Annie Alonso, PsyD, MSW¹, Norma Pérez, MPHE¹, Mario H. Rodriguez, PhD, MPH², and Carmen M. Vélez, MSW¹. (1) Institute on Developmental Disability (UCEDD), University of Puerto Rico, School of Public Health, P O Box 00936-5067, San Juan, PR 00936, 787-754-4377, aalonso@rcm.upr.edu, (2) School of Public Health, Health Services Administration Department, University of Puerto Rico, P O Box 365067, San Juan, PR 00936-5067

The process of seeking human services and disability-related benefits in Puerto Rico can be seen as following a path through a series of help-seeking sieves. Those services and benefits are not centered in the family and are mediated by burocratic process and lack of appropriate coordination among the governmental agencies. These are threats for consumers and service providers.

The Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, University of Puerto Rico, and the Office of the Ombudsman for Persons with Disabilities propose a new way to coordinate services that improves the level of health and well-being of consumers and families. The initiative, named One Stop Center (OSC), includes actions that will foster system change and capacity building of both consumers and service providers, and will assist individuals with developmental disabilities (DD) and their families to meet their needs, develop self-advocacy and self-sufficiency, and obtain coordinated comprehensive services. The initiative includes a multi-agency planning committee which will first serve as a task force to develop the OSC; direct services such as information intake, case initial evaluation, and referral; an information technology unit; and an information dissemination unit. These components guarantee better performance and self-regulation for the providers and enable them to be more efficient. The initiative is a pilot project and expects to build the bridge between consumers and the providers. This poster presents the findings of a consumer and provider needs assessment based on discussion groups and secondary data sources which served as the foundations for the creation of the OSC.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the issues related to access of services for the developmental disabilities population in Puerto Rico.
• Learn the objectives, organizational design and implementation aspects of the One Stop Center in Puerto Rico.

Keywords: Access and Services, Family/Consumer Perspective

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.