Participant-Direction

DBHDD’s waiver programs promote personal choice and control by providing the opportunity to self-direct certain eligible waiver services to participants who live in their own private residence or the home of a family member. Participant Direction (or Self-Direction) offers participants (and/or their representatives) the ability to determine which employees or vendors will be hired to deliver their services and provide supplies and additional supports.

Determining an Individual’s Eligibility
In order for individuals to self-direct waiver services and supports, the following requirements must be met:

• Must have a NOW or COMP Waiver
• Must live in their own home or family home
• Must choose a Financial Support Services Provider
• Must work with a Support Coordinator to ensure choice to self-direct is indicated in ISP and budget

How To Get Started

1. Review COMP and NOW Chapter 600 - 1200
2. Contact your assigned Support Coordinator (SC) to discuss your choice to self-direct services. Eligibility criteria listed in the Manual must be met prior to being allowed to choose the Participant-Direction option.
3. Attend one day of Mandatory Participant Direction Training and sign the Memo of Understanding (MOU).
4. Choose a Financial Support Services Provider (Fiscal Agent) to manage your waiver funds. Contact the Fiscal Agent of your choice and ask for their enrollment packet. Complete all of the required forms and send them back to the Fiscal Agent for processing.
5. Have your Support Coordinator submit an Individualized Service Plan (ISP) or addendum with self-direction as a selection.

Services Eligible for Participant Direction

1. Community Access Individual
2. Community Access Group
3. Community Living Support
4. Community living Support – Shared
5. Community Living Support – Extended
6. Community Living Support – Personal Assistance Retainer
7. Respite – Hourly
8. Respite – Daily
9. Transportation
10. Environmental Accessibility Adaptation
11. Community Guide
12. Individual Directed Goods and Services
13. Natural Support Training
14. Adult Dental
15. Adult Physical Therapy
16. Adult Occupational Therapy
17. Adult Speech-Language Therapy
18. Vehicle Adaptation
19. Behavioral Supports Consultation
20. Behavioral Supports Services
21. Supported Employment
22. Specialized Medical Supplies
23. Specialized Medical Equipment

Additional Resources

• Participant Direction Handbook  
  • A helpful guide to directing services, including forms you may use at your discretion.
• Glossary of Acronyms 
  • See policy attachment
• Participant Direction Family Hire Request Form
  • This request form is required for utilizing family as caregivers and PD Representatives should submit completed forms to the DBHDD Participant Direction Team for review via email at: [email protected].

Participant Direction Quarterly Meeting Recordings

• February 23, 2024
• November 2, 2023

Fiscal Agents

• Acumen Fiscal Agent
• Continuum Fiscal Services

For help accessing participant direction services in your area, please contact your regional field office.