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Advocacy Guide: Part 4 © COFAR Advocacy Guide 2005, All rights Reserved Individual Support Plans This fourth section of this Advocacy Guide is intended to give family members and guardians detailed information on DMR policies and procedures regarding Individual Support Plans (ISPs). Understanding your rights and obligations regarding ISPs is critically important to you in advocating for the best possible care and services for your family members and wards in the DMR system. This section is intended for family members and guardians of persons who have been determined to be eligible for DMR services. If your ward or family member has not yet been determined to be eligible, please link to Section 2 on Getting Services (Determining Your Eligibility). This section is also intended to supplement Section 1 on Advocating Effectively on Behalf of Your Family Members and Wards. It should also be read in conjunction with Section 3 on Protections for Ricci Class Members and non-Class Members and Section 5 on Guardianship. NOTE: There are numerous DMR regulations cited throughout this guide in order to best assist you in your advocacy efforts. Be aware, however, that regulations are subject to change by DMR and regulatory citations can become outdated. We will strive to keep this guide as up to date as possible. The full text of all DMR regulations can be found on the DMR website at www.mass.gov/dmr/. Defining Individual Support Plans Individual Support Plans (ISPs) are defined in the DMR regulations as: "written plans of services or supports for individuals, which are developed, reviewed, and modified according to the requirements of DMR regulations" (115 CMR 2.01). ISPs are critical to ensuring care and services because they serve as legally binding contracts on DMR to provide the care and services enumerated in them. It is vital to understand what goes into the development of your family member or ward's ISP, and how the ISP development and appeals process works. Know the DMR Regulations Knowing the DMR regulations regarding ISPs is fundamental to understanding your rights and obligations concerning them. The regulations describe the ISP process as an ongoing one of "establishing goals for individuals consistent with the outcomes described in the quality of life areas…, and of identifying supports and strategies that will promote achievement of those goals" (115 CMR 6.20: Introduction to Individual Support Planning). More will be said below about the quality of life areas. The regulations also note that "successful (ISP) support planning requires the greatest possible involvement of the individual, his or her family, guardian, and designated representative, if any, the |