News and Upcoming Events

When? Tuesday, December 10, from 4pm–5pm ET

The session’s speakers will include an educational psychologist, a CYVYC Youth Ambassador, and content experts from CYVYC.

 

Register today and spread the word about this session!  

News and Events

Interested in using Supported Decision Making as an alternative to guardianship but unsure where to start? WINGS MN and the MN Judicial Branch have created a Minnesota-specific Supported Decision Making Agreement to support Supported Decision Making. To download a copy of a Minnesota-specific Supported Decision Making Agreement form, click here (SDMA 5.16.23_WINGS)

Register for the Fall WINGS Webinar: The Right to Vote

Wednesday, October 30, 2024
12:00-1:30 p.m. CST
Click here to register for the Virtual Event

1.5 CEU BOSW credits pre-approved
Our Federal and Minnesota laws require the voting process be fully accessible to all citizens, including people with disabilities and older adults. This training offers attendees information on the legal requirements that ensure all have equal access to the voting process – to include voter registration, absentee voting, physical accessibility of polling stations, right to receive assistance, adaptive equipment, and other accommodations at the polling stations, and more. This training is designed to educate attendees and we welcome guardians, case managers, attorneys, service providers, people with disabilities, seniors and family members.

Presenters:
Sumbal Mahmud, Attorney with MN Disability Law Center
& Nasra Hassan, Advocate with MN Disability Law Center

 

Planning for Turning 18 for Students with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities: Transition Specialists Share Concrete Strategies

Hosted by the Institute for Community Inclusion UMass Boston on Tuesday, October 29, from 4pm–5pm ET 

The session’s speakers will include a transition specialist, their former student, and content experts from The Center on Youth Voice, Youth Choice.

 Register today and spread the word about this session!  

Supported Decision-Making with Students with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities: What it is and How to Get Started

Hosted by the Institute for Community Inclusion UMass Boston on Tuesday, December 10, from 4pm–5pm ET

The session’s speakers will include an educational psychologist, a Center on Youth Voice, Youth Choice (CYVYC) Youth Ambassador, and content experts from CYVYC.

Register today and spread the word about this session!  

What Every Guardian Should Know about Supported Decision Making and Other Less Restrictive Alternatives – April 18, 2023, 12-1:30 pm

Do you serve as a Guardian of an adult, or support someone who does? This session is for you! This session will address: What Supported Decision Making (SDM) is and who it benefits, including whether SDM can alleviate the need for guardianship and/or conservatorship, and will include content on the role of the guardian, reporting requirements, rights retained, person-centered guardianships, considerations for termination and modification of guardianship and the role of supported decision making, changes in the role of a family member vs. guardian of a person with a disability; navigating health/safety and life satisfaction conflicts; and more. This event has passed. To watch the recording, click here

Supported Decision Making & Guardianship: Which One is Right for Me? – November 16, 2022, 12-1:30 pm

Are you or someone you know considering guardianship for a younger adult with disabilities? This session is for you! We will discuss important pre-petitioning considerations such as: statutory requirements regarding less restrictive alternatives; Supported Decision Making (SDM) and who can benefit; how SDM can alleviate the need for guardianship and/or conservatorship; unintended consequences of guardianship; how to build on a person’s abilities, support teams, and available systems to address vulnerabilities as alternatives to guardianship. This event has passed. To watch the recording, click here

New Guardianship and Conservatorship Complaint Process Established

The Minnesota Judicial Branch recently established a new process to allow individuals to report concerns or complaints about court-appointed guardians and conservators.

The new Conservatorship and Guardianship Complaint Process (click Review Process) was established through a grant from Department of Health and Human Services – Administration for Community Living (DHH-ACL) and is part of a broader effort to ensure that persons subject to guardianship or conservatorship in Minnesota are adequately protected and well cared for (EP312; Advancement of Vulnerable Care Act Project).

How the complaint process works

Anyone with a concern that a court-appointed guardian or conservator is not acting in the best interests of the person subject to guardianship or conservatorship can file a complaint. Individuals can submit their complaint either by phone (by calling the complaint hotline at 651-215-0032) or by email at SCAOExaminer@courts.state.mn.us, by submitting the complaint form available on the Guardianship or Conservatorship Judicial Branch website (click Review Process).

Examples of a guardian or conservator not acting in the best interests of the Person include, but are not limited to: ​

  • the person subject to guardianship is not receiving adequate and appropriate food, proper health care or medications;
  • the guardian or conservator is abusing the person subject to guardianship/conservatorship or failing to prevent or report abuse by another person;
  • family or friends are not permitted to visit or communicate with the person subject to conservatorship/guardianship; or
  • the guardian or conservator is not following the orders of the court, or is failing to safeguard the money or financial investments of person subject to conservatorship.

For more information

For more information about this new complaint process, contact the Judicial Branch’s Audit Manager, Jamie Majerus, at jamie.majerus@courts.state.mn.us or the new Examiner who will investigate guardianship/conservatorship complaints, Mark Mestad, at SCAOExaminer@courts.state.mn.us.