Community Health Partnership, Inc., (CHP) offers its members the opportunity to arrange, direct, and purchase supports and services for themselves through an option called Self-Directed Supports. The Self-Directed Supports option may be one way for members to achieve the lifestyle and long-term support outcomes they value for themselves. This option is available for members enrolled in either the Partnership or Community Family Care programs.

The Self-Directed Supports option means:

Making your own decisions about how you want to live your life and receiving the supports to achieve those outcomes.

• Having control over resources, services, and support staff - including finances.
• Taking responsibility for personal decisions and actions.
• Staying within the established individual budget.
• Working with your Interdisciplinary Team to achieve health and safety outcomes.

Guiding Principles

Dignity and Respect - All people have the right to be treated with dignity and to be respected as individuals.

Choice and Control - People have the freedom to choose how, where, and with whom they will live.

Responsibility for Finances and Actions - People with choice and control have a responsibility to use and arrange natural and formal supports safely and effectively.

Choice Has Limits - Public funds will not be used to support choices that are illegal or harmful to the member or others.

Features of Self-Directed Supports

• As a member, you may choose to self-direct all or some of the services aimed at achieving the outcomes in your plan.
• An individual budget will be established by your Interdisciplinary Team. It will be based on an amount necessary to achieve the outcomes identified in the assessment and planning process. You and your Team will receive monthly reports on your budget and services.
• You and your family, friends, or other community supports use your individualized budget to arrange and direct the services in your self-directed plan.

What Steps Are Involved?

Creating a Member-Centered Plan
In coordination with your Team, you will identify the outcomes desired and the development of a plan. All plans are person-centered, look to the future, and address health and safety.

Developing an Individual Budget
The outcomes and service plan will guide the Team to establish an Individual Budget for the supports you have chosen to include in your Self-Directed Supports Plan.

Arranging for Supports and Services

You will work with your Team in setting up various supports, but ultimately YOU will decide the details of how, when, and who provides supports and services. You may need ongoing help from family, friends, neighbors, and your Team.

Hiring/Paying Providers

You may employ your provider through a co-employer, fiscal agent, or paid family caregiver. The degree of member responsibility will vary under each option.

If you are interested in the Self-Directed Supports Option

• Talk with your Interdisciplinary Care Team about Self-Directed Supports as an option for you. Your care team will assist you and provide the information you and/or your guardian may need to implement a plan of Self-Directed Supports.
• Think about who you will want to employ, the outcomes you want to achieve, and the costs that may be involved. Your care team will assist you with the process of identifying resources, costs, and outcomes.
• Plan to include the help available to you from family, friends, and neighbors as part of your Plan. This is an important part of having an arrangement that allows you to have a life full of people who support and care about you.