The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) will be presenting a two-hour videoconference on different types and interactions between substitute decision-makers for people currently committed or in the process of being committed with mental illness, chemical dependency or developmental disability issues. The videoconference on Thursday, March 3 will be conducted at 10 AM and then again at 1:30 PM. The presenters are Kevin Hansen, J.D., Ombudsman Specialist and Roger Schwab, Regional Ombudsman Supervisor, with the Office of the Ombudsman for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, whose website is http://www.ombudmhdd.state.mn.us/. This website has a specific section entitled the Civil Commitment Training and Resource Center, so if you are not able to attend the videoconference, that website may be of assistance. Remember, you can always get copies of the handouts of the videoconference even if you are not able to attend.

The training session is designed to help those involved with the commitment process understand the interaction between different types of substitute decision-makers for persons who may be going through the commitment process or are currently under commitment. It will cover the different types of substitute decision-makers that could be involved, what type of authority a substitute decision-maker might have, and when or how that authority may be used. The training will also cover when a substitute decision-maker under Minn. Stat. Chapter 253B is needed in the commitment process.

The specific learning objectives for participants are:
1) Identify the different forms of substitute decision-makers.
2) Assess and determine a client’s capacity to consent to medication.
3) Distinguish when guardianship may be a less restrictive alternative to commitment.
4) Recognize situations where a substitute decision-maker may be of assistance.

Pre-registration is required at http://agingtraining.dhs.state.mn.us. Registration closes at 5:00 p.m. on the Monday prior to the session. Some locations are already showing they are "FULL" on the drop-down menu. If your preferred site is full, you will have to choose another location to attend the videoconference, or choose the handouts-only option.

Phil Manz
952.851.2484
pmanz@careproviders.org

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