What Happens at a Team Meeting

All members of the planning team are equally respected and are given a chance to speak and be heard during the meeting.

Person-centered planning meetings work best when:

• They are held in a place where everyone feels comfortable.
• Everyone knows the meeting may take a long time.
• Someone, usually the service coordinator, acts as the team facilitator.
• When possible, given his or her age and ability, the individual is afforded an opportunity to provide input about desired outcomes.
• The needs of the individual and the preferences of the individual and family are discussed and presented along with other information needed to make choices about desired outcomes.

The steps below are typically followed as the planning team develops the IPP:

• Discuss the individual’s needs.
• Define and come to agreement on the desired outcomes and how progress will be measured.
• Identify and discuss the kinds of supports needed to reach desired outcomes.
• Reach a consensus about desired outcomes and how they will be achieved.
• Develop the plan document that includes:
  • Desired outcomes.
  • Kinds of services and supports the individual needs.
  • Who will provide each service and support, how much will be provided, when it will begin and who will pay for it.
  • How the services and supports will help the individual reach the desired outcome.

Once finalized and signed by the individual or their legal representative and Lanterman’s representative, the IPP document becomes a legally binding document. For this reason, it is very important that the document accurately reflects the agreements that are made by the people at the planning meeting and others involved in the planning process. The Lanterman Act states in Section 4646 (g): “If the [individual] or, where appropriate, his or her parents, legal guardian or conservator, does not agree with all components of the plan, they may indicate that disagreement on the plan. Disagreement with specific plan components shall not prohibit the implementation of services and supports agreed to.”

There will be times when agreement about the goals, services and supports included in the IPP cannot be reached at a planning meeting. In most instances, issues that cause the delay can be resolved in a timely way by a subsequent telephone call since they are most often due to a need for additional information. According to the Lanterman Act, “If a final agreement regarding the services and supports to be provided to the [individual] cannot be reached at a program plan meeting, then a subsequent program plan meeting shall be convened within 15 days, or later at the request of the [individual] or, when appropriate, the parents, legal guardian, conservator or authorized representative, or when agreed to by the planning team.” [Section 4646 (f )] Additional program planning meetings beyond the second meeting may also be held.