There are a few key differences between the traditional Regional Center service provision and the upcoming Self Determination Program, the most prominent of which is who selects the services you need to meet the objectives of your IPP (in short, the vendors) and who pays for them. While both strive to help you meet your IPP goals and objectives, the Self Determination Program puts you in the driver’s seat of finding, managing, and overseeing the services and supports you need.
As we all await the funding of the new Self Determination Program, here’s a look at exactly how the implementation of the Self Determination Program will be different from the traditional Regional Center services (see comparison chart below for quick reference).
Similarities and differences between traditional Regional Center service provision and Self Determination Program
What’s the age of eligibility?
Traditional Regional Center: All ages
Self Determination Program: Over age of 3
What’s the living arrangement eligibility?
Traditional Regional Center: All settings
Self Determination Program: Must live in community. Can use Self Determination Program in licensed long-term health facility if you are expected to move to the community within 90 days
How is the planning process?
Traditional Regional Center: Individual Program Plan (IPP) – Meeting where goals are established and services and supports are decided
Self Determination Program: Person Centered Plan (PCP) – A group of people focus on an individual and that person’s vision of what they would like to do in the future. The IPP team shall use the Person Centered Planning process to develop the IPP
What’s the frequency of the planning process?
Traditional Regional Center: IPP at least every three years, annually at most regional centers, or within 30 days of a request
Self Determination Program: PCP at least annually but as often as needed
Who decides what services I get?
Traditional Regional Center: Regional Center, but you can reject services
Self Determination Program: You, to meet the objectives in the IPP
Who pays the bills?
Traditional Regional Center: Regional Center
Self Determination Program: Financial Management Service
Do services have to be provided by vendors of the regional center?
Traditional Regional Center: Yes, except in very limited circumstances
Self Determination Program: No
Who finds the service providers?
Traditional Regional Center: Regional Center
Self Determination Program: You, Independent Facilitator, Financial Management Services, Friends, and Family
Does regional center monitor the quality of a service provider?
Traditional Regional Center: Yes
Self Determination Program: No
Are services that are available through generic agencies like school or Medi-Cal paid by regional center or thru my budget?
Traditional Regional Center: No
Self Determination Program: No
Can I change service providers?
Traditional Regional Center: Yes, if regional center agrees
Self Determination Program: Yes
Do I have appeal rights?
Traditional Regional Center: Yes
Self Determination Program: Yes
We will continue to update this site with the latest about the Self Determination Program as well as in-depth explanations of its components. Please subscribe to our email updates to stay apprised of the latest news.
If you have questions about this or any other content on this site, please contact us.
January 22, 2015
