Understanding Standard Model Agencies
Standard Model Agencies & Supporting Desired Outcomes
Over the last year we have seen an increase in the number of questions about the new Standard Model Agency (SMA). We wanted to provide a summary of what SMAs are and how they can support Desired Outcomes. This is an important part of the Oregon Individual Support Plan (ISP) process.
What is a Standard Model Agency?
Standard Model Agencies are a type of organization that hire and support Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). These DSPs are workers that support people with disabilities living in their own or family homes. Standard Model Agencies offer greater day-to-day support to these DSPs. As described by Oregon Administrative Rule, this support might look like:
- Managing DSP schedules
- Creating backup plans for staffing
- Ensuring there is a supervisor on call
- Offering training for DSPs
There are several requirements for Standard Model Agencies that go beyond what is required by other agencies providing in-home support. The area we want to focus on today is how SMAs support people toward their Desired Outcomes.
Supporting Desired Outcomes: An Important SMA Role
Every ISP has Desired Outcomes. These are what drive the ISP. They answer the question ‘how is life going to look different or better because we planned together?’ These are personal goals; the things that the person is interested in trying, learning, doing, or achieving. These are deeply connected to what is ‘important TO’ the person. They focus on the person’s perspective of their own ‘good life.’
For Standard Model Agencies, supporting the person toward their desired outcomes is a major part of the DSP role.
We know that many things can support a person toward their desired outcomes:
- Person’s own strengths and skills
- Friends and family
- Community resources
- Technology
A person can also choose to be supported toward their desired outcomes by their DSP.
In the example provided below, Arash chooses to be supported toward his Desired Outcome by his Personal Agent, his town’s bus system, his friend Jackie, and his DSPs. Each person provides support in a different way, but everyone works together to get Arash to his goal of taking swimming classes.
Desired Outcome:
Arash will take swimming classes at the community pool so that he can learn to swim, practice taking the bus, and spend time with his friend Jackie.
What supports this outcome?
Arash, Personal Agent & DSPs, local bus, Jackie
Key step/goal
Who is responsible
Send Arash & Jackie swimming class schedule
Personal Agent
Select & sign up for a class
Arash & Jackie
Find the bus route that will take Arash to class, practice taking this route together
Arash & DSP
Add all classes to Arash’s calendar and set reminders on his cellphone
Arash & DSP
Take the bus to class
Arash
Learn how to swim
Arash & Jackie
Check in with Arash about the class and help address any challenges or barriers that arise
Arash, DSP & Personal Agent
SMA Responsibility: Implementation Strategies
The Standard Model Agency is then responsible for creating “implementation strategies.” Implementation strategies document how support toward the desired outcome will be provided. They are written by the Standard Model Agency. These are sometimes referred to as Action Plans. They provide clear instructions for DSPs and often go into much more detail than what is in the ISP.
Arash’s Standard Model Agency puts together an Action Plan. This document describes how DSPs will support Arash toward his goal of taking swimming classes. This includes:
- Details about how DPSs will help Arash find and practice his bus route
- When and how Arash’s calendar and phone reminder will be set and updated
- How often DSPs are checking in with Arash about his class
- How they plan to address any challenges or barriers
While there is not a required form for creating implementation strategies, Action Plan templates on the Oregon ISP website can be used.
SMA Responsibility: Progress Reports
The Standard Model Agency is also responsible for creating quarterly progress reports. These reports are sent to the person’s Services Coordinator or Personal Agent (SC/PA). They contain information about how support toward the person’s desired outcome was provided.
These reports help the SC/PA to know what is going well and if there are any challenges. If there are things not working, the ISP team can help to problem solve.
Arash’s Standard Model Agency sent his Personal Agent a progress report for the months of August, September and October. This report paints the picture of what progress toward Arash’s goal of taking swimming classes has looked like these past three months.
By reading this report, Arash’s Personal Agent knows that:
- Arash has successfully learned the new route to the community pool with the support of his DSPs. He is now taking the bus route by himself.
- While Arash’s calendar and phone reminders are up to date, he has forgotten that he had class several times. This happens when his phone is on silent. His DSPs have tried reminding him the day of, but that has not seemed to help.
- Arash’s Personal Agent checks in with him and his SMA. Through conversation, they decide that Arash’s DSPs will set alarms on his phone 45 minutes before class to remind him. The SMA updates Arash’s Action Plan to reflect these changes
SMA Responsibility: Progress Reports
Want to learn more about Standard Model Agencies? Below are a few in-depth resources provided by the Oregon Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS):