Person-centered Planning for People in Waiver Programs

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What Is Person-Centered Planning?

Person-centered planning helps you figure out and describe what you need from your waiver service provider. The goal is to improve your quality of life by making sure you live, work and participate in the setting of your choice.

By the way, your provider must hold the planning process at a time and place that is convenient for you. Your plan will be reviewed once a year and you can request an update at other times.

How Do I Know If I Can Get Person-Centered Planning?

If you get services from one of these Health and Human Services programs, you will have a person-centered plan:

  • Community First Choice
  • Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS)
  • Deaf Blind with Multiple Disabilities (DBMD)
  • Home and Community Based Services Adult Mental Health
  • Home and Community Based Services delivered through STAR Health
  • Home and Community-based Services (HCS)
  • Medically Dependent Children Program (MDCP)
  • STAR Kids
  • Texas Home Living (TxHmL)
  • Youth Empowerment Services (YES)

Who Decides What Is In My Plan?

You, with the help of your team, decide what’s in your plan. You can have family members or friends come to your planning meeting, if you want. The team you pick will talk about your dreams, likes, what you do well and what you need help with. These are put into action steps and services you need to reach your choices. These steps and services are put into your plan to support your outcomes.

When Will I Get To Create My Plan?

If you get services from HCS or TxHmL, then you already are familiar with a person-centered plan. If you get services from other programs, you will begin to take part in this process in the next few years.

What Goes In My Plan?

Your plan will be written so that you and your family can understand it. We call this writing in plain English. Your cultural preferences will be considered as well. You, and anyone who helps with the planning process, will get to sign the plan when it is done and you will get a copy.

Your plan is good up to 1 year, unless there is a need to update it sooner, or if you change your mind.

Your plan will include:

  • The outcomes you and your planning team decide on.
  • Your choice about having a job in the community.
  • Your choice regarding services and providers.
  • How to fix things if you do not agree to during your meeting.
  • Where you want to live and who you want to live with.
  • How you can change your plan.

Where Can I Learn More?

Advocacy Organizations

State and Federal Laws

Contact Texas Health and Human Services

PersonCenteredPlanning@hhsc.state.tx.us