The Administration for Community Living and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announce the launch of the National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems (NCAPPS).

During the past 30 years, systems for people with disabilities and older adults with long-term service and support needs have generally shifted to embrace person-centered principles, premised on the belief that people should have the authority to define and pursue their own vision of a good life. Yet, the degree to which these systems have fully adopted person-centered practices varies, and many continue to grapple with how to effectively implement them.

The goal of NCAPPS is to promote systems change that makes person-centered principles not just an aspiration, but a reality in the lives of people who require services and supports across the lifespan. NCAPPS will assist states, tribes, and territories to transform their long-term care service and support systems to implement U.S. Department of Health and Human Services policy on person-centered thinking, planning, and practices. It will support a range of person-centered thinking, planning, and practices, regardless of funding source. Activities will include providing technical assistance to states, tribes, and territories; establishing communities of practice to promote best practices; hosting educational webinars; and creating a national clearinghouse of resources to support person-centered practice.

NCAPPS is funded by the Administration for Community Living and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and administered by the Human Services Research Institute (HSRI). Engagement of people with lived experience will be at the heart of all NCAPPS activities. A Person-Centered Advisory and Leadership Group composed of national experts with lived experience receiving long-term services and supports will oversee and contribute to all aspects of NCAPPS. HSRI will be partnering with national organizations to ensure the work is relevant and effective, including:

• National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA)
• National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD)
• National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disability Services (NASDDDS)
• National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD)
• National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Directors (NACBHDD)
• National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD)

Technical assistance applications are available now.

States, tribes, and territories can apply for technical assistance through an application available online.  

The deadline for technical assistance applications is February 12, 2019. Completed applications should be submitted to NCAPPS@acl.hhs.gov.

For more information:

Additional information about NCAPPS is in this NCAPPS overview document.

Join the NCAPPS launch webinar on January 29 at 3:00 - 4:30 pm EST to learn more about NCAPPS and to have your questions answered regarding technical assistance opportunities. Register for the webinar.

To learn more, contact NCAPPS@acl.hhs.gov.