Project Description:
The Institute on Person Centered Practices is a collaborative partnership between the Center on Disability Studies at The University of Texas at Austin and the Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University. The Institute provides training and technical assistance on person centered practices for a broad range of audiences and organizations including: people with disabilities, family members, providers of HCBS services, managed care organizations, educators, adult protective services and the Texas workforce commission.
Federal regulations require the development of a person centered plan for people receiving Home and Community Based Services (HCBS). These services must be provided to all people regardless if they are provided through a State Medicaid Plan or through Waiver Services. This requirement has greatly escalated the need for training on person-centered practices for managed care organizations, regional and private providers of HCBS services throughout Texas as well as other States. Requests for training on person centered thinking and planning greatly increased to meet the demands generated by the federal rule requirements. In addition, people who receive services and their families need training on person-centered practices to ensure they are equal partners in the planning process. It is important to note that other organizations that provide services and supports for people that are not under the Federal Rule requirement also request training on person-centered practices from the Institute.
Overall Goals:
The purpose of the Institute is to provide training on person-centered practices, including plan development for people receiving services, family members, and the organizations that provide those services. The Institute's fundamental founding principle is to support people to get better lives as they define them.
Now in its fifteenth year, the Institute works intentionally to revise and develop a curriculum to ensure person-centered practices are relevant and apply to numerous groups of people receiving services in their communities. These groups include people with Intellectual Disabilities (ID), older people, people with mental illness, people who are abused or neglected, children, and students receiving special education services.
The Institute has developed new partnerships to ensure revisions to the training curriculum apply to that specific population of people receiving those services. To ensure sustainability, Institute Mentors work to certify trainers within the partner organizations.
Unusual Features:
The Institute has a long-standing relationship with the Learning Community on Person Centered Practices. The curriculum and materials on person-centered thinking and planning originate with the Learning Community's work. Some of the curriculum materials are reflected in recommendations from Federal and State agencies as standard best practices.
The Institute has 2 Mentor Trainers certified by the Learning Community that support initiatives to promote person-centered practices within their scope of work. Mentor Trainers have opportunities to embed certified trainers within numerous organizations to impact long-term sustainability.
Expected Benefits:
The Institute strategically works to develop materials that influence the lives of a broad range of people receiving services and supports to live in their communities. Further, the Institute is intentionally planning with new partners to embed person-centered practices within the fabric of these organizations to ensure the people receiving services get the lives they desire.
The Institute also serves as the lead organization to plan an annual Gathering of certified trainers and other interested people from other states to learn about national trends, partnerships, and creative training methods to present person-centered skills.
Funding for 2025-2026 $11,070
--------- ACTIVTIES ----------
IPCP - Person-Centered Thinking Training and presentations
*** SURVEYS ***
Texas Gathering
55 people attended
41 Professionals
10 Individuals with Disabilities
4 Family members
Satisfaction - surveys received
17 Strongly agreed
5 Agreed
1 Disagree
"What did you find helpful about this event?" Comments
The sessions, activities, and opportunity to share with others.
Meeting like minded people that truly see people as equals.
The prestigious role of people with lived experience. Practical applications of person-centered practices.
Learning about the work of self advocates with the state legislature.
The available networking!
presentations
211 Surveys Received
107 Professionals
7 Family Members
Satisfaction
20 Strongly agreed
8 Agreed
0 Disagreed
0 Strongly Disagreed
**Comments**
Conference Presentations: What did you find most helpful about the training
"Let Go of My Hand, I Can Do it Myself"
Three- 3 hour trainings of Person Centered Planning and the Dignity of Risk
people surveyed
Professionals
Family Members
Individuals with a Disability
Satisfaction
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
**Comments "What was most helpful?"**
Area of Emphasis
Quality Assurance, Education & Early Intervention, Employment-Related Activities, Quality of Life
Target Audience:
Students/Trainees (long or intermediate trainees), Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Adults with Disabilities, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN, General Public
