Guiding Principles

COMMUNITY LIFE:

To live in the community is the preference of most individuals with developmental disabilities. However, inherent in this choice are risks. While affirming the dignity gained by the taking of risks, and the valuable learning provided by those opportunities, the Center is committed to the following:

Consumers are in safe settings.

Consumers and their families have knowledge of their healthcare needs, access to qualified medical communities, and support necessary to utilize recommended health services.

Consumers and their families have knowledge of, access to and opportunity for participation in any community activities and resources of their choosing.

SELF-DETERMINATION SUPPORTS:

Consumers are involved in all decisions that affect their lives.

Consumers have the opportunity and choice to have relationships, get married and have a family.

Consumers live, work, learn and recreate in settings which maximize opportunity to be with persons not paid to be with them.

Consumers lead the planning and implementation of the service system.

FAMILY SUPPORT:

Families are the decision makers for their minor children and, when appropriate, for their adult children.

Family support services are flexible and innovative in meeting needs as they evolve over time, are tailored to the preferences of the individual family, and are consistent with their cultural norms and customs.

Services and supports for families recognize, facilitate and build on family strengths, natural supports and existing community resources.

Family members of adults are supported when their ongoing involvement is preferred by the consumer.

EARLY INTERVENTION/PREVENTION:

Prevention and early intervention services, supports and public awareness activities are designed to prevent the onset of a disability, or to minimize the impact of the disability.

Consumers are provided the services and supports in a family-focused and collaborative fashion.

Families are the primary decision makers.

LIVING OPTIONS:

Consumers have choices on where and with whom they live.

Services and supports are provided so that consumers have choices on where and with whom they live, including owning or renting their own homes.

Practices are driven in the system by culturally preferred choices.

We believe that we should support families in keeping their children, both minors and those adults who choose to remain at home, as a priority for the allocation of limited regional center resources.

Consumers live in homes where they receive love and nurturing and where they can form relationships.

Families with children in out-of-home care receive the support necessary to remain involved in their children's lives.

EDUCATION /LIFELONG LEARNING:

Consumers have the opportunity to be educated with their non-disabled peers in classrooms at their neighborhood schools.

The Regional Center will serve as an advocate for obtaining appropriate opportunities for consumers in the school systems.

Adult consumers have lifelong learning opportunities to enhance and ensure full participation in community life.

WORK:

Consumers have the opportunity and support to work in employment settings that are meaningful to them, that are valued by the community, and in which they are appropriately compensated.

RECREATION AND LEISURE:

Leisure skills and opportunities are important life planning areas in the development of the person-centered plan.

Leisure skills development will reflect consumer choice.

SERVICE PLANNING & COORDINATION:

Service Coordinators are caring and are knowledgeable and competent in service planning, coordination and resources.

Service planning and coordination is based on the understanding that consumers and families know what services and supports they need.

Person-centered planning is based upon choices and preferences and the identification of generic services and natural supports.

Services and supports assist consumers and their families to develop functional support networks, leading to reduced dependence on paid supports.

Services and supports are sensitive to the diverse religious, cultural, language, socioeconomic and ethnic characteristics of their community.

ADMINISTRATION AND GOVERNANCE:

The Regional Center will maximize all alternative sources of funding for necessary services and supports, including federal and generic funding.

The public funds that support the service system are expended in a fashion that is cost-effective, consumer directed, consistent with good business practices, and that reflects careful stewardship.

The funding of services and supports to meet the needs of our consumers shall be based upon professional, qualified assessments conducted by the Regional Center or its designee(s).

The agency staffing pattern reflects and is sensitive to the cultural and ethnic characteristics of its service areas.

The governing Board of the Regional Center is representative of and accountable to the community served by the Center.

The Board fosters the participation of consumers and their families.

Regional Center will maximize community involvement in decision making.

Expenditures will reflect our principles.

RCOC Board members will be actively involved in the organization
(i.e., attendance, participation). The Board provides appropriate support to maximize effective participation by all of its members.