Introduction

A number of good strategies exist for facilitating person-centered planning (PCP). Some well- known strategies include Personal Futures Planning (PFP), Essential Lifestyle Planning (ELP), Group Action Planning (GAP), and McGill Action Planning System (MAPS). The links below will help you to find some additional resources related to each of these.

PCP training opportunities
http://www.reachoflouisville.com/

A comparison of methods of Person-Centered Planning
http://www.moddrc.org/fast_fact.php?disID=351

Click here for resources related to Personal Futures Planning (PFP)
http://www.isdd.indiana.edu/cedir/pfplanbib.html

Click here for resources related to Essential Lifestyle Planning (ELP)
http://www.allenshea.com/brochure.pdf
http://www.elpnet.net/

Click here for resources related to Group Action Planning (GAP)
http://www.beachcenter.org/books/FullPublications/PDF/PCPFII_Group
Action Planning as a strategy.pdf

Click here for resources related to McGill Action Planning System (MAPS)
http://www.vcu.edu/rrtcweb/techlink/courses/course3/session4/frame.html

Click here to view video clips on wraparound
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Resources

Relevant Reading Resources and Person-Centered Practices
http://www.reachoflouisville.com/

Parent Advocacy Center for Education Rights: Center of Expertise
http://www.pacer.org/tatra/personal.htm

Suggested References

Mount, B., & Zwernik, K. (1988). It's never too early it's never too late: A booklet about personal futures planning. St. Paul: Minnesota Governor's Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities.

Smull, M., Sanderson, H., & Burke Harrison, S. (1996). Reviewing Essential Lifestyle Plans: Criteria for best plans. Annapolis, MD: Support Development Associates.

Turnbull, A. P., Blue-Banning, M.J., Anderson, E.L., Turnbull, H.R., Seaton, K.A., & Dinas, P.A. (1996). Enhancing self-determination through group action planning: A holistic emphasis. In D. Sands & M. Wehmeyer (Eds.), Self-determination across the life span: Independence and choice for people with disabilities (pp. 237-256). Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes.

Vandercook, T., & York, J. (2002). The McGill action planning system (MAPS): A strategy for building the vision. Retrieved August 1, 2002, from http://labweb.education.wisc.edu

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How to Improve Team Relationships While Facilitating a Person-Centered Plan

Critical Features of Effective Teams

Does your team have good team meeting behaviors? Assess whether you would agree to the following:

Effective Team Checklist

• The team I participate in has a vision statement
• The team I participate in sets ground rules for team meetings
• The team I participate in designates team roles
• The team I participate in creates agendas and uses meeting minutes
• The team I participate in uses data based decision making on a regular basis
• The team I participate in are able to engage in dialogue and problem solving without arguing or becoming upset

Vision Statement. A vision statement is used to create an agreed upon goal held by all team members that describes an deal outcome for an individual. Creating a vision statement together can encourage a collaborative atmosphere. A vision statement may be that a person will have the opportunity to contribute to his community and earn the love and respect of his family, friends, and neighbors.

Ground Rules For Team Meetings. Group expectations that are identified before a meeting starts that is intended to create a positive atmosphere. Examples include:

• Prompt and reliable attendance by all team members
• Staying throughout the entire team meeting
• Allowing everyone the chance to speak
• Team members should be allowed to finish their train of thought before someone else speaks
• An agreed upon signal to be used to focus the group's attention by the facilitator when the group digresses

The Responsibility for Running a Meeting Should be a Group Responsibility:

Facilitator: guides the team by following a meeting agenda, encourages everyone on the team to speak, and clarifies what is said by paraphrasing and summarizing what has been said. The facilitator redirects the team when off task behaviors occur.

Time Keeper: assists in establishing the length of time for each topic and alerts the facilitator when it is time to address the next agenda item.

Record Keeper: reviews the actions that are identified to make sure everyone understands what they are responsible for completing and sends meeting minutes to team members promptly at the end of the meeting.

Agendas and Meeting Minutes. Person-centered planning is a process that often takes multiple meetings between a consumer, the consumer's circle of support, a number of professionals, and others. PCP facilitators often find it helpful to come to meetings with both agendas for the meetings, and prepared to take minutes of the meetings.

Agendas outline the topic areas to be discussed at the upcoming meeting. Agendas can include information about the amount of time that will be spent discussing each issue that the team must address.

Meeting minutes for a PCP meeting should include the information related to the person's vision for their future, and statements regarding the actions to be taken on behalf of the consumer to help them achieve their vision, the people responsible for completing the actions, and dates for their expected completion. It is important to distribute these meeting minutes as quickly as possible after the meeting has been completed. This confirms that each person understands what they are expected to do before the next meeting.

Data-based Decision Making. Person-centered plans often require advocates and professionals to make judgments about a consumer's preferences. Sometimes consumers can voice their preferences or make them known in non-verbal ways that are easy to discern. On other occasions, preferences are tougher to pinpoint. This can be especially important to know when working with persons who exhibit severely challenging behavior. Direct observation and other data can be used to establish and confirm current preferences. These data should be reviewed at each meeting to make sure they remain relevant to the consumer's life. Meeting minutes should document which team member will be bringing data to the next meeting and include meeting days when data will be reviewed.

References

Cathcart, R. S., Samovar, L. A., & Henman, L. D. (1996). Small group communication: Theory and practice (7th ed.). Madison, WI: Brown & Benchmark Publishers.

Fisher, R., & Ury, W. (1981). Getting to yes: Negotiating agreement without giving in (2nd ed.). NY: Penguin Books.

Johnson, D. W., & Johnson, F. P. (1991). Joining together: Group theory and group skills (4th ed.). Boston: Allyn Bacon.

Rindone, N. K. (1996, May). Effective Teaming for Success. Presented at the workshop for Kansas State Department of Education, Division of Student Support Services, Boots Adams Alumni Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas.

Snell, M. E., & Janey, R. (2000). Teachers' guides to inclusive practices: Collaborative teaming (pp.62-73). Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes.

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Evaluating Person-Centered Planning in Kansas

The Kansas Institute for Positive Behavior Support is interested in monitoring the quality of the PCP plans that are developed as a part of the ongoing services provided in Kansas. To accomplish this, the KIPBS project has developed three tools to help maintaining and assessing the quality of person-centered planning in Kansas.

• The KIPBS PBS Checklist and PCP Satisfaction Survey were developed as ways of allowing professionals in the field of developmental disabilities to continuously monitor the existence of the Kansas quality indicators in their PCP written plans. It also serves as a cover sheet for professionals who anticipate the external scrutiny of a quality assurance visit.
  (Click here for a copy of the KIPBS PBS Checklist)
  (Click here for a copy of the PCP Satisfaction survey)
  
• The KIPBS PCP Scoring and Feedback Form was devised as a way for the KIPBS project staff and evaluation partners to evaluate the extent to which PCP plans met the Kansas PCP criteria. The KIPBS PCP Checklist/Locator Sheet: Scoring Criteria is a set of criteria for scoring the Checklist.
  (Click here for a copy of the KIPBS PCP Scoring and Feedback Form)
  (Click here for a copy of the KIPBS PCP Checklist/Locator Sheet: Scoring Criteria)

PCP Policy-Related Resources

State of Kansas: Article 63 (Regulation that contains description of Person-Centered Planning quality guidelines for Kansas)
http://www.srskansas.org/hcp/css/pdf/Art63.pdf

Michigan Department of Community Health. Person-Centered Planning Practice Guideline
http://www.michigan.gov/mdch/1%2C1607%2C7-132-2941_4868_4900-14810--
%2C00.html

South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs. Person-Centered Services: A Guide for Consumes and Families
http://www.state.sc.us/ddsn/pubs/pcs/pcs.htm

Strategies for Person-Centered Planning
http://www.kipbsmodules.org/show.asp?to=m4fba.htm

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Wraparound Tools

Key Features of Wraparounds and PCP
http://www.kipbsmodules.org/Word-PDF-PPT/KIPBS_key_features_PCP_and_wraparound.pdf

Illinois Wrap Indicators form
http://www.kipbsmodules.org/Word-PDF-PPT/IL_wrapplanindicators.pdf

Illinois Home School Community Tool
http://www.kipbsmodules.org/Word-PDF-PPT/FY07_HST.pdf

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