Positive Support Community of Practice

The Positive Support Community of Practice is a community of practice dedicated to the transition from punitive and aversive practices to positive supports. Its mission is to offer training and technical assistance to teams operating under the standards of Minn. Stat. chapter 245D. Facilitated by DHS, meetings include:

• Opportunities to receive technical assistance
• Training opportunities from experts
• Updates on Minnesota's efforts to reduce punitive practices

Contributors to the community of practice include experts, people receiving services, providers, case managers, advocates and family members of people with disabilities.

Positive support is any strategy that teaches a person productive, alternative strategies or behaviors to deal with times of stress without the use of aversive or punishing procedures. For more information, see the positive supports Web page.

DHS has a list of providers and resources that can help your organization make the switch to positive supports. The College of Direct Supports training topics list includes providers that offer training to you and your staff, help with creating Positive Support Transition Plans and online training opportunities.

DHS created the Positive Support Community of Practice to offer training and help to providers licensed under Minn. Stat. chapter 245D transition to the new regulation and away from the use of punitive practices. Minn. Stat. chapter 245D went into effect on Jan 1, 2014, and was created to meet a number of state and federal mandates. More information is available on the history of Waiver Provider Standards initiative and the Rule 40 Modernization process.

In July 2009, a federal class-action lawsuit was filed on behalf of individuals who had been subjected to seclusion or restraint at the Minnesota Extended Treatment Options (METO) program. The METO program was located in Cambridge, Minn. The lawsuit heard by U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank, was based in part on a report by the Office of Ombudsman's for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities.

Rather than a trial, on Dec. 5, 2011, the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota adopted a Settlement Agreement (PDF). More information about the settlement is available on the DHS Jensen Settlement Web page.