Community Mental Health Handbook
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 personcentered planning meetings, such as family members or friends, and what staff from Lakeshore Behavioral Health Alliance (LBHA) 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 that you may request that someone other than the LBHA 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.
