Planning & Policy Councils

What are the Planning and Policy Councils?

The Planning and Policy Councils are made up of healthcare professionals, providers, families, and advocates who are committed to improving the quality of life for people in Tennessee living with a disability. Established in 2011, the councils allow for public collaboration on issues affecting the department and those in DDA services.

There are five Planning and Policy Councils. The Statewide Planning and Policy Council is the overarching council with four sub-councils – the West, Middle, and East Regional Planning and Policy Councils and the Developmental Disabilities Planning and Policy Council.

Objectives

Statewide Planning and Policy Council (SPPC)

The Statewide Planning and Policy Council collaborates and advises the commissioner of intellectual and developmental disabilities on issues affecting the department, providers, families, and advocates, and plays an important role in the development and improvement of DDA programs and policies.

Sub-Councils

The sub-councils collaborate on the array of prevention, early intervention, treatment, and habilitation services and support for persons supported and their families and explore their focus areas as assigned by the commissioner and SPPC.

Membership

The councils are designed to represent all stakeholders: people we support, their family members, service providers, and advocacy groups. Additionally, the councils include service recipient advocates for children, adults, and seniors, and other affected persons and organizations. The majority of council members are service recipients and/or family members of service recipients.

Interested in volunteering to serve on one of the Planning and Policy Councils? If so, please visit the webpage of the council you're interested in and complete the interest form! If you need assistance, please reach out to Cooper.McCormick@tn.gov

Annual Reports

Each year, the SPPC submits recommendations to the department. The sub-councils also provide recommendations based on their focus areas to the SPPC for consideration and inclusion in the annual recommendations. The department responds to the recommendations in the form of a final report and submits it to the Governor and General Assembly.

The 2023 Annual Report & previous reports can be found here: SPPC Annual Reports