About Guided Growth Solutions LLC
Our Mission
Our mission is to empower individuals with developmental disabilities to lead self‑directed, meaningful lives by providing independent, person‑centered planning and facilitation. We champion choice, autonomy, and equitable access to supports—ensuring every person has the tools, information, and advocacy needed to shape their own future.
History Of Services
The Lanterman Act
Origins of the Self‑Determination Movement (National, 1990s)
Origins of the Self‑Determination Movement (National, 1990s)
The Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Act (AB 846), passed in 1977, is a landmark California civil‑rights law. It states that people with developmental disabilities have the same legal rights as every other Californian and must receive services that support their needs, choices, and independence. It is the foundation of the entire Regional Center system and the legal basis for modern programs like the Self‑Determination Program (SDP).
he Act requires Regional Centers to ensure that individuals receive services that support:
- Dignity, privacy, and humane care
- Liberty and freedom from unnecessary restrictions
- Services in the least restrictive, most integrated setting
- Participation in publicly supported education
- Prompt medical care and treatment
- Social interaction, community participation, and religious freedom
Origins of the Self‑Determination Movement (National, 1990s)
Origins of the Self‑Determination Movement (National, 1990s)
Origins of the Self‑Determination Movement (National, 1990s)
The modern self‑determination model began in the mid‑1990s, when states faced three major problems:
- Rising service costs
- Limited resources
- Rigid service models that gave families little control
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funded national pilot projects to test a new idea:
Give people with developmental disabilities a set budget and let them choose their own services.
These pilots demonstrated that people could design more effective, personalized supports when they had control.
California’s Path to Self‑Determination
Origins of the Self‑Determination Movement (National, 1990s)
California’s Path to Self‑Determination
Early Advocacy (2000s–2013)
California’s movement was driven by grassroots advocacy—self‑advocates, families, and disability rights organizations who wanted more flexibility than the traditional Regional Center system allowed.
Their efforts led to the drafting of Senate Bill 468 (Emmerson).
SB 468 Becomes Law (2013)
In October 2013, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed SB 468, officially creating the Self‑Determination Program (SDP).
The law required:
• A three‑year pilot phase
• Enrollment capped at 2,500 participants
• Oversight by Statewide and Local Self‑Determination Advisory Committees (SDACs)
Pilot Implementation (2018–2021
Full Statewide Rollout (2021–Present
California’s Path to Self‑Determination
The pilot launched statewide in 2018, with participants selected through a lottery.
During this phase, the state tested:
- Individual budgets
- Person‑centered planning
- Independent Facilitators
- Financial Management Services (FMS)
- Spending plan flexibility
The pilot confirmed that people experienced greater independence, satisfaction, and community integration.
Full Statewide Rollout (2021–Present
Full Statewide Rollout (2021–Present
Full Statewide Rollout (2021–Present
On July 1, 2021, California opened the Self‑Determination Program to all eligible Regional Center clients, ending the lottery and making self‑determination a permanent option.
Today, SDP is built around:
- Choice and control over services
- Flexible spending
- Person‑centered planning
- Independent facilitation
- Community‑based supports
The State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) continues to provide statewide orientation, training, and oversight.
Why This History Matter
Full Statewide Rollout (2021–Present
Full Statewide Rollout (2021–Present
Understanding the history helps clarify why SDP looks the way it does today:
- It was created by and for people with disabilities.
- It is rooted in civil rights and autonomy, not just service reform.
- It intentionally shifts power from systems to individuals and families.
- It emphasizes flexibility, creativity, and community inclusion.
What does the process look like:
SDP Orientation
https://scdd.ca.gov/sdp-orientation/
The State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD), in partnership with the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), provides a two‑part statewide orientation. Beginning April 1, 2026, each part is two hours, and both must be completed before enrollment.
Person-Centered Plan (PCP)
PCP development is a conversation‑based planning process led by the individual (and their chosen circle of support) to identify what matters most to them and what they need to thrive. It is not a clinical evaluation or a checklist—it is a whole‑person exploration of their life, preferences, and future.
The goal is to create a plan that reflects who the person is, what they want, and how supports can be organized around their strengths, not their deficits
Review Regional Center budget & unmet needs
This means looking at the participant’s current annual budget—the amount the Regional Center has historically spent on their services.
This includes things like:
• Respite
• Day programs
• Transportation
• Behavioral services
• Social‑recreation (if applicable)
• Therapies
• Supported living or IHSS supplementation
The goal is to understand:
• What services the person currently receives
• How much the Regional Center pays for each
• Whether those services are working or not
This “traditional budget” becomes the starting point for the Self‑Determination individual budget.
Develop Self-Determination Spending Plan
An Independent Facilitator develops a Self‑Determination Program (SDP) Spending Plan by translating the Person‑Centered Plan, IPP goals, and identified unmet needs into a clear, organized budget that shows how the participant will use their Individual Budget to meet their goals. It is a structured, collaborative, and highly individualized process.
Transition support
- Identify potential workers
- Draft job descriptions
- Interview candidates
- FMS Selection
- Ordering
- Adjust the Spending Plan if needed
- Resolve issues with the FMS
- Replace or add workers
- Track spending and service use
- Ensure the plan is functioning as intended
Start Services
At this time, you can start utilizing services.
Features:
Helpful links:
Department of Developmental Services
https://www.dds.ca.gov/initiatives/sdp/
This is the state’s authoritative source for all SDP requirements and updates.
Find your local Regional Center:
Regional Center Listings : CA Department of Developmental Services
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Program
www.cdss.ca.gov/in-home-supportive-service
The In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program provides in-home assistance to eligible aged, blind, and disabled individuals as an alternative to out-of-home care and enables recipients to remain safely in their own homes
SSI for Children
Far Northern Regional Center
The FNRC homepage provides direct access to:
• Client services (intake, service coordination, programs)
• Provider resources
• Public meeting notices & transparency reports
• News and events
• Contact information for Chico and Redding offices
FNRC’s mission is to partner with individuals with developmental disabilities so they can live as equal and valued members of the community.
Scholarship/Sponsorship
Info:
At Guided Growth Solutions, we believe that investing in local youth strengthens the entire community. Each year, we dedicate resources to supporting young people who show determination, creativity, and a desire to grow—offering up to ten $250 scholarships to help remove financial barriers to enrichment, education, or personal development. These scholarships reflect our commitment to equity, empowerment, and creating pathways for youth to access opportunities that help them thrive.
To Apply:
- Full Name
- Age and Grade Level
- School or Program Currently Attending
- Parent/Guardian Contact Information (if under 18)
- What is the scholarship for
- How it will support their goals, growth, or participation in an activity
- A flyer, invoice, or description of the program, activity, or expense along with who payment should be made out to
inquiries should be sent to:
