Supported Decision-Making Indiana State Plan Summary

State Plan Title

Empowering Hoosiers: Advancing Less Restrictive Alternatives to Guardianship in Indiana

State Plan Purpose

The purpose of this document is to make a plan for the state of Indiana, including action steps, to increase the use of less restrictive alternatives (LRAs), including supported decision-making (SDM) as an alternative to guardianship. This means that lots of people from across Indiana, representing different groups, came together to decide on steps we can take to give people greater access to tools to support them in making decisions so that they do not need to use guardianship. We believe all people should be respected and have the right to live self-determined and self-directed lives. This plan is funded by the Administration for Community Living.

Goals Summary

Goal 1: Empower populations impacted by guardianship, and support self-determination and self-direction with accessible, comprehensive, and factual information to make informed decisions.

What Goal 1 Means

Provide information to people who are at highest risk for guardianship. Let them know about other options to support their decision-making.

How Indiana Plans to Meet Goal 1

1. Ensure the availability and accessibility of information to all stakeholders about options for supported decision-making and other less restrictive alternatives
   • Make sure we have good resources available about supported decision-making. There should be different types of resources for different groups of people.
2. Provide enhanced outreach and education to individuals who are at risk for guardianship to assist in empowering individuals to engage in self-determination and supported decision-making.
   • Provide targeted outreach and education to those most at risk for guardianship. This outreach would go beyond materials and include things like presentations, videos, etc.
3. Ensure informational efforts are evaluated and sustained for long-term impact.
   • Review materials and efforts to make sure they work well over time.

Goal 2: Build statewide capacity for increased use of less restrictive alternatives to guardianship, improving the collective ability of systems to facilitate the practice of LRAs.

What Goal 2 Means

Help systems learn about and plan to use less restrictive alternatives to guardianship.

How Indiana Plans to Meet Goal 2

1. Promote and support successful integration of principles of LRAs in to systems serving people with disabilities, older adults, and people with mental health conditions.
   • Help LRAs become part of the systems that serve people with disabilities, older adults, and people with mental health conditions.
2. Create culture shift toward promulgating and proliferating self-determination through the use of LRAs by leveraging relationships and providing education to partners, guardianship referral sources, affected professions, and the community.
   • Make sure everyone who needs to know about supported decision-making and LRAs has information about it.
3. Provide support and resources to affected professions to ensure they are aware of and assisted in adapting to SEA 380’s regulations.
   • Help professionals like lawyers and doctors learn about the new supported decision-making law.
4. Expand opportunities for community involvement to increase the availability and use of LRAs, promoting peer-to-peer support and training, and family supports.
   • Share information and resources with the community. Peers and families can help each other learn about supported decision-making.

Goal 3: Implement innovative policies and best practices to support, prioritize and sustain the use of LRAs.

What Goal 3 Means

Think of new ways to increase the use of less restrictive alternatives and ways to keep these programs going.

How Indiana Plans to Meet Goal 3

1. Evaluate the implementation of Senate Enrolled Act 380 and guidelines to identify best practices and promising ways to move use of LRAs forward.
   • Monitor people who are using the new supported decision-making law. Learn what is working well and how to improve for the future.
2. Develop, implement, and evaluate innovative, best practices that support the advancement of LRAs.
   • Create and monitor the best ways to use LRAs.
3. Promote awareness of the benefits of LRAs, promote awareness of abuse against populations at risk for guardianship, and effective prevention strategies.
   • Help people learn about the positives of using LRAs. Help people become aware of possible abuse against people at highest risk for guardianship. Help people learn how to prevent abuse.
4. Evaluate the outcomes of LRAs and guardianship practices for people with disabilities, older adults, and people with mental health conditions.
   • Follow-up with people who are using LRAs. Ask them what is working well and what can get better.