Ep 143: Improving Community‑Based Support Through Person‑Centered Quality Practices

Marion Olivier works with Qlarant to improve the quality of community‑based services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by partnering with states to conduct quality reviews, interviews, data collection, reporting, training, and ongoing technical assistance. She explains that their work focuses on person‑centered practices, continuous quality improvement, and helping providers better connect individuals to their communities by supporting meaningful social roles and relationships. Olivier highlights common challenges providers face, such as moving from a caretaker role to a coaching role and knowing how to foster community inclusion, and emphasizes the importance of training in these areas. She concludes by sharing three key principles for quality services: measuring what truly matters to the people being supported, embedding continuous reflection and improvement into daily practice, and going beyond basic regulatory compliance to pursue best practices and ongoing growth.