What is an independent facilitator (IF) and how do I find one?

Independent Facilitators (IFs) can play a crucial role in helping Regional Center clients in SDP advocate for their individual needs, make sure services are based on their goals, understand their budget, and develop a spending plan to make sure they have a smooth transition to the Self-Determination Program.

How to find an Independent Facilitator

The California SDP network has a list of IFs. When you interview people, get a good feeling for who they are and how they interact to see if they will fit with you.

Note that there are no established regulations for what IFs must provide for clients. Families who are looking to hire an Independent Facilitator need to do their research and make an educated decision based on their needs.

Questions to ask an IF

We recommend making sure to get clear answers to these questions when interviewing a potential IF:

1. How much do you charge?
2. What pieces of Self-Determination do you help with beyond the person-centered plan? (FMS, budget, spending plan, etc.)
3. What Regional Centers are you vendored with?

Before getting started with an IF, you may want to have the answers to these questions in writing. Disability Voices United has a good list of more questions to ask IFs.

Tips for finding an IF

If your preferred Independent Facilitator has a lengthy waiting list, you can put yourself on the list and continue looking. The amount of time spent on a waitlist will vary depending on the IF.

People who are new to being an IF have a lot more availability, so they might be able to onboard people a lot sooner. It takes longer to start with a more experienced IF because they’re carrying a heavier caseload. However, it’s really based on the individual, how long they've been doing it, and whether they have any kind of help. If an IF has a waitlist, it could potentially take months to get started.

If you can’t find anyone who has experience with your particular Regional Center, then make sure the IF has experience with SDP in general and is not brand new.

Self-Determination Consultant Iris Barker, who has been an IF for five years, says, “I navigate 15 of the 21 different Regional Centers. So at any given point, somebody was my first one at that Regional Center.” Make sure you’re working with an IF who is willing to do research and training to the best of their ability. They need to understand how Regional Centers work. There are some strategic pieces to SDP that you might not be aware of, and each Regional Center will have a different way of navigating what they fund and what they don’t.

Undivided members have access to our step-by-step guide to enrolling in SDP as well as our list of recommended Independent Facilitators with insights about their availability. If you’re looking for an IF who is vendored with a specific Regional Center, you can always ask our Research team about putting together a report for you.

For more information about SDP, check out our article Frequently Asked Questions about the Self-Determination Program.