Independent Facilitator (IF)

You have the choice to hire an Independent Facilitator to assist you with leading your person-centered planning process, finding services, activities, and staff, managing your staff, and advocating for you. An Independent Facilitator should be experienced in the types of services and supports available to you in your community and be creative when developing a plan to help you meet your goals. The cost of the independent facilitator is paid out of your individual budget.
An independent facilitator must be a person who does not provide other services to you paid for through your IPP or works for an agency that does. You may also choose to use a regional center service coordinator to serve some of these functions.
An independent facilitator is required to receive training, at his or her own expense, in: the principles of self-determination; the person-centered planning process; and, other responsibilities of an independent facilitator. They are not required to have a certification, although some may have it.
You can choose to have no independent facilitators or more than one. You may want to have different facilitators do different tasks for you. You can find people who volunteer to be your facilitator for free. It’s important to know that a parent of a minor child under the age of 18 cannot be paid to be their child’s independent facilitator. A spouse of a participant also cannot be paid to be a facilitator.

Questions to find a suitable independent facilitator (IF)

How much do you know about California's self-determination program?
Can you explain how their self-determination principles and programs differ from the traditional regional center system? For example, SDP participants are responsible for overseeing the staff and agencies they hire. Invoices are made to FMS. The service must include the community. Providers do not need to contract with the regional center.
What experiences have you had as an independent facilitator?
Have you ever been trained to become an Independent Facilitator (IF)?
Have you ever had a people-centred plan?
how much?
What is your style?
How do I prepare?
How well do you know my community?
Do you know of activities in my area that may be of interest to me?
How can you help me find a service that will help me achieve my goals?
How can you help me figure out my budget?
Can you represent me in my IPP?
On my IEP?
How do I get benefits like SSI or IHSS?
Do you also help manage the staff who will help me?
How do you do this?
If I don't like what one of my employees is doing, how would you help?
How will you stay in touch with other members of my support team?
There are certain things that are really important to me, like __________________. Are you willing to tailor the service to meet my specific needs and preferences?
Are you willing to negotiate a price based on my specific requirements?
How much would you like to charge for my services?
When can you start?