Participant Choice Specialists provide program support.  However, a regional center may choose to use one position for accounting/administrative support for efficient implementation of SDP and other participant-directed service options.

Program support may include the following:

• Expanding awareness of the SDP and other participant-directed service options. Providing information to self-advocates, families and regional center staff about all participant-directed service options;
• Providing training to regional center staff, to include service coordinators and staff involved in the fair hearing process, as needed, about the SDP;
• Leading efforts for the regional center to meet and track SDP enrollment targets and benchmarks;
• Identifying and addressing concerns and barriers to enrollment and barriers;
• Developing and implementing an outreach and training plan for diverse communities and obtaining input from stakeholders about the effectiveness of the outreach and training and other strategies.