Southern Arizona Person-Centered Planning Model Program

2011

The Arizona Department of Economic Security/Division of Developmental Disabilities (the Division), the lead agency for this project, proposes the creation of a Southern Arizona Person Centered Planning (PCP) Model Program for youth with developmental disabilities (DD) in transition from school to adult living in Pima, Pinal and Cochise County, Arizona. This model will train youth and their informal support and community networks as well as service professionals in using Essential Lifestyle Planning (ELP) to plan and mobilize services to meet their needs and will build on the strength of multiple community stakeholders in education and employment to develop a curriculum for adult living. In addition, the community stakeholders will be trained using ?Framework for Accomplishments?, a values based and practical curriculum, to develop a culture of community involvement and support. The project will also implement the optional component of planning for youth with co-occurring disorders of DD and mental health needs employing the same framework. The goal of the project is to prepare youth with DD and their families to exercise choice, promote the use of informal and community supports and to make knowledgeable decisions on community living and work. The project will also assess caregiver needs and design interventions to help caregivers. Finally the program will braid multiple service systems around the needs of youth with co-occurring disabilities. Currently, the Division is designated by the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System Administration [the State's Medicaid Agency] to provide supports and services to persons with DD in Arizona. PCP facilitation is a billable service but has not been specifically directed for use by youth in transition from school to adult living. There are currently an estimated 800 youth with DD and 65 youth with DD and behavioral health needs in these southern Arizona counties who could benefit from comprehensive life planning. Utilizing school districts, State-funded behavioral health agencies, the State vocational rehabilitation agency and young adult education and training venues, the project will educate youth and their families. The model will focus on youth ages 16 to 22 that are leaving the public school system. Feedback from participants will be utilized to develop the Community Tools Curriculum on selecting and retaining caregivers, developing budgets, and community life. The stakeholder trainings using Framework for Accomplishment will enable us to have a wider understanding of community supports for individuals at the beginning of their adult lives. A caregiver needs assessment tool will be selected and customized in year two resulting from the lessons gained from these previous trainings to assist caregivers in providing support to the youth with DD. The total budget for the three year project is $500,000. The Division will administer the project and subcontract with the Sonoran University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (Sonoran UCEDD) at the University of Arizona to provide project management and evaluation. Other partner agencies: two regional behavioral health authorities (CPSA and Cenpatico); three school districts (Tucson, Sierra Vista and Casa Grande); Arizona Department of Economic Security/Rehabilitation Services Administration and community and provider groups (CPES, Pilot Parents and DIRECT) will review the project, assist in recruitment, attendance and organization of trainings, and will be part of the PCP process. Measurable outcomes and products of this project will include: a) development of community tools curriculum and resources on PCP, ELP, caregiver assessment, consumer preference tools and community living. b) 48 youth with DD ages 16 to 22 will participate in PCP where their preferences are elicited and informal supports are utilized; c) 12 youth with DD ages 16 to 22 with co-existing mental health needs will participate in PCP where their preferences are elicited and informal supports are utilized; and d) development of model curriculum for training in PCP for youth and the PCP process itself into a statewide model for replication and sustainability. Ultimately, the project will help to improve services for individuals with DD in Arizona by offering a mechanism for youth to exercise meaningful choice about their living arrangements, work life, social networks and services.

Performing Technical Assistance and/or Training, Performing Research or Evaluation, Developing & Disseminating Information

Quality Assurance, Education & Early Intervention, Employment-Related Activities, Recreation-Related Activities, Quality of Life, Other - Assistive Technology, Other - Cultural Diversity, Other - Leadership

Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN, General Public

Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Specific Groups

Mulit-County

Federal

N/A