Person-Centered Planning

Community Inclusion

Person-centered thinking

One way DSPD continues to promote opportunities and provide support for people with disabilities to lead self-determined lives is through the Person-Centered Planning (PCP) process. The Person-Centered Planning (PCP) process is an individualized approach to planning services and supports to help a person achieve their goals, get the life they want for themselves, and help them reach their vision of a good life. PCP places the person at the center of the planning process as the expert of their life, interests, and talents.

Why use person-centered planning?

One way DSPD promotes opportunities and provides support for people with disabilities to lead self-determined lives is through Person-Centered Planning (PCP). To be self-determined means people make decisions on what is best for them, and are in charge of their life. Person-Centered Planning (PCP) is an approach to planning services and supports focused on what the person wants. It can help a person achieve their goals. It can lead them to live the life they want for themselves. PCP can help them reach their vision of a good life.

Person-Centered Planning places the person at the center of the planning process as the expert of their life, interests, and talents. One way to find out a person’s interests, goals, and vision, is by using person-centered planning tools. These tools are like worksheets to help a person plan for their future. They can guide a conversation to pick out goals, or be used to communicate dreams and desires to the support team.

Because of their universal design, PCP tools can be used by anyone. DSPD encourages the use of person-centered planning tools for those receiving our services. They are also helpful for people on the waiting list.

Person-centered planning tools

If you are looking for a specific tool, feel free to contact the Employment Planning and Inclusion team by email at communityinclusionteam@utah.gov

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services may occasionally link to outside sources of information. DHHS and the state of Utah do not necessarily endorse the provider of the content and are not responsible for any content published on the external site or incorporated by reference.

DSPD has partnered with Life Course Nexus to develop free person-centered planning tools.

Link to Life Course Nexus Tools Website

This tool is designed to be a guide to have positive conversations about competitive integrated employment. The tool starts with a general discussion about the person’s interests, preferences, community activities, skills, and groups or teams they participate in. As the conversation continues, it will focus more on employment and community-based interests. It can help focus on what supports and surroundings are needed for the person to be successful in the community and at work.

Employment pathway tool (2024) opens in a new tab

This workbook will walk you through all of the information you might need to prepare for your person-centered planning meeting. This information and the things you write in your workbook can help you plan for a great life!

You can complete any, all, or none of the workbook elements. This is your book to prepare for your meeting so use it however you want. If you do any of the workbook sections, you can share them with your support team.

A One Page Profile captures all the important information about a person on a single sheet of paper under three simple headings: what people appreciate about me, what’s important to me, and how best to support me. It helps build better relationships by truly understanding what really matters to the person in their life and the way they are supported to live it.

One-Page Profiles create a record that can move with a person and help in introducing them as they transition from one situation to
another.

This handbook was created as a reference for support coordinators already familiar with person-centered practices. It is also a learning guide for those who are new to person centered thinking and planning. This manual outlines the foundational principles and requirements of the person centered planning (PCP) process.

The content of this manual was created with the assistance of people with disabilities, self advocates, families, support coordinators, service providers, community partners, and subject matter experts through the National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems (NCAPPS). It reflects DSPD’s continued commitment to ensuring that people with disabilities are able to lead the lives they desire through the implementation of person-centered practices throughout our system.