DSPD reviews updated person‑centered planning competencies, highlights teamwork and communication

Tamera from DSPD’s employment and inclusion team presented updated person‑centered planning competencies and said the meeting would focus on the fourth competency: partnership, teamwork, communication and facilitation. “This competency is about having respect for the preference of the person when talking to them or facilitating meetings with them,” she said.

Tamera explained that person‑centered planning should place the person as the expert, focus on community connection and prioritize competitive integrated employment as a preferred outcome. She described the Integrated Support Star tool, which the team uses to surface personal strengths, relationships, paid supports, community supports and technology; the tool was illustrated with a sample star for a person named Alvin Monk.

Shannon, newly introduced as a supervisor on the employment and inclusion team, encouraged providers to reach out with employment questions and to use DSPD’s training resources. Another presenter noted a recent DSPD training titled “Supporting a Vision for Employment” grants four professional development hours and was described as useful for learning conflict‑resolution and person‑centered facilitation techniques.

Why it matters: DSPD’s updated competencies and tools are intended to help support coordinators and provider staff center meetings and services on the person’s preferences and to prioritize community integration and employment outcomes. DSPD shared a communityinclusion@utah.gov contact for questions and resources.

The presenters asked providers to reach out for resources or training follow‑ups and said they will add slides and links to the chat.