Self Determination- Independent Facilitator
CCC is currently full
〰️
We are not taking new clients at this time
〰️
Sign up below to join our waitlist
〰️
CCC is currently full 〰️ We are not taking new clients at this time 〰️ Sign up below to join our waitlist 〰️
We are currently full and not taking new clients at this time. Please join our waitlist!
If you are a consumer/family of a consumer at North LA County Regional Center, consider signing up with us for free Self Determination Coaching. Email welcome@claudiacares.com to get started!
We work with the following Regional Centers:
North Los Angeles County Regional Center
Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center
Inland Regional Center
Westside Regional Center
What is Self-Determination?
The Self-Determination Program is a new program available through California Regional Centers that allows individuals to take control of their own futures.
There are many families involved in Regional Centers all around California who have not had their needs met with the services available to their children. Your local Regional Center contracts with local vendors that can provide respite, adaptive skills, independent and supported living services, employment support, adult day services, and more. However, those vendors can often be limited when it comes to the contract they have with the Regional Center, creating setbacks to finding effective services for many individuals with special needs.
The Self-Determination Program puts control back into the hands of each client and their family. Once you enter the program, you will be able to decide how funds should be spent in a way that fits your unique needs.
Is Self-Determination Right for you?
Do you have a child who is a Regional Center client?
Would your family like to have more control over the budget they receive for services from the Regional Center?
Are you interested in hiring your own staff, using funds in a creative way, or do you want to use non-vendored entities?
If you answered yes to any of the questions above, Self-Determination may be a great fit for you and your family.
The Independent Facilitator (IF) assists the participant to move from the traditional program at the Regional Center to The Self-Determination Program (SDP)
Our Process to Support You to Enter the Self-Determination Program
-
Person-Centered Planning
In our initial sessions, we will create a person-centered plan, incorporating goals from the IPP as well as your child’s hopes and dreams for the future. We will also identify any unmet needs or changes in circumstance requiring additional services.
-
Support at Regional Center Meetings
As your Independent Facilitators (IF’s), we are with you every step of the way. We will attend all Regional Center Meetings and advocate for any changes or needs that have come up in the PCP process. We are here to assist with navigating the system to enter SDP.
-
Budget and spending plans
We will assist in completing your Spending Plan for Year 1 of Self-Determination once your budget is received from Regional Center. We will ensure that your Spending Plan is compliant with HCBS ruling.
Our goal is to support you and your family to enter the Self-Determination Program.
What you’ll get
A service discovery meeting to identify any unmet needs or changes in circumstance
Person-Centered Planning meetings to generate hopes, goals, and dreams for the future, and put together how Self-Determination can assist with achieving those goals
Facilitate Person-Centered Planning Party with circle of support
Support at IPP meetings and Budget meetings with the Regional Center
Education and support in choosing a Financial Management Service (FMS)
Collaboration to create a Spending Plan
With you every step of the way until your child enters Self-Determination
Optional extension of services into Year 1 and beyond
What do I need to have Ready
Current consumer of a Regional Center
The consumer must be over 3 years old
1- 2 hours per week to meet with your Independent Facilitator
Desire to participate in The Self-Determination Program
Video Testimonial from one of our SDP Families
Regional centers We Work With:
Each regional center has its own unique personality- different ways of combining and using services, difference processes, and different standards.
We are experienced Independent Facilitators with over 70 clients.
We strongly recommend choosing an Independent Facilitator who has worked with your Regional Center before- it will help keep a confusing process a bit more streamlined!
North Los Angeles County Regional Center
Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center
Inland Regional Center
Westside Regional Center
FAQs
-
In 2018, the state of California allotted $2,500 to Regional Center consumers for the specific purpose of hiring facilitators to create person-centered plans.
The title “Independent Facilitator” is actually a bit confusing regarding pre-transition supports. There have been a series of directives from the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) since 2022 which dictate how supports can be provided to individuals in order to enter SDP. As of January 1, 2024, a Person-Centered Planner can get paid to do a Person Centered Plan by the Regional Center. A Pre-Transition Support person can get paid to help with the rest of the process into Self-Determination.
Long story short, the Regional Center can fund all pre-transition supports to help you enter Self Determination.
Once you enter Self-Determination, funds for an Independent Facilitator come from the budget.
-
Budgets are entirely based on the past 12-month expenditures incurred by the individual, unmet needs, and any change of circumstance (this would be any circumstance that would require additional services or reduction of services). Based on our years of experience, we can help you develop an effective budget and understand eligibility, ultimately maximizing services based on your child’s needs.
-
An “unmet need” refers to any services that are ordinarily provided by the Regional Center, but for some reason or another has not been fulfilled or accessed. There may be a lack of availability for certain support staff or other limitations that prevent the Regional Center from meeting a need. And during COVID, there are more limitations and interruptions of services that would qualify as an “unmet need”.
-
Yes, ask us about our packages for continued services! This cost would come from the individual budget.
-
This depends! There are a number of lengthy steps on the Regional Center side, but things can be sped up if a family is determined to move quickly. On average, it takes between 3-9 months from start to finish to enter SDP.
-
It can be difficult to navigate the Regional Center resources. You may not be fully aware of what is available for your child and, therefore, are forced to adhere to what Regional Center recommends for your child’s case. An independent facilitator specializes in person-centered planning so that you and your family can get the best quality services, understand how to navigate your budget, and enter your child into the Self-Determination Program with confidence. As your Independent Facilitators, it is our job to support you through the process and maximize your success.
-
We are currently taking clients interested in being on our Waitlist.
If you are interested in working with us, click “Join Our Waitlist” on this page to fill out our form!
-
At Claudia Cares Consulting, we believe that every individual with a disability has the right to live a Self-Determined, independent, and fulfilling life.
Claudia and Ariela are both Masters-Level educated in their respective fields, with years of experience working with individuals and families. They combine their training and backgrounds to provide truly holistic, individualized, and expert services to each of their clients.
