Resource: Guide for person-centered planning facilitation

Page updated: 8/23/22

This page provides best-practice guidance and resources for disability waiver case managers to support people to understand and access person-centered planning facilitation.

What is person-centered planning facilitation?

Person-centered planning facilitation is a formal process of working with a skilled facilitator to explore, discover and identify a person's vision and direction for their life. The methods used to facilitate person-centered planning can vary based on the person and their life circumstances and the outcome or results the person is trying to achieve.

As part of all person-centered planning facilitation, the person-centered planning facilitator:

· Meets with the person and others the person knows and trusts to get to know the person and their circle of support.

· Listens to the person, gathers context and understands how the person wants to live their life.

· Identifies action steps, ways to monitor implementation and how the person wants to celebrate success.

The person’s case manager will integrate new learnings and actions into the person’s support plan. The case manager should evaluate the person’s need for specialist services if staff or caregivers need support to implement and monitor the person’s revised support plan. For more information, refer to CBSM – Specialist services.

People who engage in person-centered planning may create documents in their meetings, such as a plan, visual tools or resources for them and their team. These documents are a starting point and require shared action, review and revision as the team works together to implement the person’s plan.

When should a case manager authorize person-centered planning facilitation?

Person-centered planning facilitation is a service available to people who receive disability waiver services. Case managers can authorize it when the person has a need or requests it. Examples of when case managers should consider person centered planning facilitation include:

· The person’s voice is not being heard.

· The person or team feels “stuck.”

· The person does not know what they want or is unaware of the possibilities.

· The team is having trouble determining what is important to or for the person.

· Prior plans or goals have not had meaningful outcomes for the person.

· The person has experienced repeated service terminations.

· The person is or will be experiencing a major change (e.g., school transitions, moving).

· The person and/or their team are unable to identify or agree about future steps and next direction.

How does a person and their team find a person-centered planning facilitator?

It is important that the person is a part of determining who will be their person-centered planning facilitator. When looking for a facilitator, DHS recommends using the following resources to support the decision:

· Person-Centered Planning Facilitator Selection Process (PDF): An overview of what to consider and questions to ask when choosing a person-centered planning facilitator

· Planning facilitators section of DHS – Person-centered practices: A list of facilitators, their contact information and the geographic regions (PDF) they serve.

How does a case manager authorize person-centered planning facilitation?

Case managers can authorize the family training and counseling waiver service to provide person-centered planning facilitation for the person and their caregivers. This service can be provided remotely. For more information about the service, refer to CBSM – Family training and counseling.

When authorizing person-centered planning facilitation, case managers should:

· Confirm the facilitator meets the family training or family counseling provider qualifications on CBSM – Family training and counseling – Provider standards and qualifications.

· Use the family training HCPCS code S5110 or S5110 U4 (remote) when the provider meets family training requirements.

· Use the family counseling HCPCS code H0004 or H0004 U4 (remote) when the provider meets the family counseling requirements.

Family training and counseling is a market rate service. The amount of time and costs may vary.

If the case manager authorizes the same facilitator through specialist services to train staff and caregivers on how to implement and monitor the person centered plan, the facilitator also must be licensed under Minn. Stat. Ch. 245D (refer to CBSM – Specialist services).

Additional resources

DHS – Person-centered practices: Information about Minnesota’s person-centered practices effort, general information about person-centered planning and additional resources for person-centered planning.

DHS – Frequently asked questions about person-centered planning facilitation: The most frequently asked questions about person-centered planning facilitation.

DHS – Person-Centered, Informed Choice and Transition Protocol: Information about the Person-Centered, Informed Choice and Transition Protocol, which helps lead agencies use and implement person centered practices.

Positive Supports Minnesota: Information for anyone interested in learning more about positive support practices in Minnesota, including person-centered practices and planning.