Charting the Cs logo with black and blue text
Charting the Cs 
Conference 2025: 

To Literacy and 
Beyond 

Cooperation 
Communication 
Collaboration

Supported Decision Making & 
Guardianship

April 27, 2025 

Carleen Peterson, LSW


What is Supported Decision Making?

Assistance from one or more persons of an individual's choosing in 
understanding the nature and consequences of potential personal 
and financial decisions which enables the individual to make the 
decisions and, when consistent with the individual's wishes, in 
communicating a decision once made. 

MN Statute 524.5-102, Subd. 16a


Supported Decision Making 

•No one is completely independent 
•How we all make challenging decisions: 
oTurn to trusted others or experts 
oGather information needed to make decision 



•People who have agency / self-determination have better outcomes



Principles of Supported Decision Making 

•People who get to make decisions about their lives are happier, healthier, more 
likely to live in community settings, and have jobs 
•Everyone needs help sometimes 
•No one is completely independent. 
•How we ALL make decisions: 
oGather more information 
oTalk to trusted others 






Guardianship Might Be Needed 

•Person can’t or won’t cooperate with others to get their needs met or 
help them make decisions (and we can’t overcome this resistance) 
•Person can’t appoint someone to help with decision making (Health 
Care Agent) 
•Person can’t sign a Release of Information to allow others to gather 
information and talk to providers 
•Rep Payee and Authorized Rep insufficient to meet needs 



Is Guardianship All Bad? Should We Abolish It?

•No! Guardianship is a valuable, effective, and necessary tool. When it’s needed. 
•Guardianship is the best tool when: 
oneed for protection and substitute decision making outweighs possible harms 
and unintended consequences 
opowers of guardianship will effectively address the problem 
oact of removing rights for the person’s own good won’t worsen the situation 
osituation is so dire and there is no other way to address the person’s unmet 
needs or maltreatment or safety concerns 
oall less restrictive options have been eliminated






Center for Excellence in 
Supported Decision Making 

CESDM - Center for Excellence in Supported Decision Making logo
•Assessments 
•In - depth, personalized consultations for individuals, families, communities, 
professionals 
•Technical Assistance, trainings, education sessions 


Guardianship Information Line 

•952 - 945 - 4174 1 - 844 - 333 - 1748 (toll free) 
•cesdm@voamn.org



Attribution & Gratitude 

This training was funded in part by the 
Minnesota Department of Human Services, 
Aging and Disability Services Division


Charting the Cs logo with black and blue text
Thank you!

Carleen Peterson, LSW 

Social Worker, Center for Excellence in Supported Decision Makingcarleen.Peterson@voamn.org


Guardianship Information Line844 - 333 - 1748 (toll free) 

952-945-4174,cesdm@voamn.org