How I get help with planning my life’s activities – The Individual Planning Process (a description)
The Individual Planning process is a way in which a person expresses and chooses the supports they want and need from The Arc of Baltimore. The individual is at the center of this process, guiding and directing it with the help of staff and others. In other words, a person’s planning team listens to the person and asks how it may best help a person reach their goals. The team then makes the plan become reality.
The Individual Planning process begins before a person is supported by The Arc of Baltimore. It begins when their dreams, desires, preferences and needs are first expressed to agency staff. Once a person is supported by the agency, an Individual Planning Meeting is held at least once a year. But even before this meeting, agency staff are learning a lot about a person from them, their families, friends and advocates. By the time the meeting is held, the planning team already has a good idea of the supports the person needs from the agency, which may change over time.
A Program Manager assists a person in planning for the meeting. This includes creating the agenda, inviting participants and choosing the time and location of the meeting. The participants are those that are involved in providing supports and advocacy to the individual. The individual may invite anyone they want to the meeting. Besides agency staff, participants may include family, friends, neighbors, people from their places of worship, etc.
After the meeting, the Individual Plan (IP) for the person is written and distributed to team members. People responsible for making parts of it happen are identified. Periodically, the plan is reviewed to make sure it is being implemented and changes to the plan are made if necessary.
