Recently, a new option has been added to the list of Self-Determination Program goods and services: Coordinated Career Pathways, or CCP. Let’s explore this new opportunity and how it fits in with the rest of SDP’s Participant-Directed Goods and Services.
Quick Review of Goods and Services in SDP
The Self-Determination Program (SDP) gives participants the ability to control the development of their service plans and choose service providers. Through the person-centered planning process introduced by SDP, participants can advocate for themselves and their needs. The goal is to give adults with disabilities agency over the kind of support and services they receive.
Once a participant has made choices about what they want and need, an individual program plan (IPP) is written. These IPP goals will be used to identify specific services that are necessary to help participants achieve the future they have envisioned for themselves.
In the Self-Determination Program, goods and services represent all of the supports available to participants. Assistive technology, for example, could be considered a good, while occupational therapy could be considered a service.
Goods and Services Funded by SDP Budget
Many of the goods and services available within SDP are allowed to be covered by a participant’s individual budget. Once the budget amount is established, the participant and IPP team can work together to create a spending plan that outlines which goods or services will be purchased.
Examples of goods and services that can be purchased with your SDP budget include:
- Housing access supports
- Disability-related vehicle modifications
- Educational classes
- Peer mentoring
- Art and recreational programming
- Accessibility adaptations like grab bars, ramps, etc.
Sometimes participants need goods and services beyond what is covered by their individual budgets and SDP’s service definitions. When this is true, they may be able to access these supports by billing them as “Participant-Directed Goods and Services.”
This group includes any goods, equipment, or services not otherwise offered through SDP or through Medi-Cal that address a need identified in a person’s individual program plan.
Goods and Services Outside of SDP Budget
There are also goods and services that can not be funded by an SDP participant’s individual budget or included in their spending plan. But that doesn’t mean that they can’t be accessed at all; it just means that the funding they require comes from a different place.
For example, the regional center can help participants cover the cost of insurance co-payments, deductibles, or co-insurance, but this cost will be paid outside of their spending plan.
2024 Update: Coordinated Career Pathways (CCP)
As of July 2024, a new option has been added to the list of goods and services available to SDP participants outside of their spending plans: Coordinated Career Pathways.
This new opportunity is an employment service option that was created in compliance with Welfare and Institutions Code section 4870.2, which requires the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) to establish an employment pilot program.
CCP was designed for individuals who are exiting or have recently exited work activity programs (or who are within two years of exiting secondary education). It aims to help participants explore inclusive work options, including paid internships, self-employment, and more.
It also introduces two new services – a Career Pathway Navigator (CPN) and a Customized Employment Specialist (CES).
CPN services involve creating a Person-Centered Career Plan (PPCP), providing guidance on resources, and offering assistance in navigating services that help make careers accessible. Meanwhile, CES services help individuals find job placements that meet their specific abilities and the business needs of employers.
Starting in June, the CCP program became available to all SDP participants.
What does this mean for Self-Determination Program participants?
SDP participants who have included career-related goals within their individual program plans may want to take advantage of CCP and its services. The introduction of this new opportunity may also inspire participants to re-evaluate or tweak their IPPs so that they can access these supports in the future.
NeuroNav’s independent facilitation services are here to help you navigate SDP goods and services, including CCP, without a hassle.
We know that understanding all of the rules and restrictions within the program can be tough. We’re here to be your advocates, allies, and educators, helping you and your family discover services that can change lives.
Ready to get started? Reach out to us today for a free consultation.
