Self-Determination
A Person-Centered Approach
Hope Network is committed to helping the individuals we serve achieve their highest level of independence. We, along with the state of Michigan, aremoving away from traditional service approaches for individuals with mental illness and/or a developmental disability and adapting to a new and more meaningful way of thinking. This approach is called self-determination.
Self-determination incorporates a set of concepts and values that emphasize participation and personal control for individuals served through the public health system. These concepts and values stem from the core belief that individuals must have freedom to make their own life decisions with the assistance needed to make that life possible.
Self-determination is based on four principles:
Freedom: The ability for an individual, with assistance from natural supports, to plan a life based on personal choice, rather than selecting an already established program.
Authority: The assurance for a person to control a certain sum of money in order to purchase these supports, with the backing of their natural supports as needed. The authority to control resources.
Support: The arranging of staff and resources to assist the person in developing life goals, and helping the individual toward those goals.
Responsibility: The acceptance of a valued role in the community through employment, affiliations, spiritual development, financial accountability and friendship.
This person-centered approach creates a team of people who know and care about the individual with a disability, and who share a dream for that person's future. Together, the individual and their team can work together to develop a person-centered plan.
What is a person-centered plan?
A person-centered plan (PCP) is the crucial medium for expressing and transmitting personal needs, wishes, goals and aspirations. As the PCP process unfolds, the group identifies the person mix of services and supports that can help the individuals achieve these personally-defined goals.
Person-centered planning requires a new way of thinking; it is changing how people view the futures of individuals with disabilities. This approach bases programming on an individual's strengths and preferences, rather than on the available services. The plan will be like a roap map to guide the individuals through the process. The case manager meets with the individual to establish their map, and then works with therapists, doctors, and other professionals to coordinate the services and programs needed. These may include:
- Housing
- Financial/Medical benefits
- Skill Building
- Employment Opportunities
- Education Opportunities
- Socialization Resources
- Medical Care
- Psychiatric Services
- Natural and Community Supports
Person-centered planning and self-determination underscore a commitment in Michigan to move away from traditional approaches toward a process based on individual choice where the individual has the authority to select, control, and direct their own services.
Feel free to Ask Jenny with any questions you may have about our programs or services.