How Services are Determined

Every person found eligible for ACRC services is assigned a Service Coordinator. This is the person at ACRC who will help identify needed services and coordinate getting them in place, through either pre-existing resources in the community or as services purchased for the consumer by ACRC. While the regional center is frequently a participant in funding services a consumer receives, other community agencies may be asked to provide financial assistance in assuming program costs.

The Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Act states that every consumer has a set of goals and objectives detailing what he or she needs ACRC to help with. This document is called the Individual Program Plan (IPP). Because children need help talking about and planning for the future, the input of family members is essential to the process; therefore, for consumers who are children this document is instead called the Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP).

The process of determining services, that ACRC will help put in place, is made through the planning team. At a minimum, the planning team consists of the consumer (or the consumer’s legal representative) and the ACRC Service Coordinator. At the discretion of the consumer, additional persons may be included.

The planning team develops a written IPP or IFSP, which establishes the long-range goals for the consumer. It also outlines the services and funding supports required to meet those goals. Any service for a consumer that ACRC funds must be identified in the IPP/IFSP. The regional center service coordinator works directly with the consumer and family members in implementing goals outlined in the IPP/IFSP.