California Self-Determination Program (SDP) Explained

The California Self-Determination Program (SDP) is a voluntary program available to individuals with developmental disabilities who receive services through a Regional Center. It was signed into law in 2013 and has since grown to be available to all eligible Regional Center consumers across the state.

The idea behind SDP is straightforward: you know your life better than anyone else. SDP is built around that belief.

Rather than having services selected and arranged for you through the traditional Regional Center model, SDP gives you an individualized budget and the freedom to decide how that money is used to meet the goals in your Individual Program Plan (IPP). You choose your service providers, negotiate how and when services are delivered, and take an active role in shaping your own care.

SDP is entirely voluntary. You can choose to participate, and you can choose to leave the program at any time. Enrolling in SDP does not reduce the amount of funding available for your services. Your individual budget is based on what your services would cost through the traditional Regional Center model, so you are not giving anything up by participating.

SDP is open on a voluntary basis to Regional Center consumers with a developmental disability as defined under California’s Welfare and Institutions Code. Here is a breakdown of who may be eligible:

If you currently receive services through a Regional Center and have a qualifying developmental disability, you may be eligible to participate. Enrollment is always voluntary.

 Some children under the age of three may be eligible, as long as they qualify to receive Regional Center services under the applicable section of the Welfare and Institutions Code. Children who receive Early Start services solely because they are at risk of a developmental disability, and have not yet met that qualification standard, are not eligible.

People who currently live in a licensed long-term health care facility, such as a Skilled Nursing Facility or Intermediate Care Facility, are generally not eligible. However, if someone in one of those settings is expected to move back into the community within 90 days, their Regional Center can begin making arrangements for them to enter SDP ahead of that transition.

Regardless of which category applies to you, all participants must agree to the following as part of enrolling in SDP:

• Attending a required SDP orientation
• Working with a Financial Management Services (FMS) provider
• Managing services within an individual budget
• Only purchasing services that are eligible for federal financial participation and not available through a generic agency such as Medi-Cal or IHSS

If you are unsure whether you or your loved one qualifies, your Regional Center service coordinator is the right first point of contact.

Your individual budget is the amount of money you have available each year to purchase the services and supports identified in your IPP.

Your IPP planning team determines your budget based on the cost of services you used in the most recent 12 months. If you are new to the Regional Center and don’t have that history yet, your team will work with you to figure out what you need and set an appropriate amount.

Your budget is not locked in forever. If your circumstances, needs, or resources change at any point, you can request a meeting with your IPP team to revisit and adjust the amount.

One thing worth knowing: your budget cannot exceed what your services would have cost through the traditional Regional Center model. SDP is designed to give you more freedom and flexibility, not more money. The difference is in how you get to use it.

Once your individual budget is set, you put together a spending plan. If the individual budget is the total amount you have available, the spending plan is how you decide to use it. It lays out the specific services and supports you plan to purchase, how often they will be provided, and what each one will cost. The total cannot exceed your individual budget.

After you develop your spending plan, your Regional Center reviews it to make sure everything checks out. They confirm that the services you’ve chosen are eligible for federal financial participation, are not duplicating anything already available through a generic program, and line up with the goals in your IPP.

You don’t have to do this on your own. Any of the following people can help you through the process:

• Your Regional Center service coordinator
• Your FMS provider
• An Independent Facilitator (if you choose to work with one)

• Services already available through Medi-Cal, IHSS, or a school district
• Anything that is not directly tied to your IPP goals

An Independent Facilitator (IF) is an optional but often helpful support in SDP. An independent facilitator is someone who helps you identify and coordinate the services you choose to purchase. They are trained in the principles of self-determination and the person-centered planning process. Working with an IF is not required, and if you choose not to use one, your Regional Center service coordinator can take on many of those same functions.

If you do choose to work with an Independent Facilitator, you can find one through the SDP Network, a resource that connects participants with independent facilitators and other service providers in California.

When you participate in SDP, you take on the role of employer or co-employer for the people you hire to provide your services. That comes with real responsibilities like processing payroll, withholding taxes, and managing employment paperwork. A Financial Management Services (FMS) provider handles those responsibilities on your behalf so you don’t have to navigate them alone.

Working with an FMS provider is not optional in SDP. Every participant is required to use one. That said, your FMS provider does not control your budget or make decisions about your services. Think of them as the administrative backbone of your program. Here is what they do for you:

• Pay your providers and employees directly on your behalf
• Assist with the hiring process
• Verify provider qualifications
• Coordinate background checks when required
• Help you stay compliant with employment laws and tax requirements
• Provide you and your Regional Center with a monthly expenditure report so you always know where your budget stands

There are three models of FMS: Bill Payer, Sole Employer, and Co-Employer. Each model involves a different division of responsibilities between you and your FMS provider. The California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) provides a comparison chart on their website to help you understand the differences.

Because it is important to choose an FMS provider you feel comfortable working with, you may want to speak with your service coordinator or Independent Facilitator before making a decision.

The cost of your FMS provider is covered by the Regional Center and does not come out of your individual budget.

Enrolling in SDP involves several steps, but you will have support throughout the process.

Let your Regional Center service coordinator know that you are interested in the Self-Determination Program. They will help you understand your options and walk you through what comes next.

Every person who wants to enroll in SDP must first attend an official orientation. This is a requirement, not optional. Orientations are offered through the State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) as well as through individual Regional Centers. The orientation is designed to give you a thorough understanding of what the program involves, including the increased responsibilities that come with it, so you can make an informed decision about whether SDP is the right fit for you.

After orientation, you will work through a person-centered planning process. This is about identifying your goals, your strengths, your preferred supports, and your vision for your future. A person-centered plan is optional, but it is often a valuable part of preparing for SDP and can help shape your individual budget and spending plan. Your Regional Center can help connect you with resources to support this process, and funding is available to help cover the cost.

Working with your IPP team, your individual budget will be established. You will then develop a spending plan that outlines how you intend to use those funds to meet your IPP goals. Support is available from your service coordinator, an Independent Facilitator, or your FMS provider to help you through this step.

You will need to select an FMS provider before your services can begin. A list of approved FMS providers is available through the DDS website, and your Regional Center can also help you identify options. Take time to ask questions and find a provider that is a good fit for your needs.

Once your spending plan is approved and your FMS provider is in place, you are ready to begin directing your own services and supports under SDP.

Once you are enrolled, your FMS provider will send you and your Regional Center a monthly expenditure report. This report shows how much of your budget has been used, how much was spent in the previous 30 days, and how much remains. Staying on top of these reports is important because your spending plan must stay within your individual budget throughout the year.

If your circumstances change at any point, you have the right to request a meeting with your IPP team to discuss adjustments to your budget or spending plan. SDP participants retain all of the same rights as other Regional Center consumers, including the right to appeal decisions and request fair hearings.

Ready To Learn More?

The Self-Determination Program is a meaningful opportunity for individuals with developmental disabilities to take real ownership of their care. It does come with increased responsibility, but it also comes with more freedom, more choice, and more control than the traditional service model.

Your first step is reaching out to your Regional Center service coordinator to express your interest. From there, the orientation process will give you everything you need to decide whether SDP is right for you.

If you are in California and ready to explore SDP with an FMS provider, Public Partnerships (PPL) is vendored with all 21 California Regional Centers and supports participants through every stage of the self-determination journey. Our team is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT.

Phone: 844-902-6665 Email: pplcalifornia@pplfirst.com

Also on the PPL blog: California Participant Directed Services: What To Know Before You Enroll  

SDP stands for the Self-Determination Program, a voluntary program in California that gives individuals with developmental disabilities who receive Regional Center services more control over how their care is organized, who provides it, and how their individualized budget is spent. It is available to all eligible Regional Center consumers across the state.

The Self-Determination Program (SDP) works by giving eligible participants an individualized budget, determined by their IPP planning team, which they use to purchase the services and supports that meet their personal goals. Participants work with a required Financial Management Services (FMS) provider to handle payroll, taxes, and employment paperwork, while making their own decisions about who provides their care and how their budget is used.