OKLAHOMA CITY (July 3, 2025) – Oklahoma Human Services recently debuted a new website — Guardianship and Alternative Options, to equip Oklahoma families, people with disabilities, and professionals in the caregiving field with essential information about caregiving options that promote independence and self-determination. This site was constructed with support from a Bridging Aging and DD Networks grant awarded through the National Association for Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD). The Oklahoma State Alliance Team, which is comprised of many organizations and individuals from across the state, also officered support for this project.

“People are living longer and healthier lives because of better healthcare and technology,” said Executive Director of the Developmental Disabilities Council of Oklahoma, Jenifer Randle. “We need to think carefully about how to best support our loved ones when they may need assistance with decision making.” 

Randle said that while many families think that guardianship is the only path to support their loved one, it can be a costly and complex option for families. The wishes and needs of a person with disabilities or someone who is aging can be supported through a variety of plans that are both simple and less restrictive.  

While Guardianship and Alternative Options is not legal advice, it does provide caregivers with clear definitions of the kinds of supports they can secure for their loved ones, demystifying complex legal concepts and highlighting pathways that maintain a person’s autonomy whenever possible.

The site provides information on supported decision making, representative payees, advanced directives, power of attorney, limited guardianship and general guardianship, while urging caregivers to consider a person’s strengths and limitations before choosing which type of care may be best for their loved one.  

"It is integral that this community – people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their caregivers, and loved ones – is aware that they can curate a legal plan tailored to the strengths and limitations of the aging individual without stripping them of all legal rights with a general guardianship,” said Director of Legal Empowerment for the Oklahoma Access to Justice Foundation, Tiffani Armendariz. “It is also imperative that they are informed of their legal rights and options in plain language and have timely, verified, and vetted resources readily available.”

Guardianship and Alternative Options serves as a landing page for any Oklahoman seeking to learn how they can best support and care for their loved one. The site offers additional resources from organizations dedicated to empowering caregivers including The Arc of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Insurance Department, and the National Resource Center for Supported Decision Making. 

"This partnership is a critical lifeline,” said Oklahoma Human Services Programs Administrator, Talena Ford. “Together, we are enhancing access to services across the lifespan for people and their dedicated caregivers."

Families and professionals in the field of caregiving are encouraged to visit https://okcares.org/guardianship/ to explore the new resources and learn more about alternatives to guardianship.

###