Choosing direction, providers, rates, or a start
Compare traditional and participant-directed services
Ask the support coordinator to explain eligible participant-directed services, required choices, employer or representative duties, fiscal supports, budget rules, and backup needs.
Official sources checked 2026-07-29
Start here
Participant DirectionBefore you start
- Residence, current waiver, services proposed for direction, desired control, representative support, hiring and supervision capacity, fiscal-agent choice, budget, training, documentation, and backup coverage.
Who to contact
Use the official destination above, the county-assigned DBHDD Regional Field Office, the contact on the controlling notice, or the program-specific help route cited here.
Step by step
- Review the current NOW and COMP policy and Participant Direction Handbook.
- Ask the support coordinator which authorized services are eligible to be directed.
- Document the chosen model, ISP or addendum, fiscal-support enrollment, responsibilities, and readiness steps.
Expected next
A documented choice in the ISP or addendum, required enrollment activity, fiscal-support setup, or written explanation of a constraint.
Save this proof
Comparison notes, ISP selection, forms, assigned roles, budget, training, fiscal-agent records, and backup plan.
If this stalls or the answer is no
Ask the support coordinator and Regional Field Office for the exact policy basis and alternative when an option is said to be unavailable.
Beyond Childhood planning aid
Compare traditional and participant-directed services checklist
A Beyond Childhood planning aid derived from the cited official sources.
- Owner and date started
- Documents or information supplied
- Confirmation or notice
- Current status
- Next event and date
- Escalation contact
Derived from Participant Direction, NOW and COMP Medicaid Policy Manual
Official resources
Limits
Participant direction requires NOW or COMP enrollment, an eligible residence and service, a fiscal-support provider, an ISP choice, and compliance with current policy.
Beyond Childhood’s checklists and prompts are planning aids derived from official sources. They are not official forms, legal advice, eligibility decisions, or guarantees of funding, capacity, quality, or service.