Person-centered practices are based on the core principle that the person is the expert in their own life and, as such, should drive the planning process. When applying person-centered practices, we must listen for what's important to and for someone to create the life they want.
When you adopt a person-centered approach, you look at services and supports in the context of what it'll take for a person to have the life they want — rather than your professional opinion or limited service options. The person and their support team identify effective supports and services that will help the person live, learn, work and participate in the community.
For example, in the context of employment, person-centered practices call on support professionals to not simply help someone get a job, but to help them find employment that's personally meaningful and incorporates the conditions they need to be successful at work.
This toolkit will help you apply a variety of person-centered strategies and tools in your work with youth in transition.
To learn more about person-centered planning: