The Harbor Regional Center Self Determination Advisory Committee (SDAC) provides input and oversight for the future implementation of the Self-Determination Program. SDAC meetings typically take place on the 1st Wednesday of the month and are open to the public.
HR Alliance is a new Financial Management Service (FMS) agency that is now accepting referrals for individuals interested in the Self-Determination Program (SDP).
Check back regularly for advanced training opportunities for individuals and families participating in the Self- Determination Program (SDP) that include Hiring New Employees, Managing Spending Plan Changes, Management of Self-Determination Funding, and What Makes a Good Person-Centered Plan and How to Create One…more coming soon!
“My son, Hunter, is on the spectrum and he loves basketball. He developed a love for basketball around 5 years old when I signed him up for our local parks and recreation summer basketball league. Since then, he plays alongside his twin brother, Dylan, for an AAU basketball team, SBS Hoops. The SDP has allowed Hunter to participate in the league and personal one-on-one training with his coach. We are very grateful for the SDP because it allows Hunter to live out his dreams. 💙”
– Daphne, Mother
“My name is Renee, I’m 26 years old and was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 19. I have been an SDP participant for the last 3 yrs. I’ve gained the life skills and confidence necessary to finish my AA and open my own business, Lazaryth Adventures, realizing my dream to give back to the neurodivergent community. My business works with small groups of neurodivergent adolescents, using in-person tabletop roleplaying games like “Dungeons & Dragons” to teach and cultivate the skills I wish I had at their age. The services within SDP have given me a level of independence that I could not have achieved otherwise and for that I will always be grateful.”
“Christopher is a 31-year old individual who was diagnosed with Intellectual Disability and Down Syndrome at the age of 3 weeks and half. He has been an SDP participant for the last 2 years. We have seen improvement on his development overall. Being able to choose his activities and programs with him, have also make him more confident. We love seeing him enjoy his daily activities and seeing his growth.”
– The Valle Family
In October of 2013, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed into law the Self-Determination Program, which provided individuals served by regional centers and their families with a new option for receiving regional center services. As authorized in Welfare and Institutions Code, Section 4685.8, “the Self-Determination Program (SDP) is a voluntary delivery system consisting of a mix of services and supports, selected and directed by a participant through person-centered planning, in order to meet the objectives in his or her Individual Program Plan (IPP). Self-determination services and supports are designed to assist the participant in achieving personally defined outcomes in community settings that promote inclusion,” and allow participants to have more control in developing service plans and selecting service providers.
Ensure all documents and steps are completed to participate in the Self-Determination Program actively.
You can attend presentations by Harbor Regional Center or with the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD).
Don’t forget to inform your Service Coordinator if you are interested in moving forward in SDP!
Explore FMS agencies and models. Identify providers, vendors and employees to ensure they are compliant with Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) regulations.
Collaborate with your regional center service coordinator to review your Individual Program Plan (IPP)/ Person Centered Plan (PCP).
Your regional center service coordinator will provide you with a copy of a budget based on assessed services and unmet needs.
Submit spending plan to Harbor Regional Center.
Your Harbor Regional Center team will review your spending plan and provide you with an approved copy.
Paperwork will be completed and provided to your FMS 15 days prior to the start date.
Once all paperwork is in place, you will be live in the SDP! Meet with your service coordinator in the first couple of weeks to finalize your Individual Program Plan (IPP).
The law required that before this program could be made available, the Department of Developmental Services submit an application for federal funding, and that this application be approved for funding by the federal government. This application was approved on June 6, 2018. In the first three years, the program was implemented gradually for up to 2,500 participants in the state using a phased-in approach.
On October 1, 2018, the Department of Developmental Services identified the first group of individuals/families from each regional center that may be enrolled in the Self Determination Program. The program has since become widely available for all eligible individuals on June 7, 2021.
(315) Bill Payer
(316) Co-Employer
(317) Sole-Employer
| Employer Burden | Service Code | Employer Burden |
| AAA | 315 | |
| AAA | 316 | 21.38% |
| ACCURA | 315 | |
| ACCURA | 316 | 19.90% |
| ACCURA | 317 | 15.68% |
| ACE | 315 | |
| ACE | 316 | 25% |
| ACE | 15.68% | |
| Action | 315 | |
| Action | 316 | 30% |
| Action | 317 | 17% |
| ARCH | 315 | |
| ARCH | 316 | 19.86% |
| ARCH | 317 | 14.27% |
| Aveanna | 315 | |
| Aveanna | 316 | 14.27% plus sick 3.3% |
| Cambrian | 315 | |
| Cambrian | 316 | 22.2% |
| Cambrian | 317 | 22.2% |
| Dromen, Inc. | 315 | |
| Dromen, Inc. | 316 | 20.30% |
| Dromen, Inc. | 317 | 15.98% |
| FACT FAMILY | 315 | |
| FACT FAMILY | 316 | 20% |
| FACT FAMILY | 317 | 20% |
| GT Independence | 315 | |
| GT Independence | 316 | 24% |
| GT Independence | 317 | 18% |
| HR Alliance West | 315 | |
| HR Alliance West | 316 | 22.77% |
| HR Alliance West | 317 | 22.77% |
| Mains’l | 315 | |
| Mains’l | 316 | 17.13% |
| Mains’l | 317 | 17.23% |
| Public Partnership (PPL) | 315 | |
| Public Partnership (PPL) | 317 | 17.57% |
| RITZ | 315 | |
| RITZ | 316 | 18.90% |
| RITZ | 317 | 18.90% |
| SENTINEL FOUR | 315 | |
| SENTINEL FOUR | 316 | 20.94% |
| SENTINEL FOUR | 317 | 14.87% |
| SequoiaSD | 315 | |
| SequoiaSD | 317 | 20.64% |
In March and April 2025, Harbor conducted its first Annual Self-Determination Program (SDP) Enrolled Participant Survey. The survey was made available to individuals and families enrolled in SDP at Harbor for at least a year. The survey gathered feedback on participants’ level of agreement with key statements about the program, their satisfaction with key SDP components, and the barriers and challenges they have faced.
Some key highlights from the findings include:
Learn more about the annual survey process and view detailed results.
