Person-Centered Plan
What Is a Person-Centered Plan?
The Person-Centered Plan (PCP) is a detailed picture of a person’s life: what they want, what they need, what helps them succeed, and what goals matter most to them. It shows a person’s culture, language, routines, sensory needs, supports, and long-term goals — written in their voice, even if someone helps them write it.
The PCP can be a formal written document or an informal one with pictures or drawings — whatever format works best for them. As long as it clearly shows the person’s goals, responsibilities, and timelines, it can take the form that fits them best.
Why the PCP Matters
The PCP is the roadmap that helps them reach their personal vision. While the plan itself is optional, it is highly recommended because it directly informs your Individual Program Plan (IPP) and your Spending Plan in the steps that follow. A strong PCP makes the rest of the SDP process faster and more accurate.
What the PCP Should Include
- Strengths, interests, and talents
- Communication needs and supports
- Daily routines — morning, school or work, evening, and weekends
- Cultural preferences and family traditions
- Safety needs and supervision levels
- Medical, behavioral, and sensory needs
- Community activities they enjoy
- Long-term goals, for the next 1 to 5 years
- Short-term steps, for the next 3 to 12 months
- Skills they want to learn or improve
- Barriers they face, and the supports you need to overcome them
- A Hispanic teen may include cultural activities like folklórico dance.
- A South Asian woman may prefer female support staff for cultural comfort.
- A sensory-sensitive adult may need predictable routines and low-noise environments.
- A Cantonese-speaking senior may want their PCP to include community classes taught in their language.
The Participant Planning Process
You (or your child) and your support circle — family, friends, caregivers, and trusted professionals — meet to discuss your goals and dreams. Your history, strengths, goals, dreams, and challenges are captured in your PCP by a trained Independent Facilitator, by you, or by a member of your support team.
Who Does What in the PCP Process
This table describes the roles of supporting team members during the PCP Process.
| Role | What They Do |
|---|---|
| You ( or the client ) | Share your goals, needs, strengths, challenges, and routines. Tell your team what matters most to you. |
| Family / Supporters | Help explain routines and safety needs. Provide cultural, language, or family context. Support communication if you want their help. |
| Independent Facilitator (IF) or self-directed support | Helps write or update the PCP, makes sure your voice comes first, clarifies needs and routines, organizes planning meetings, and gathers information from providers or family. |
| Regional Center Social Worker / Service Coordinator | Reviews the PCP for health, safety, and clarity. Confirms your needs connect to allowable SDP services. Uses the PCP to help determine your Individual Budget. |
Submitting Your PCP
Once your PCP is complete, everyone involved — you, your planning team, and your Independent Facilitator — should sign off on the agreed plan. The PCP is then submitted to your Regional Center Service Coordinator or Case Manager as part of your SDP enrollment.
Your PCP directly informs your Individual Program Plan (IPP) and Spending Plan in the next steps of enrollment.
Use the DDS Template
PCP Preparation Checklist
- Current strengths and challenges
- Daily routines
- Communication needs
- Cultural or religious needs
- Safety concerns
- Goals for the next year