Person-Centered Planning

Every person enrolled in services will develop an Individual Plan of Service, sometimes called an IPOS. This is not just paperwork. It is a description of the work we will be doing together. The plan will include your mental health goals and what services the agency will provide to help you achieve your goals. The plan will help us to measure your progress and if the supports and services are leading toward the achievement of your goal. If you want to know more about treatment planning or would like advocacy assistance, contact Customer Service for a referral.

The process used to design your individual plan of mental health supports, service, or treatment is called “Person-Centered Planning (PCP)”. PCP is your right protected by the Michigan Mental Health Code.

The process begins when you determine whom, beside yourself, you would like at the person-centered planning meetings, such as family members or friends, and what staff from Community Mental Health of Ottawa County (CMHOC) you would like to attend. You will also decide when and where the person-centered planning meetings will be held. Finally, you will decide what assistance you might need to help you participate in and understand the meetings.

During person-centered planning, you will be asked what are your hopes and dreams, and will be helped to develop goals or outcomes you want to achieve. The people attending this meeting will help you decide what supports, services, or treatment you need, who you would like to provide this service, how often you need the service, and where it will be provided. You have the right, under Federal and state laws, to a choice of providers.

After you begin receiving services, you will be asked from time to time how you feel about the supports, services, or treatment you are receiving and whether changes need to be made. You have the right to ask at any time for a new person-centered planning meeting if you want to talk about changing your plan of service.

You have the right to “independent facilitation” of the person-centered planning process. This means you may request someone other than CMHOC to staff conduct your planning meetings. You have the right to choose from available independent facilitators at no cost to you.

Children under the age of 18 with developmental disabilities or serious emotional disturbance also have the right to person-centered planning. However, person-centered planning must recognize the importance of the family and the fact that supports and services impact the entire family. The parent(s) or guardian(s) of the children will be involved in pre-planning and person-centered planning using “family-centered practice” in the delivery of supports, services, and treatment to their children.

Self-Determination

Self-determination incorporates a set of concepts and values which underscore a core belief that people who require support from the public mental health system as a result of a disability should be able to define what they need in terms of the life they seek, should have access to meaningful choices, and control over their lives. Michigan's Self-Determination Initiative is aiming for major system change which will assure that services and supports for people are not only person-centered, but person-defined and person-controlled. Self-determination is based on four principles. These are:

FREEDOM - The ability for individuals, with chosen family and/or friends, to plan a life with necessary supports, rather than purchase a program;
AUTHORITY - The ability for a person with a disability to control a certain sum of dollars in order to purchase these supports, with the backing of a social network or circle of friends, if needed;
SUPPORT - The arranging of resources and personnel -- both formal and informal -- so to assist a person with a disability to live a life in the community, rich in community associations and contributions, and;
RESPONSIBILITY - The acceptance of a valued role in a person's community through employment, affiliations, spiritual development, and general caring for others, as well as accountability for spending public dollars in ways that are life-enhancing.

A hallmark of self-determination is giving people the opportunity to control a fixed sum of dollars, using these resources to determine which services and supports they will purchase from whom and under what circumstances.

For more information on using Self-Determination, please contact your supports coordinator/case manager.

Crisis Plan

You also have the right to develop a “crisis plan”. A crisis plan is intended to give direct care if you begin to have problems in managing your life or you become unable to make decisions and care for yourself. The crisis plan would give information and direction to others about what you would like done in the time of crisis. Examples are friends or relatives to be called, preferred medicines, or care of children, pets, or bills.

More information available at the Department of Community Health website.

Individuals have the right to make decisions concerning their medical care, including the right to accept or refuse treatment, and the right to formulate advance directives. It is CMHOC's policy to honor a properly executed durable power of attorney or advance directive. Some restrictions apply to individuals who are minors or who have court appointed guardians. This right is established in the Estates and Protected Individuals Code PA 1998 No. 386 as amended by PA 2004 No. 532, effective January 3, 2005/ MCL 700.5506. The Recipient Rights Office will answer your questions about the policy. Contact your primary staff or Recipient Rights or Customer Service for sample forms.

Community Mental Health