Welcome to our Self-Directed Services monthly newsletter, where we share updates, reminders, and helpful information to support you in self-directing your services.

Monthly Webinar Series

We will not be hosting a webinar in October 2024. 

Need to catch up on previous webinars? Find links to our previous webinars on our Forms and Resources page under "Webinars and Presentations."

Self-Direction Team Spotlight 

This month, we're proud to spotlight Peggy Swift, our Stakeholder Relations Manager. 

Peggy joined The Arc in October 2013 as a Job Coach in Workforce Development, one of our Arc-facilitated services. From there she became an Office Administrator, then a Stakeholder Relations Specialist within Self-Directed Services, and recently she was promoted to Stakeholder Relations Manager in May 2024. 

In her managerial role, Peggy is dedicated to ensuring her team delivers exceptional customer service, responding to inquiries with both efficiency and precision. 



"I value our mission in helping people effectively self-direct their services," Peggy shared. "I'm excited to pursue excellence every day."

Forms & Resources

Evvie App Update

If an employee logs a shift in real-time using the Evvie App on a mobile device or tablet, the shift will automatically appear in the Evvie Portal with an "Approved" status. At this point, only the Participant needs to Approval Lock the shift; the employee does not need to log into the Evvie Portal. 



If an employee needs to adjust a shift that has been automatically approved, they can do so by selecting "Adjust Shift" in the Evvie Portal. Participants can also adjust shifts as needed, but the employee will need to manually approve the revised shift in the Evvie Portal. It's essential for Participants to review their employees' shifts for accuracy before granting approval. 

For shifts that are manually entered into the Evvie Portal after they have been worked, both the Participant and the employee must approve the shift. It doesn't matter who completes which step; the first person to approve will select "Approve" while the second will choose "Lock as Approved." 

Please note that if a shift on the Evvie Portal main page shows a status of "Submitted" or "Approved," it is NOT fully locked as approved. The shift must have the status "Approval Locked" to be sent to The Arc's payroll department. 

Individual and Family Directed Goods and Services 

Individual and Family Directed Goods and Services (IFDGS) encompass a range of services, equipment, activities, and supplies designed to support people who choose to self-direct their services. For more information, please refer to the IFDGS Guidance on the DDA’s website. 

To request an IFDGS item, you must complete the Request Form, which can be filled out by any team member. The request will be reviewed by the DDA for approval, and reimbursement is only possible for items that have received DDA approval. 

Please note that Recruitment and Advertisement Goods and Services, as well as Day-to-Day Administrator services, do not require the request form. Recruitment and advertising costs are included in the service authorization of the Person-Centered Plan (PCP). The need for a Day-to-Day Administrator must be outlined in the PCP and linked to a specific outcome. 



IFDGS items can be included in both annual and revised budgets, and funds will appear in the budget on the Participant Dashboard. However, these funds cannot be accessed until the DDA has approved the request. 

Person-Centered Plans (PCPs)

Person-Centered Plans (PCPs) provide comprehensive information about each person’s needs, preferences, and related services for the upcoming 12 months. PCPs are used to create an individualized budget sheet for those who choose to self-direct their services. It’s vital to update the PCP and budget sheet at least annually to ensure seamless service delivery and incorporate any necessary changes. 

If the PCP or budget sheet is not completed within 12 months, the plan will go into auto-extend status. However, an auto-extended plan is not equivalent to an approved plan. Auto-extended plans come with limitations, such as the inability to modify the budget, expiration of approved IFDGS items, and the potential loss of certain services, including Support Broker services. 



To avoid your plan entering auto-extend status, please ensure your team is actively working to complete your PCP and budget sheet on time.

The Arc is here to assist with all your Self-Directed Services needs.

If you have questions or need assistance, our Stakeholder Relations team is available by phone 8:00am - 4:30pm Monday-Friday at 866.252.6871.

You may also place a ticket by clicking Open a Customer Service Ticket

Need to view the latest important announcements? Click Here!

Questions about using Evvie or using FMSE? Click Here!

Phone: 866.252.6871

Fax: 866.272.2236