Projects
Below is a list of the RTC's active projects in the area of person-centered planning. For more information, see the contact person(s) for each project.

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This study will examine how methods to increase community participation are integrated into a service provider’s on-going operations and what factors affect successful outcomes, including greater duration in relationships and community membership. A matched sample study will be conducted with people with ID/DD who receive support from three state-wide Minnesota provider agencies. Staff from these agencies will be interviewed to determine agency factors affecting successful outcomes of community participation and socially valued roles for individuals with ID/DD. Two agencies will receive training and support in implementing the factors identified as significant predictors, with the third agency serving as control.

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This activity will study access people with ID/DD and their families have to consumer directed community supports (CDCS). It will use a participatory action research model with people using CDCS to learn about their needs and challenges; how staffing needs are addressed and how this compares to staffing patterns in traditional services. Methods will also include: 1) a national survey of state DD Directors, 2) a survey of a sample County Directors of disability services in Minnesota, 3) review of extant data sets in Minnesota, 4) a series of 6-8 individual case studies to gather information about the experiences of CDCS participants; 5) a series of 3-6 focus groups to explore CDCS support and staffing issues that emerged in the case studies; and 6) surveys/interviews with 100-150 sample members to gather information from consumers or family members who direct the supports.

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While methods to increase the community participation and social roles of persons with ID/DD have been identified, understanding these outcomes from the perspective of community members who are also part of the intervention is lacking. This study will document outcomes for community members of increased social integration of people with ID/DD, their perspectives and satisfaction about which social inclusion methods are more effective with which types of organizations and activities, and what practices increase duration of membership and social roles. To accomplish this, two different categories of community groups will be examined: community service/civic organizations and faith-based communities. Surveys will be mailed to representatives of civic groups in 4 states and to representatives of three national faith-based initiatives, with additional in-depth phone interviews to identify levels of participation and associated factors. Qualitative case studies of three exemplary civic organizations and three faith-based programs will be conducted as a further follow-up to these studies.

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The report to be completed for this project is an evaluation of the newly implemented model for case management services for persons with developmental disabilities. This report will address the following issues, and include a comparison of the newly implemented model with previous practices and best or alternative practice from literature reviews: 1. How does the new case management model support and encourage client choice and control? 2. How does the new model address county responsibilities? 3. Does the county have any exposures or vulnerabilities under the new model? 4. How does the new model address responsiveness to clients? 5. Will the new model allow the county to meet the needs of growing numbers of clients with fixed case management resources? 6. Will the new model be effective in assuring client health and safety considerations? The report will be based in part on information gathered through focus groups with all case managers and supervisors, a survey of all case managers and supervisors, and interviews with a selected number of consumers.

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The University of Minnesota, in collaboration with Courage Inc., The Metropolitan Center for Independent Living, and AXIS Health-Care are collaborating on a three-year project designed to demonstrate both the direct and indirect effects of the AXIS approach to health-care on the lives of adults with physical disabilities. During the first year of the project, approximately 200 adults with a variety of physical disabilities will be enrolled in the AHC Program. Over the course of the three-year study, both their health outcomes and satisfaction with the program will monitored on a regular basis. The health outcomes and satisfaction of a comparison group of individuals receiving care through traditional plans will also be monitored during this time. In addition to a variety of traditional health-care outcomes that will be assessed, project staff will evaluate the impact of the AXIS program on the health-care self-determination, social/community inclusion, employment, stress, and the overall quality of life of participants. During the second and third years of the project, a study will be undertaken to determine the extent to which the use of person-centered planning has a direct and/or indirect impact on the health and rehabilitation outcomes, health-care satisfaction and both social and psychological outcomes of participants. During this study, Care-Coordinators (at Courage-Center) and Health Coordinators (at AXIS Health-Care) will be trained to serve as person-centered planning facilitators for the individuals whom they support. A person-centered approach to health-care planning will then be implemented with program enrollees during Year 2 and 3 of the project and the outcomes of these individuals assessed over the remaining two years of funding.

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Quality Mall is a web site that gathers and disseminates information related to or useful in promoting the quality of life for persons with developmental disabilities. It especially focuses on promising person-centered practices and innovations.

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Beginning in 1996, a group of community “stakeholders” in SE Minnesota began to explore community initiatives to improve services. One of these initiatives received Legislative authority and funding to plan, design and implement a new outcome-based quality assurance system for community services. The “Region 10 Quality Commission” was designed to be of the community, by the community and for community members with ID/DD. This study will gather quantitative and qualitative formative and summative evaluation data on this program. It will also develop a documentary film on its development, implementation, engagement of community members and effects on persons with ID/DD and those who support them.

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