December 27, 2024

DVU Brief:

Coming soon.

 

Directive

December 27, 2024

G-2024-Self-Determination Program-002

TO: REGIONAL CENTER EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

SUBJECT: FISCAL YEAR 2024-25 FUNDING FOR THE SELF-DETERMINATION PROGRAM

In accordance with Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) Section 4685.8(f), funds were
allocated to regional centers for the Self-Determination Program (SDP) for Fiscal Year
2024-25, through the A-1 contract amendment allocation on September 6, 2024. The
purpose of this letter is to provide guidance on the use of these funds, including required collaboration with local volunteer advisory committees (LVACs) in determining local priorities for the funding. That allocation does not include funding for the Statewide Self-Determination Advisory Committee.

WIC Section 4685.8(f) specifies these funds shall be used to maximize the ability of SDP participants to direct their own lives and enable the Department and regional centers to successfully implement the program. The statute further requires the use of the funds to meet the need of participants, increase service access and equity, and reduce disparities, and to implement the program, including costs associated with the following:

• Recruitment and training of person-centered planning and Self-Directed (SD) Supports providers and independent facilitators with a focus on increasing the number of bilingual, bicultural providers;
• Joint training for participants, families, regional centers, LVAC members and others with a focus on training self-advocates and families from diverse communities that are under-represented in the SDP;
• Assistance with spending plan development;
• Collaborative groups/workshops to foster ongoing, shared learning and problem-solving opportunities; and,
• Employer readiness training/workshops to provide education for participants who are interested in using the co-employer and sole employer models.

The LVACs play an important role in the implementation and oversight of the SDP. Therefore, regional centers and LVACs must work collaboratively to prioritize the use of available funds to meet the needs of participants in their local area. Funds may be expended only after agreement is reached on local needs. See Attachment A for more information on potential uses of the funds, the amount of funding available in each regional center area for Fiscal Year 2024-25, and suggested steps to determine the use of the funds.

If participants and/or their families have questions regarding this letter, they should contact their regional center. Questions from regional centers should be directed to the Department’s Self-Determination Program Branch at sdp@dds.ca.gov.

 

Sincerely,

Original Signed by:

MICHI A. GATES, Ph.D.

Chief Deputy Director, Program Services

 

Attachment

cc: Regional Center Administrators

Regional Center Directors of Consumer Services

Regional Center Community Services Directors

Association of Regional Center Agencies

State Council on Developmental Disabilities

Pete Cervinka, Department of Developmental Services

Carla Castañeda, Department of Developmental Services

Ernie Cruz, Department of Developmental Services

Jim Knight, Department of Developmental Services

Kathleen Dempsey, Department of Developmental Services

 

Link to Directive 

Self-Determination Program: Fiscal Year 2024-25 Funding for the Self-Determination Program (English)

 

Enclosure A:

English