Kerry’s Place has always been committed to planning with Individuals. We have wanted to make sure that what we do actually responds to the strengths and needs of each Individual we support. We have wanted to make sure that what we do actually makes a positive difference in the lives of the people we support. Over the years, we have learned more and more about the importance of planning with Individuals and how we go about it. As we learn, we continue to improve our approach.  

When we first started planning for Individuals, we developed what were called Individual Program Plans or IPPs. Individual Program Plans did what we needed them to do – to focus our attention on problems the Individual was having, and what we could do to overcome those problems. We’ve learned a lot from our experience with Individual Program Plans. We’ve learned that we have to build on that experience and shift our thinking and practice in terms of who is in control of the planning process, what the focus of the planning is, and how we go about doing it.  

Our approach to Person Centered Planning will be:  

• Helping Individuals and their families develop their own plans for the future
• Focusing on how we can build on a person’s strengths and interests
• Determining how to support the Individual to become a member of the community
• Viewing planning as an on-going, dynamic, life-long process and;
• Helping individuals and families figure out how to bring all kinds of people like YOU together to support them in reaching their dreams

Kerry’s Place Autism Services will make every reasonable effort to ensure that individuals we support are in charge of planning where and how they will live along with how their wants and needs will be achieved. Every aspect of the individual’s life is integral to the development and maintenance of his or her personalized plan for the future. The plan will be supported by informed and involved support circles consisting of people who understand the individual the best and whom he or she want involved.  

Effective planning is both dynamic and creative. Plans must be revised as the individual and /or circumstances change over time. As more options for the person are presented, strategies can be adjusted. Plans are regularly reviewed to assess whether the strategies and supports that are in place are effective in achieving the outcomes that meet the needs expressed by the individual. These outcomes are referred to as “outcome based performance measures”. Personal Outcome Measures help staff to focus the planning process on the individual.  

As a result of the commitment to the concept of person centered planning and personal outcome measures, Kerry’s Place has initiated a major staff development program dedicated to training in facilitation, person centered planning, self-assessment, measurable outcomes and family/circle development.