Opportunity
In 2022, the North Carolina Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services (DMHDDSUS) updated its Person‑Centered Planning Guidance to be more recovery‑oriented, individualized, and user-friendly. Foundational training introduced in 2023 helped service providers understand core person‑centered principles, but DMHDDSUS recognized that training alone is not enough. Sustained change requires ongoing coaching, mentoring, and shared learning. To meet this need, HSRI partnered with InLeadS Consulting and Flourishing Spark to develop a statewide Person‑Centered Practice Learning Collaborative to support providers in putting person‑centered practices into action.
Approach
HSRI and its partners designed a four‑session Learning Collaborative focused on peer learning and continuous quality improvement. Each session addresses a key phase of the person‑centered planning process: pre‑planning, the planning conversation, plan development, and implementation. The model emphasizes open dialogue, shared problem‑solving, and meaningful integration of lived experience, supported by brief instructional content as needed. HSRI is leading the evaluation of the Collaborative through post‑session surveys to assess growth in knowledge, skills, and attitudes and to inform ongoing improvements.
Impact
The Learning Collaborative strengthens service providers’ ability to develop and implement truly individualized, person‑centered plans. Participants apply what they learn to improve practices, policies, and procedures within their organizations, promoting better outcomes for people receiving services