Caring Starts with Your Choice

Have you heard of “Self-Directed Supports” or “Self-Direction”? Self-direction is all about your choices: you decide who provides your care, you set your schedule, you show people how you want to be cared for, and you manage your budget. You can choose someone you trust to provide care – like your family and friends. If you decide to join the self-direction program with My Choice Wisconsin, you’re not alone; your care team will be there to help you every step of the way.

Why Our Members Like Self-Direction

Members can hire someone they know and trust to provide their services.

“My caregiver knows me. It would bother me to have a stranger coming in. She knows just how I need things done.” – Joanna F. (Family Care program member)

Members have consistent communication with their caregivers which enhances their relationship and provides a social outlet for the member.

“(My caregiver and I) Always have a good connection to get me through the hard times.” – Jeffery B. (Family Care program member)

Members choose when and how services are delivered.

“I have a lot of choice and control.” – Sina D. (Partnership program member)

Members enjoy more independence and responsibility in their lives.

“Self-direction allows me to be more creative and gives me more freedom to make my own choices. It gives me more independence.” – Takeela T. (Family Care program member)

Members have the support of a care team when problems need to be solved.

“My team helps me be proactive in taking care of my health. They are most compassionate. SDS helps me have someone here when others can’t be. A lot of my family lives in Illinois.” – Brandy L.-W. (Family Care program member)

Joining & Enrollment

If you are a My Choice Wisconsin Family Care program member, you may participate in the Self-Directed Supports program. Let your care team know that you’re interested in managing some or all of your own support services. Not sure what you’d like to self-direct? Don’t worry – our care team can help you figure out what works best for you!
You create your SDS budget with your care team by deciding what services are needed, choosing your worker, selecting their wages within budget limits, and creating the schedule. The goal is to set and manage your service budget in a responsible way to have good service at a fair cost.
There are many services you can choose to self-direct. Our members often select things like: help with laundry or chores, snow shoveling, lawn care, transportation, grocery shopping, cooking, and/or bathing and dressing. Members can also use self-direction for employment support – you can pick your own job coach or the way you get to work! You get to choose how many or how few services you manage, and you can also change your plan if it’s not working for you.
You are at the center of your care plan, which means you can start, stop, or change your Self-Directed Supports at any time depending on what’s right for you. If you decide you want to change your plan, contact your care team. If you want to stop self-directing, you will still have the support of the Family Care program and your care team!

Self-Directed Supports

Caring Starts with Your Choice

Why Our Members Like Self-Direction

Contact Your Local ADRC to Learn More About Family Care

Joining & Enrollment

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Joining & Enrollment

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