Since the February Guardianship Summit, the Center for Excellence in Supported Decision Making / WINGS MN has been busy promoting concepts of supported decision making: we have presented on guardianship and supported decision making to more than 1300 professionals throughout Minnesota. We'll be presenting at Age & Disabilities Odyssey Conference in June; hope to see you there!
Contact us to inquire about presentations in your community: araymond@voamn.org
Supported Decision Making videos now available!
WINGS MN Partner MN DHS recently published a series of videos of Johnathan Martinis' views on supported decision making and applicability for Minnesota, which were recorded in conjunction with his 2016 webinars hosted by WINGS MN, MAGiC, and DHS.
These videos are available to anyone, and are suitable for professional, family, and individual audiences. Find them here.
Topics include: History of Guardianship; Benefits of Self-Determination; Capacity to Make Decisions; From Theory to Practice: Special Education and Financial & Medical Decision Making; and much more.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) was created by the United Nations International Plan of Action recognizing the significance of elder abuse as a growing social and financial concern, public health matter, and human rights issue. Minnesota Elder Justice Center and its Center Partners sponsor a full-day professional education conference in conjunction with WEADD. This year’s conference, Accelerating Toward Justice, features keynote presenter Jonathan Martinis co-Project Director of the National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making discussing supported decision making as a way for older adults to increase independence, direct their own lives, and improve their life outcomes. Breakout sessions include supported decision making in Minnesota and many other engaging sessions. Registration closes 6/7/17.
Jonathan Martinis, Senior Director for Law and Policy for The Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University
Supported Decision Making Videos Now Available!
WINGS MN Partner MN DHS recently published a series of videos of Johnathan Martinis' views on supported decision making and applicability for Minnesota, which were recorded in conjunction with his 2016 webinars hosted by WINGS MN, MAGiC, and DHS.
These videos are available to anyone, and are suitable for professional, family, and individual audiences. Find them here.
RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY: Qualitative Study of Older Adults and SDM Participants Needed
Mary Kileen, M.A., Research Project Coordinator at The Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University, along with Jonathan Martinis, is conducting a qualitative study of older adults who use supported decision-making: "We'd love to identify people and conduct interviews in June/July. We’re looking to interview 5 people and their supporter(s) who utilize some form of SDM. They don’t have to have SDM agreements, or any formal tools - they just need to be people who work with others so they can make their own decisions." This is an excellent opportunity to further the body of research about the applicability of supported decision making for older adults. If you know someone who could participate as an interview subject, please reach out to Mary Killeen at MBKillee@law.syr.edu
Recent federal, state and court-ordered requirements put person-centered principles at the forefront of service delivery in Minnesota. To help with the change to person-centered practices, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has issued a series of bulletins on the topic. This bulletin has information about changes to the deadline/date when the Lead Agency Review team will begin taking corrective action and require individual remediation in order to comply with the Person-Centered, Informed Choice and Transition Protocol, DHS-3825 (PDF) requirements.
This bulletin also describes revisions made to the Person-Centered, Informed Choice and Transition Protocol as the protocol has been in place for a year. DHS and our partners will continue to be review the protocol on an annual basis and revise as necessary.
please share this newsletter with your colleagues and invite them to contact us (araymond@voamn.org) to join the WINGS MN community / subscribe to this newsletter so they don't miss out on future announcements and events!
The Center for Excellence in Supported Decision Making is funded in part by an Elder Justice Grant from the Administration for Community Living to bring significant systems change to MN’s practices regarding how guardianship is used, and sometimes overused, with vulnerable adults with cognitive and intellectual challenges through individual case work and through convening WINGS MN.
With partners Estate and Elder Law Services and LSS MN, the Center's provides information, consultation, advice, referrals and assessments regarding adults with questionable-decisional capacity to find the most appropriate intervention to ensure well-being, and supports formal and informal decision-makers so they’ll be engaged, effective and person-centered:
Guardianship Information Line 952-945-4174 or 844-333-1748 (toll free) or CESDM@voamn.org
WINGS Minnesota is a collaborative which is dedicated to supporting guardians/conservators through education to better understand best practices & responsibilities; Building awareness & processes that ensure less restrictive alternatives are the default choice; Sustaining a cooperative conversation where all members work to improve outcomes and increase self-determination for individuals who may need assistance making legal or medical choices.
