10 STATE COUNCIL PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION

The Council and its statewide staff are responsible for developing and implementing a State Plan containing goals, objectives, activities, and projected outcomes designed to improve and enhance the availability and quality of services and support to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. The appointed Council members ensure system coordination, monitoring, and evaluation.

20 COMMUNITY PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

The Council administers grants to community-based organizations that fund new and innovative community program development projects to implement State Plan objectives and improve and enhance services for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

40 REGIONAL OFFICES AND LOCAL AREA BOARDS

In addition to implementation of State Plan activities, regional office staff provide the following services to residents of state developmental centers and state-operated community facilities:

• Individualized advocacy services through volunteers recruited by Council staff for individuals who have no legally appointed representative to assist them in making choices and decisions.
• Clients' rights advocacy services to ensure that laws, regulations, and policies pertaining to the rights of persons with developmental disabilities are observed.
• Life Quality Assessments for individuals who receive community residential services and support.

Thirteen local Area Boards on Developmental Disabilities are attached to the Council for administrative purposes and assist with local advocacy, training, coordination, and implementation of State Plan objectives. Regional offices and local Area Boards report local outcomes to the Council for inclusion in reports to the federal government and the California Legislature.