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California Self-Determination ProgramIndependent Facilitator for the Self-Determination Program
Support from your very first SDP step through every year after: the Person-Centered Plan, the budget, the spending plan, providers, and the paperwork in between.
A steady partner through SDP
The Self-Determination Program gives your family more choice and flexibility. It also comes with more planning, forms, and coordination.
As your Independent Facilitator, Vanessa helps you build a plan around your loved one’s strengths and goals, then works with your regional center and Financial Management Service so the plan gets approved and running. We track budgets, deadlines, and approvals carefully, and treat your service coordinator and SDP coordinator as partners. You always know what is happening and what comes next.
How we support your family
SDP transition
Moving from traditional regional center services into SDP, from orientation through the person-centered plan, budget approval, and your start date.
Person-Centered Planning (PCP)
We interview your family and write a complete PCP report describing the person’s strengths, hopes, needs, and goals.
Annual SDP budget renewal
We prepare for the renewal meeting, request any needed changes, and keep the individual budget current.
Spending plan
We build and revise the spending plan, and track spending during the year so there are no surprises.
Vendor selection
We find and check providers, such as social skills, community integration, respite, supervision, tutoring, and recreation, and make sure they fit SDP rules.
FMS coordination
We work with your Financial Management Service, such as ACE, Action, Ritz, FMS Pay, and others, on onboarding, vendor setup, and invoices.
Regional center coordination
We work with SDP coordinators and service coordinators on approvals, rate updates, and requests.
Mandarin support
Plans, budgets, and meetings explained in Mandarin so the whole family can take part.
Where we help, step by step
Select a step to see what happens and how we help.
Learn and decide
Every family attends a Self-Determination Program orientation, then decides with their service coordinator whether SDP is the right fit.
How we help
- Explain how SDP compares with traditional regional center services
- Help you weigh flexibility against the extra planning
- Prepare your questions for the service coordinator
Person-Centered Plan
The Person-Centered Plan (PCP) describes who your loved one is and what a good life looks like for them. It shapes every service that follows.
How we help
- Interview your family in English or Mandarin
- Write a complete, organized PCP report
- Turn your priorities into concrete goals
Individual budget
The regional center sets an individual budget, usually based on past spending. If needs have changed, you can ask for an adjustment.
How we help
- Review how the budget was calculated
- Document changed needs and request adjustments (possible, not guaranteed)
- Keep the budget current through the year
Spending plan
The spending plan lists the services you will buy with your budget, from social skills and respite to community integration and tutoring.
How we help
- Build the spending plan with the right service codes
- Include Independent Facilitation (service code 340)
- Revise the plan when needs change
FMS and providers
A Financial Management Service (FMS) pays your providers from the approved budget. Each provider needs to be set up before services start.
How we help
- Coordinate onboarding with ACE, Action, Ritz, FMS Pay, and others
- Find and check providers that fit SDP rules
- Assist with invoices and paperwork for the FMS
Start and renew
Once everything is approved, services start. Each year the plan and budget are reviewed and renewed.
How we help
- Track spending so there are no surprises
- Prepare for each annual renewal meeting
- Fix and resubmit plans the regional center sends back
Paid from your SDP budget.
Independent Facilitator services are billed under service code 340 and paid from the participant’s SDP budget, usually a small share of the overall budget.
- We invoice your FMS directly
- Families usually pay nothing out of pocket once the service is in the spending plan
- We help you include Independent Facilitation from the start
Budget changes are possible but never guaranteed. We’ll be clear with you about what to expect.
Terms you may see in your plan
Regional centers and schools use specific language. We use the same terms, and explain them in plain words.
- Independent Facilitator
- Self-Determination Program
- Person-Centered Planning
- Individual budget
- Spending plan
- Financial Management Service (FMS)
- Service code 340
- Community integration
- Respite
Ready to talk about your family’s next step?
Tell us where you are, and we’ll follow up to walk through your options. Many services can be paid for with SDP funds.