Distinguished Affiliates

Recognizing organizations that are advancing CtLC through leadership, innovation, and lasting systems change.

A Network of Leaders

The Charting the LifeCourse Distinguished Affiliate designation, established by the LifeCourse Nexus, recognizes organizations that have demonstrated a high level of integration of the Charting the LifeCourse (CtLC) framework across key areas of practice, leadership, and systems change. This recognition reflects a sustained commitment to person-centered principles and the intentional alignment of organizational efforts to support individuals and families in exploring, planning, problem solving, and achieving meaningful lives.

LifeCourse Affiliate Recognition Categories

Organizations are recognized as CtLC Distinguished Affiliates within one of the following four categories:

  • State Agency
  • Support Coordination Agency
  • Direct Service Provider
  • Family Organization


The Distinguished Affiliate designation:

  • Recognizes leadership in advancing person-centered transformation
  • Highlights organizations demonstrating deep and sustained CtLC
    integration
  • Promotes shared learning and replication of effective practices
  • Supports alignment across programs, organizations, and systems

Key Areas of Integration

Distinguished Affiliates demonstrate integration of CtLC across multiple domains:

Individuals

Building personal confidence and skills for exploring, planning, and problem-solving to enhance informed decision-making, self-determination, and self-advocacy.

Families and Caregivers

Supporting families to explore, plan, problem-solve, and take action with their family member and for their whole family (including support for the family caregiver role).

Professional Development

Strengthening staff capacity through training, coaching, and ongoing learning to apply CtLC principles and tools in daily practice.

Organizational Alignment

Aligning organizational culture, leadership, strategy, communication, human resources, and engagement with person-centered principles.

Program Implementation

Integrating CtLC practices into procedures, training, and quality assurance.

Systems and Policy Change

Enhancing person-centered policy and systems-level change.

Community Engagement

Creating collective impact through local, state, and national partnerships.

National Recognition

Distinguished Affiliates will be formally recognized on the LifeCourse Nexus website and annually at the National Charting the LifeCourse Showcase. The 2026 Showcase will mark the first public introduction of this designation and framework. During the opening session, select organizations will share their journeys and perspectives, helping to shape understanding and spark learning across the field.