HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

Declaring it the policy of the Commonwealth that all human services agencies adopt and implement person-centered practices in their support of individuals.

WHEREAS, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 was founded on four principles: inclusion, full participation, economic self-sufficiency, and equality of opportunity for all people with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, the Older Americans Act of 1965 recognized the need for the comprehensive provision of community-based long-term supports for older Americans; and

WHEREAS, every individual is unique, and no two individuals have the exact same support preferences and needs; and

WHEREAS, person-centered practices support individuals in making choices and decisions about the supports that best meet their preferences and needs; and

WHEREAS, Real Choice Systems Change Grants: Systems Transformation, Money Follows the Person, Community Living Program and Options Counseling Grants were awarded to Virginia and other states committed to building an infrastructure to strengthen long-term community supports; and

WHEREAS, Virginia has demonstrated its commitment to building a strong community infrastructure of person-centered long-term supports through all of these grants in order to transform the long-term support system in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, multiple state and local agencies have been actively working to encourage the use of person-centered practices to honor each individual’s own choices;

WHEREAS, multiple state agencies have adopted or are in the process of adopting person-centered principles and language in agency regulations, policies and procedures and are implementing person-centered practices in their support of individuals who use their services;

  Now therefore be it