Welcome to Minnesota Positive Supports Website

This website is for:

  • Mental health providers

  • Disability services providers

  • Social Workers

  • Educators

  • Anyone in the helping profession

  • You are a person receiving services

  • A parent or a loved one of a person receiving services

All people want to be respected, have choices, and feel safe.

Positive supports are approaches that are used to help people using a variety of proven support strategies that do not include punishment or seclusion.

But positive supports are much more than that. Positive supports are about respecting the dignity and rights of every person while offering individualized and effective services.

Whether someone is receiving mental health, housing, educational, disability, or any other services meant to improve a person’s life, positive supports:

  • Build on a person’s unique strengths, assets, interests, expectations, cultures, and goals,
  • Respect the rights and individuality of each person, and
  • Offer solutions that are effective.

Positive Supports Central Ideas

Positive Supports are about people, not programs. Positive supports are not chosen for convenience, instead, they are designed to meet the needs of each person.

Positive Supports are person-centered. Positive supports place a person at the center of decision-making. Person-centered supports are sensitive to the unique cultures and backgrounds of each person and include respecting personal choices.

Positive Supports are effective. Positive support practices are built on proven practices and on-going research.

Positive Support Examples

Learn more at the Minnesota DHS Positive Supports Website.