Program Managers, vendors and staff from Valley Mountain Regional Center held the first two Self-Determination Program Orientation Training’s for individuals, families and caregivers chosen for the Self-Determination Program on May 9th and May 28th at the Stockton office. The Self-Determination Program (SDP) will provide those who receive regional center services, and have been randomly selected for the program, an opportunity for more freedom, control, and responsibility in choosing services and supports to help them meet objectives in their Individual Program Plans (IPP). Also helping out with the training’s were Lisa Culley, Executive Director of Family Resource Network, and Dena Hernandez, Manager at the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, North Valley Hills Office.
The Self-Determination Program Orientation Training’s included an overview of the Self-Determination Program. The training’s also go over rules and responsibilities, planning for the person-centered plan and IPP, and paying for services, which includes information on individual budgets, rights and safety for those in the program, and what the next steps are after completing the orientation. Attendees are also updated on what to expect moving forward.
“The goal is to give the participants a full understanding of the 5 Self-Determination principles of freedom, authority, support, reasoning and coordination,” said Elizabeth Diaz, VMRC Program Manager, and one of the trainers.
The Self-Determination Program is starting with a soft roll out for the first 3 years, in which 2500 participants statewide were chosen, at random by the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), to be the initial participants. VMRC was allotted 100 of these slots. After three years, all regional center consumers will be eligible for the program. Essentially, the Self-Determination Program allows regional center consumers to have the freedom to develop a meaningful life plan and the authority to have control over the resources necessary to implement that life plan. The Self-Determination Program provides consumers and parents/caregivers the support, responsibility and confirmation to play a leadership role in this model of service delivery.
“We hope that the participants of the training are all feeling encouraged, optimistic, and excited to start this new and empowering program”, said Diaz.
VMRC will continue with Self-Determination Orientation Training’s on June 7th in the Stockton office, and June 24th in the Modesto office. If you are one of the selected 100 participants and have not registered yet, please contact Angelique Shear, at [email protected], or 209-955-3294.
For more information, please contact Doug Bonnet, Special Assistant to the Executive Director, at 209-955-3656, email [email protected] .
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