Cultivating Capacity

This fieldbook, Cultivating Capacity: A Fieldbook for Strengthening Person-Centered Practices, is a practical guide designed to help organizations and individuals improve their ability to offer person-centered support for people relying on long-term care. ​ Rooted in Theory U principles from The Presencing Institute, it emphasizes transformative leadership, deep listening, and social innovation to create meaningful change. Sponsored by the New York State Department of Health, the book explores strategies for fostering inclusion, self-directed supports, and community engagement.

Readers will find tools like Dialogue Walks, Coaching Circles, and Stakeholder Interviews to deepen understanding, build trust, and spark innovation. It introduces concepts like “healthy social fields” and “change teams,” encouraging collaboration across boundaries to co-create new possibilities. ​ The book also outlines four evolving models of long-term support—Institutional Care, Managed Care, Integrative Supports, and Community Supports—helping readers map their systems and identify areas for growth. ​

Whether you’re a direct support worker, manager, or advocate, this guide offers actionable practices to strengthen person-centered planning, align resources, and empower individuals to lead lives they value. ​ Dive in to discover how to listen deeply, challenge assumptions, and cultivate the capacity for meaningful change in your organization and community. ​