Welcome! This resource provides information for individuals interested in topics related to Participant-Directed Services.

Participant-directed services are home and community-based services that help people of all ages across all types of disabilities maintain their independence and determine for themselves what mix of personal assistance supports and services work best for them. Participant-directed services are sometimes referred to as consumer-directed or self-directed services. Historically, several initiatives have advanced participant directed services including the Independence Plus and the Cash & Counseling Programs.

The National Resource Center for Participant-Directed Services (NRCPDS), is a technical assistance center that offers states the tools they need to implement a wide variety of participant-directed long-term care programs. It is the only national center of its kind and is available to assist states and other entities that want to offer, or already offer, participant-directed services to people with disabilities.

The NRCPDS offers an array of services—including program consulting, membership benefits, training, and research. A variety of informational resources and valuable tools can be found online at http://www.participantdirection.org

Contact Information

What's New

Upcoming Conferences
26th National HCBS Conference, Sept. 26-29, 2010, Atlanta, GA
The conference will showcase innovative national, federal, state and local delivery and policy developments vital for assuring Americans of all ages and abilities receive the highest quality community living supports, care, and services possible. An estimated 700 leaders, advocates, and champions for children, older adults, and individuals with disabilities from across the nation are expected to attend the conference.

“Determining Change: Increasing Choice & Control for Older Adults through Person-Directed Planning and Self-Determination in Long-Term Care”, October 13-14, 2010, Lansing, MI
The Michigan Office of Services to the Aging and the Center for Self-Determination (Michigan Association of Community Mental Health Boards) are co-sponsoring this conference, which will offer practical tools for implementing and enhancing person-centered planning and self-determination in the aging and disability communities.

Participant Direction During Difficult Budget Times: A Toolkit for State Policymakers and Advocates
Looking for useful tools to help you advocate for participant-directed services? This toolkit offers a “Budget Myths Chart” highlighting common myths, counter-arguments, and important facts to make your case, and other helpful tools including personal stories, reports on involving program participants, and tips and examples of opinion articles suggested by policymakers and advocates.

Special Issue: Public Policy & Aging Report - Advancing Home and Community-Based Services: Transforming Policies, Programs, and Service Delivery in Long-Term Care
Access this special issue sponsored by the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging, covering recent and notable changes in long-term care policy, with its increasing emphasis on home, community-based, and consumer-directed services.

Starting Financial Management Services in CLP and VD-HCBS: Strategic Considerations
Listen to a recording of a webinar presenting strategies for program administrators to consider as they determine how to provide FMS in their Community Living and Veteran Directed programs. Topics include how to decide on a model of FMS, whether to contract for Financial Management Services, provide them "in-house" at the AAA, or use a hybrid approach. Accompanying tip sheets and documents are included.

Online Participant Direction Handbook
NRCPDS maintains an online resource manual, Developing and Implementing Self-Direction Programs and Policies: A Handbook. The handbook is a guide for aging and disabilities program staff interested in and/or responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining participant direction programs. Examples of chapters include Legal Authority, Involving Participants, Enrollment, Fiscal/Employer Agent Services and Quality Management in Self-Direction Programs. Review the Handbook online or download by chapter.

Frequently Asked Questions

This section is organized by category, with examples featured below.
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General

Cash & Counseling

Resources