Agency with Choice
Choice-Driven, Family-guided Supports
You Are Already Doing the Work
As a participant or family caregiver in self-directed services, you are already managing everything — choosing staff, coordinating schedules, and making sure your loved one is supported every day. You are the one keeping things running, because you know your loved one best.
At Elevate Spectrum, we embrace self-directed services and the role families play in making it work. Instead of building a model around constantly hiring and replacing staff, we built one that supports the people you already trust. Agency with Choice was created to help you keep your team in place and continue directing services in a way that works for your family.
How Agency With Choice Works
A Simple Structure That Supports You
You Choose Your Staff
You continue to choose who supports your loved one — family, non-family, or both. You can keep your current team in place or adjust as needed. The decision remains entirely yours.
We Become the Employer of Record
Elevate Spectrum comes alongside as a DDA Provider Vendor and Employer of Record. We handle hiring, onboarding, payroll, and compliance so you don’t have to manage employment alone.
You Direct the Services
You continue setting schedules, guiding daily activities, and making decisions about how support is provided. Nothing changes about your role in self-direction. You remain in control of your budget and who you choose to be on your team.
Staff Earn Higher Wages with Protections
Because of this structure, staff can earn $30+ per hour and receive employment protections like workers compensation, unemployment insurance.
Supporting the People You Trust
The staff supporting your loved one matter, and so does how they are supported.
That’s why we are intentional about how funding is used. Approximately 80% goes directly to staff wages and payroll taxes, while 20% supports administration and compliance. By recognizing the role families already play, we operate efficiently and keep overhead low, so more of the funding goes to the people you trust.
Your services remain part of your self-directed plan including Personal Supports, Personal Supports Enhanced, Community Development, and Ongoing Job Supports. Nothing changes about how your services are approved or used.
Why This Approach Is Different
We Are Not a Traditional Provider
We support people to create and direct their own lives by coming alongside families and participants to make their vision possible.
You remain in control, choosing your staff, setting schedules, and directing services. Our role is not to take over, but to support the structure behind what you are already doing.
We are not built around group homes, sheltered workshops or highly restrictive settings, and we don’t place people into fixed programs. Instead, you shape your supports the way you choose, around your life, your routines, your preferences, and the people you trust.
This approach stays flexible and responsive, helping you maintain consistency without giving up control.
FAQs
Is this still self-direction?
Yes. You remain fully in self-direction. You keep employer authority, budget authority,
and control over all decisions.
Do I lose control of my services?
No. You continue choosing staff, setting schedules, and directing services. Nothing
changes about your role.
Who can be paid staff?
You can use family staff (where allowed), non-family staff, or a combination of both,
based on what works best for you.
Why are wages higher with this model?
Because Elevate Spectrum operates as a DDA-Certified Provider Vendor, we receive full
reimbursement rates, which allows staff to earn $30+ per hour.
Why not just switch to a traditional provider?
Traditional providers often require you to give up control and adjust to their structure.
Agency with Choice allows you to stay in control while maintaining your staff and
stability.
What the Process Looks Like
1.
Start the Conversation
We learn about your situation and answer questions
2.
Align Services
We align as your DDA provider vendor within self-direction
3.
Set Up Employment
We onboard your selected staff
4.
Continue Services
You continue directing services with added support