How is an advocate different from my Service Coordinator?

Service Coordinators and advocates overlap in some ways. Service Coordinators have to be “person- centered.” This means that they need to listen to what you want in getting your services. An advocate also listens to what you want, but they do not work for the agency that gives you services. The advocate works for you.

SERVICE COORDINATOR

• What do they do?: Coordinates your services and can help you solve problems with your staff and home provider.
• What do they do to get me staff?: Recruits, hires, schedules, and supervises your staff.
• What do they do with my home provider?: Your service coordinator hires home providers, signs contracts with them, and visits sometimes.
• What do they do about the type of services I get?: Reviews your needs assessment, writes your Individual Support Agreement, and asks DAIL for more money for services if needed.
• What is their role if I am being abused?: A service coordinator must report if they think you are being abused, neglected, or exploited. They have to do what they think is best to keep you safe.

BDAP ADVOCATE

• What do they do?: BDAP advocates for you, even if what you want is different from what your staff or guardian wants.
• What do they do to get me staff?: Helps you solve problems and ask for changes if you have a problem with your staff.
• What do they do with my home provider?: Helps solve your problems with your home providers.
• What do they do about the type of services I get?:Helps you ask for support based on what you need. The Advocate can help talk to your service coordinator if you feel they are not listening to you.
• What is their role if I am being abused?: The Advocate will only report abuse if you ask her to help you. If you are in an unsafe situation, she will help you make a plan to be safe.

Return to the main BDAP page.

Our PDF file does not fully comply with all applicable guidelines for accessible digital documents. For the most accessible experience, read the text above.​​​​​