A Guide for Developing Strategic Objectives to Expand Self-Direction
Self-direction gives people with disabilities and older adults the ability to manage the long-term services and supports that they need to live lives of their choosing. While self-direction is an option in virtually every state, it is still a relatively small component of most public systems. In order to grow the number of people who can take advantage of self-direction, this guide provides specific steps to make the option more available and accessible. It offers a road map to strategic targets that are linked to the key drivers of a robust self-direction option within public programs. It lays out a series of decision points beginning with the selection of overarching goal(s) to pursue, aspects of the goal to tackle, and action steps. The road map includes: a strategy diagram that identifies strategies that will support the overarching global aim of enhancing the availability and quality of self-direction; descriptions and action steps for each strategy; and resources and examples of best practice. Development was through the National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems (NCAPPS).
This strategic planning resource guides state agencies in developing action plans to improve processes for modifications of additional conditions in home and community-based services (HCBS). The resource presents four customizable strategies: establishing infrastructure for identifying and documenting modifications; educating parties on requirements and rights; reviewing and refining policies; and developing quality monitoring tools. Each strategy includes detailed action steps, example outputs, and measurement approaches that teams can adapt to their specific needs. Users follow a structured process from assessing current challenges through creating detailed action plans with timelines, responsible parties, and measurable outcomes. This resource is to ensure modifications to individual rights are properly justified, documented, implemented with safeguards, monitored, and phased out when able. Development was through the National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems (NCAPPS).
Human Services Provider Agency Toolkit for Self- Determination
Self-Determination is the right of all people to participate in and approve of the design of their personal support systems, to fully engage in their communities, and to make choices in their daily lives. Human services providers can infuse self-determination in every aspect of service delivery by helping people exert greater control over their environments and make choices about their everyday lives. This guide contains strategies and resources to assist HCBS providers in championing self-determination among the people they serve. Development was through the National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems (NCAPPS).
How to Expand Supported Decision-Making and Increase Informed Choices
This resource provides practical strategies for expanding supported decision-making (SDM) as an alternative to guardianship for people with disabilities and older adults. The document explains how SDM allows individuals to retain their decision-making rights while receiving support from trusted advisors of their choosing, contrasting this approach with traditional guardianship where decision-making rights are transferred to another person. It outlines comprehensive approaches for promoting SDM adoption including education and training for varied stakeholders such as people with disabilities, families, service providers, legal professionals, and government officials. The resource emphasizes developing accessible publications, videos, and educational materials in multiple formats and venues. This guide is ideal for disability advocates, legal professionals, service providers, policymakers, and anyone working to promote alternatives to guardianship that preserve individual autonomy while providing necessary support for informed decision-making. Development was through the National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems (NCAPPS).
Person-Centered Planning: Choosing the Approach that Works for the Person
This resource guides case managers, service coordinators, and state agency staff in tailoring person-centered planning processes to match each individual's unique circumstances, preferences, and support needs. The document explains that person-centered planning exists on a continuum from brief, focused plans for people with minimal support needs to extensive significant life event planning for major transitions such as moving to employment, retirement, or independent living. It emphasizes that the extensiveness and format of planning should be "right-sized" to the person's situation rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach, while still meeting HCBS Final Rule requirements. The resource provides guidance on determining the appropriate level of planning based on the immediacy of needs, changes in circumstances, and the person's preferred approach, and includes promising practices for supporting people to lead their own plans, and ensuring that aspirations are linked to achievable supports. This guide is ideal for anyone facilitating person-centered planning who wants to ensure the process is truly responsive to individual needs without overwhelming or underserving the person. Development was through the National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems (NCAPPS).
Promising Practices for Person-Centered Plans
This resource outlines promising practices for documenting person-centered plans and provides quality indicators for monitoring truly person-centered planning processes. Designed for plan facilitators, case managers, quality assurance teams, and state agency administrators, the guide describes what a quality person-centered plan should include and how to structure plans that genuinely reflect the person's voice, choices, and vision for a good life. It covers essential elements such as formatting plans to center the person, defining team roles, incorporating person-centered tools, and meeting HCBS Final Rule requirements. The resource emphasizes that plans are living documents that should be flexible, responsive to evolving needs, and implemented with responsible follow-up. It includes practical considerations for electronic and paper formats, communication strategies for diverse communication styles, and quality indicators for evaluating whether plans truly reflect person-centered principles. This guide is ideal for anyone involved in creating, reviewing, or improving person-centered planning processes within long-term services and supports systems. Development was through the National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems (NCAPPS).
Person-Centered Practices Self-Assessment | How Person-Centered Are We? Understanding the Person-Centered Practices Self-Assessment (Plain Language)
This Self-Assessment is a practical tool designed to help leaders of public administrative entities measure their progress in making human services systems more person-centered. Intended for state, territory, or tribal agencies that administer federal programs for long-term services and supports, including home and community-based services, this resource guides agencies through eight key areas critical to expanding person-centered practices. The tool uses a scale in each section, allowing teams to identify where they stand from basic recognition of person-centered practices to excellent implementation across all functional areas. Results can be used to develop targeted systems change plans, identify areas of excellence, pinpoint opportunities for improvement, and track progress over time as agencies work toward embedding person-centered practices throughout their operations. Development was through the National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems (NCAPPS).
Five Competency Domains for Person-Centered Planning | Five Skill Areas for Person-Centered Planning (Plain Language)
This resource identifies five essential skill areas that collectively constitute quality person-centered planning facilitation in home and community-based services. It builds upon the National Quality Forum's 2020 Person-Centered Planning and Practice Final Report and has been refined based on feedback from people with lived experience, experts, and human service agency staff. The resource describes each competency domain in detail and provides guidance on how agencies can use the domains to enhance training curricula, develop job descriptions and performance evaluations, create quality assurance tools, and support workforce development. This guide is ideal for human service agency leaders, trainers, person-centered planning facilitators, quality assurance teams, and anyone involved in implementing or overseeing person-centered planning processes who wants to ensure consistency with person-centered values and principles. Development was through the National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems (NCAPPS).
Engaging People Who Receive Services: A Best Practice Guide
This guide provides evidence-based strategies for human service systems to meaningfully include people who receive services in public policy decisions and systems change efforts. Drawing from national research and decades of field experience, the resource outlines five core strategies for successful engagement: authentic membership, full participation, effective communication supports and mentors, meaningful contributions, and true influence. It addresses both the barriers and benefits of engagement and provides practical guidance on creating accessible communication, bringing diverse voices to the table, supporting participants, and transforming policies to reflect person-centered values. The guide is designed for human service agency leadership, system planners, quality improvement teams, and anyone involved in policy-making or systems change who wants to ensure that people who receive services have a genuine influence in shaping the services and supports that affect their lives. Development was through the National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems (NCAPPS).
Toolkit for Stakeholder Asset Mapping | Stakeholder Engagement and Asset Mapping FAQs | Stakeholder Asset Mapping-Workgroup Meeting Guidelines
This comprehensive set of three interconnected resources guides human service agencies through a structured process for identifying and leveraging existing stakeholder engagement activities. The Asset Mapping Toolkit provides a complete 10-step process for creating a Stakeholder Asset Map that visually documents how your agency and partner organizations currently engage people who receive services, self-advocates, family members, and community partners. The process helps agencies build upon existing engagement infrastructure rather than duplicating efforts, saving time and resources while strengthening community trust. These resources are designed for state and tribal agency staff, project managers, quality improvement teams, and facilitators leading stakeholder engagement efforts who want to systematically identify and capitalize on existing relationships, communication channels, and trusted community leaders before launching new engagement activities. Development was through the National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems (NCAPPS).