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.
