1: Being an Independent Facilitator
- Page ID
- 64465
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Being a professional independent facilitator (IF) can be an incredibly rewarding profession. Supporting people to live self determined and self directed lives is an incredible opportunity. However, it can also be frustrating and confusing when you do not understand the reasons behind challenging conversations and situations with regional centers and financial management services.
This text is a response to those challenges. Whether you are serving one family member, a non-profit organization, a few paid clients, or more, understanding the details of the Self Determination Program (SDP) can help you be an even better IF than you already are.
All professions need on-going training, and this career is no different. As SDP evolves, the Department of Developmental Services issues directives. These directives attempt to clarify or improve the way the program works. Even after this text is published, SDP will continue to evolve. Keep this in mind as you grow as an independent facilitator. All directives can be found on the Department of Developmental Services website for your convenience.
Serving a regional center client as an independent facilitator comes with a lot of responsibility, as well. Being good stewards of taxpayer funds helps create a sustainable Self Determination Program (SDP), as the law intended.
There are three ways an independent facilitator can earn money by serving participants in California’s SDP:
- Person-Centered Planning services;
- Pre-Enrollment Transition Supports; and
- On-going independent facilitator services.
Throughout this text, each of these three areas will be explored and explained.
If you have suggestions for additional clarity, improvements, or requests for additional training, please send those requests to Kelly Kulzer-Reyes at Taft College kkulzer@taftcollege.edu
Depending on only one Facebook group, one non-profit, or one source for information can be problematic in any situation. Consider listening to leaders throughout the SDP world and using your excellent critical thinking skills to ask yourself questions like these:
- What is the background of the individual leading the training?
- Am I believing the advice because I want the information to be true?
- What does this trainer gain from the information they are sharing?
- What is the reputation of the organization (regional center, DDS, non-profit, family resource center) I am choosing to listen to?
- How could the information I am hearing impact the sustainability of the program?
- What can I do to help make this program even better for those served?
- How can I verify the information that I learned?
This is just a beginning to the questions we all must ask ourselves when someone is training us. What questions are missing from this list?