The Department of Human Services Guardianship Program provides guardianship and/or conservatorship services as a last resort to qualified individuals age 18 or older with an intellectual or developmental disability as defined in SDCL 27B-1-18 or qualified individuals in the Long Terms Services and Supports program. The South Dakota Department of Human Services may be appointed as a guardian, a conservator, or both, for adults with developmental disabilities under its care or to whom it is providing services or financial assistance, but only if there is no individual, nonprofit corporation, bank or trust company, or other public agency that is qualified to serve, as defined in SDCL 29A-5-110, or qualified individuals in the Long Terms Services and Supports program. The department also provides financial assistance for qualified individuals who are willing and qualified to serve as a guardian and/or conservator of up to $1,500.00 for the establishment of a guardianship or conservatorship through the Guardianship Establishment Program. Limited amount of funds for this program are available each year on a first come first served basis for qualified individuals.

CHOICES Residential Services program serves adolescents and adults who have intellectual and developmental disabilities and behavioral/emotional or psychiatric disorders. Components of the program include residential services, independent living training, educational services, and therapeutic and psychiatric services (individual and group therapy).