in what is most
important to the person. It involves the person directly with his or her
community, network of connections, and close personal relationships. The
planning process looks at innovative ways to attain life goals and dreams.
The
greatest reward in engaging in Person-centered Planning as a supporter is being
able to witness a transformation occurring in a person’s life when creative new
directions and approaches are taken. To the person who has been supported in
this process, there is nothing better than having a circle of collaborative
supporters fully engaged with him or her as he or she moves towards the
realization of specific life dreams and into a world of greater possibility for
new goals to emerge.
True Person-centered Planning requires asking questions not only
about what the person wants and needs. It pushes teams to think outside of what
services are typical or available through a specific agency or funding
service. When teams are limited by what
is available, they sometimes have to settle for the best available option. That
might explain why our social service systems are stuck with what Jim Gardner,
CQL President and CEO, describes as “legacy systems of service that don’t make
much sense.” Person-centered Planning forces teams out of a comfort zone with
traditional services and supports.
The term Person-centered Planning is used frequently, but not always
accurately. At one time, people had “Individualized Habilitation Plans” or “Individualized
Support Plans”. Now those same documents
are sometimes re-named “person-centered plans”. We need to be careful and ask: Has planning has truly changed or are the
same planning processes just getting a new name?
Authentic person-centered planning is an art. It is a life planning process that is
grounded in what is most important to the person and connects the person with
his or her community and close personal relationships to explore new and
different ways to attain personal goals and dreams. It is about exploring possibilities.
The first step is to understand what is important to the person so supporters
can take action. Planning occurs as
supporters learn what is important, try out new possibilities, evaluate
progress, take new or change action, and celebrate successes.
Dr. Beth Mount in 2000 said that Person-centered Planning “…challenges
us to learn together with people about how to solve problems over time to make
meaningful change happen.”
RESOURCES
http://ecommunity.c-q-l.org/library.htm?mode=view&did=8650&lid=5
This Quality in Practice describes dos and don’ts for Authentic Person-centered
Planning.
http://www.pacer.org/c3/curriculum/Session7/handouts/Person%20Centered%20Planning%20A%20Tool%20for%20Transition.pdf
This newsletter provides valuable information regarding planning
for transition from school to employment. The guidelines can certainly be used
for adults of any age.
http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/edi/pcp/
This website provides a self-study to learn about person centered
planning
www.wvdhhr.org/bhhf/pdfs/waiver/Person%20Centered%20Planning.ppt
This Powerpoint presents
an overview onPerson-centered Planning.