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In October 2013 Governor Brown signed into law the Self-Determination Program which will give people enrolled in the program greater choice and flexibility in selecting their individual supports and services. People in the SDP will have a specific individual budget to purchase the supports and services they need to make their person-centered plan work with their individual needs. Although self-determination in California has been in existence for nearly 20 years it began as a pilot project that was always intended to expand statewide. As such, the Department of Developmental Services is very pleased to announce that the application for federal funding, or Waiver, for the SDP was approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Given the CMS approval the state is now able to begin implementing the program statewide.
The Department of Developmental Services has released an updated timeline for implementing the Self-Determination Program. Updates on the status of the program will be posted on the DDS website as they become available. If you want to be notified when updates are made, please email sdp@dds.ca.gov and ask to be included on the notification list.
JUNE 29, 2018:
Updated estimated timeline – The “Participant Selection” section below has been updated to include the date by which the Department must receive the names of the individuals who will be considered for selection of the initial 2,500 participants in the Self-Determination Program.
The Department, in collaboration with the self-determination advisory workgroup and other stakeholders, has been working on the major components necessary to implement the Self-Determination Program (SDP). Outlined below are some of the major components requiring completion prior to the SDP becoming operational. The list below is not exhaustive but includes the key components and steps under active development.
The Department will post updates on the progress of each component.
– Federal Funding Approval –
Status: Completed. The application for federal funding, or Waiver, was approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on June 6, 2018.
– Individual Budgets – Target for completion: August 15, 2018
Task: Finalizing guidance information on how the individual budget amount is calculated, and the process for adjusting the budget when needed.
– Financial Management Services (FMS) – Target for completion: August 31, 2018.
Task: Finalizing FMS vendorization requirements and rates.
Independent Facilitators – Target for completion: August 31, 2018.
Task: Defining the role(s) an independent facilitator may play and how this may be different if a participant chooses to select their service coordinator to fulfill the functions of an independent facilitator.
Participant Selection – Target for completion: October 1, 2018
Task: Selection of the initial SDP participants. It’s important to note that only those individuals who have participated in an informational meeting and whose names have been received by the Department by September 17, 2018 at 5:00 PM will be considered for selection (by the Department) of the initial 2,500 participants in the SDP. Individuals whose names are received after September 17, 2018 will be considered for subsequent selections of SDP participants. Subsequent participant selections will occur if some of the initial 2,500 participants choose not to enroll or they enroll, then decide not to continue in the SDP. Timing for future selections will be established at a later date. Information for those who are interested on how they can be considered for participation in the SDP can be found at https://www.dds.ca.gov/SDP/sdpEnrollment.cfm
– Home and Community-Based “Settings” Requirements – Target for completion: October 31, 2018.
Task: Finalizing training materials on the federal requirements, how they apply to services in the SDP and the assessment process for ensuring all services, or “settings”, meet the requirements. Due to federal regulations effective in March 2014, everywhere someone receives services (e.g. the “setting” where the service is provided,) must promote, and not prevent, community participation and inclusion. The target date projects time needed to provide training to those who will be involved in the assessment process.
– Orientation Materials – Target for completion: October 31, 2018.
Task: Finalize all orientation materials. The orientation materials will form the basis of the information participants need to support them in the SDP. In addition to the components above, the orientation will include information on what services are available in the SDP and tools to help participants choose qualified service providers. Training for those providing these orientations will also be necessary prior to participant orientations.
Teresa Anderson, Policy Director, The Arc & UCP California Collaboration