What is the self-determination program (SDP)?
The Self-Determination Program is an alternative service delivery model where individuals receive a budget and develop a spending plan based on prior expenditures and any new needs that may be determined. In this model, participants have the freedom to access community based providers who are not contracted with SARC, as well as individualize pay rates for their services.
What are “traditional services”?
Traditional services are regional center (RC) funded services that individuals are eligible to access immediately once they are established with the RC. These services are identified in your Individual Program Plan (IPP) and provided by vendors who are contracted with the RC to support the individuals we serve.
Who is eligible to participate in SDP?
All individuals served by the regional center who do not reside in a Medi-Cal funded residential placement (intermediate care facility, skilled nursing facility, developmental center, etc.) are eligible to participate in the SDP.
How do I start the process of enrolling into SDP?
The first step of the enrollment process is to attend an SDP Orientation. The schedule can be found on the State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) website link.
What is an Independent Facilitator (IF) and how do they help me?
An IF is an optional service provider who may be hired if preferred by the participant to assist them during their budget year with completing any SDP related tasks. They are paid via the spending plan.
What is an SDP budget and how is it developed?
The SDP budget identifies the amount of money you will be authorized to spend on your SDP services for a full year. Regional Center will conduct a thorough review of currently authorized services for the participant and take into consideration any new/unmet needs or changes in circumstance. The budget amount is calculated using traditional service rates and determined by service needs identified in the participant’s Individual Program Plan (IPP).
What is an SDP Spending Plan?
The spending plan is a document the participant develops to indicate how they will spend their budget authorized funds. The spending plan identifies the services and items the participant requires to implement their IPP. The amount of the spending plan cannot exceed the budget amount.
What is a Financial Management Service (FMS) agency?
The FMS agency is a service provider that is vendored with the regional center to support you by ensuring that you services are paid for, your providers are qualified, and applicable labor laws are followed. The use of an FMS agency is required for all SDP participants.
Who chooses which FMS agency I will work with?
The SDP participant and their circle of support choose the FMS agency they would like to work with.
Can the Regional Center recommend to me what FMS agency I should choose?
Regional Center is unable to offer recommendations regarding FMS agencies, but you can identify one from the DDS Website.
I was not able to access any traditionally funded services during my time at the Regional Center. Will I still be eligible for SDP?
Yes. Your SDP budget amount will be determined based on any current, unmet or new needs identified in your IPP regardless of the services you accessed traditionally.
Am I able to exit SDP if it if not a good fit for me?
Yes, you can choose to discontinue with SDP at any time and you will automatically be eligible to return to accessing traditionally funded services. If you would like to re-enroll in the SDP after leaving, you must wait at least 12 calendar months from the date of your disenrollment to be eligible for the program again.
Is there a way for me to hire my own providers without entering SDP?
Yes, you may access participant directed services (PDS) under the traditional service system to hire your own qualified providers for eligible services such as: 1. Day care 2. Respite 3. Transportation 4. Personal assistance (PA)
When is my case considered to be in the “transition” phase?
The transition phase of the SDP enrollment process is initiated after you attend an SDP orientation, receive your certificate, and notify your service coordinator (case manager) that you are interested in proceeding with the program.
Am I required to develop a person centered plan (PCP) before I can transition into SDP?
NO, the development of a person-centered plan is an optional service and not required to enroll in SDP.
Can the Regional Center pay for the development of a person-centered plan (PCP)?
Yes, the regional center will pay up to $1000 for the development of a person centered plan developed by a qualified person-centered planner.
Who can support me with transitioning into SDP?
You can receive up to 40 hours of support funded by SARC from a qualified transition support provider, as well as receive support from your Regional Center Case manager to navigate the transfer process.
Will by case be reassigned to a new case manager during my transition into the SDP?
Yes, your case will be reassigned to an SDP specialist once the case is transferred to the SDP unit. Please contact your assigned case manager for details regarding the case transfer process.
How soon after my case is transferred to the SDP unit will my SDP specialist contact me?
Your SDP specialist will contact you within 48 business hours of the case being assigned to them.
How long will it take for my case to be reassigned to an SDP specialist?
Your service coordinator will review your file to ensure all necessary documentation and authorizations are in place and then submit the transfer request to the SDP unit. Transfer timeline can vary.
I just conducted an IPP meeting with my traditional service coordinator, will I be required to do another one?
If your IPP is still current (completed within the last 6 months) then your SDP specialist can amend the current IPP to include any SDP related services and support needs.
Who is required to attend my SDP budget development meeting?
The SDP participant, their parent/guardian or conservator (if applicable), and their SDP specialist should be in attendance. Participants may also invite any additional people they would like to attend.
When will my SDP budget be developed?
The SDP participant, their parent/guardian or conservator (if applicable), and their SDP specialist should be in attendance. Participants may also invite any additional people they would like to attend.
What if I disagree with my proposed budget?
You may schedule a follow-up meeting with your SDP specialist to discuss any needs that were not addressed in the proposed budget.
When do I develop my spending plan?
After your budget has been certified (approved) by the regional center, you may begin developing your SDP spending plan.
Will the Regional Center help me identify SDP providers to hire on my spending plan?
Your Regional Center SDP specialist can support you by providing their knowledge of available resources in the community as well as current traditional service providers vendored with the Regional Center.
Can I hire agencies as well as individual staff on my spending plan?
Yes, you can choose to identify a combination of both agency provided services as well as services provided by individually hired staff to put on your spending plan.
How will my providers that I have identified on my spending plan be paid?
Your providers will complete an onboarding process with your chosen financial management service (FMS) agency who will ensure your providers are paid.
How do I find a financial management service (FMS) agency?
You can identify an FMS agency from the DDS website.
How will my FMS agency be paid for the services they provide to me?
The Regional Center will cover the cost of all FMS related fees outside of your SDP budget and spending plan
When will I have a start date for my SDP services established?
Once you have a fully approved spending plan and all providers have been onboarded your FMS agency will inform you of the earliest possible start date.
Am I required to share a copy of my SDP spending plan with my FMS agency?
Your SDP specialist will ensure that your FMS agency receives a copy of your approved spending plan no later than the 10th of the month prior to your established start date.
Can I postpone my start date if there are unforeseen delays?
Yes, notify your SDP specialist and FMS agency who can support you with establishing a new start date
Who should I contact if I have any questions during the transition phase of my SDP enrollment?
Contact your assigned SDP specialist with any questions you may have. You may also utilize your transition support provider as a resource for general SDP related questions.
Can I receive assistive technology training as part of my SDP budget? I was told by our regional center that this can't be included in the traditional system so won't be added to the budget for SDP.
The answer to this is that “It depends” - and what it depends on is the person centered need of the individual and if it is an IPP goal that needs to be met in order to add to the quality of life for the individual. However, as always, SDP is based on the Lanterman Act where the Regional Center is always the payor of last resort. If MediCAL or Insurance does not cover the purchase, or any other generic resource is unable to fund the purchase of assistive technology, this can be funded as a one time purchase only by the Regional Center. Speak to your Regional Center Case managers/ Directors for more information.
What is the difference between PA, respite provider, and in home daycare under SDP? What can one service do that the others can’t
PA stands for Personal Assistance and they’re responsible for supporting the individuals through their day-to-day living activities or ADL (Activities of Daily Living). This could include supporting with cooking, helping them with maintaining their hygiene (brushing teeth, changing diapers, or with wiping etc). Respite, as the very name suggests is a means of providing interim reprieve to the regular caregivers of the individual. The goal of respite is to be able to provide the level of support and care that the individual needs to be comfortable in the absence of their regular caregivers and provide the regular caregivers relief from their caregiving duties for short periods of time. Typically, Regular or natural caregivers aren’t supposed to be around the individual, while respite services are being provided.