METO Updates

Preventing Abuse: MDLC’s work at Minnesota Extended Treatment Options (METO).

As part of its ongoing abuse and neglect prevention efforts, Minnesota Disability Law Center (MDLC) staff conducted a monitoring visit to the METO program in Cambridge, Minnesota last fall.

The METO program is operated by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) and designed to serve people with developmental and other disabilities whose challenging behaviors present a risk to public safety. METO’s mechanical restraint use was a particular focus of recent investigations by MDLC and by state and federal agencies.

As a result of these investigations, statements of deficiency were issued. MDLC is using a two-pronged approach to protect METO residents. We are representing METO residents and their families and guardians on restraint-related issues as well as discharge planning. We currently represent over a dozen individuals at the facility. To address the systemic concerns, MDLC staff have also met with top DHS management to advocate for the use of positive behavioral intervention strategies and programming, the elimination of unnecessary restraints, and better coordination of crisis and behavioral services across the state’s social service system. These meetings influenced the DHS to implement interim policy changes at METO and to contract with expert consultants to review METO’s policies and practices and recommend alternative treatment strategies.

Minnesota’s Office of the Ombudsman for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities recently released a report detailing its findings of excessive use of restraints and listing improvement recommendations for METO’s and the state’s behavioral programs and policies and practices. The Ombudsman’s report and a recent Star Tribune front-page story, for which MDLC staff provided background information, may be accessed through the links below.

• Just Plain Wrong (full report) - Office of the Ombudsman for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities

• State Facility Improperly Handcuffed Retarded Residents - (Star Tribune, September 2008)