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AASD and DSD eList announcement

Date: Dec. 10, 2024
To: Lead agencies, assessors, case managers, people who receive personal care assistance (PCA) or the Consumer Support Grant (CSG) services, families and other interested parties
From: DHS Aging and Adult Services and Disability Services divisions
Purpose: To share Community First Services and Supports (CFSS) key messages and resources for assessors and case managers to use when they talk to people and families about CFSS
Contact: DSD Contact Form

CFSS resources for assessors and case managers to share with people who receive services and families

DHS created key messages and resources for assessors and case managers to use when they talk to people and families about CFSS, which began replacing PCA and CSG in Minnesota as of Oct. 1, 2024. We want to make sure assessors, case managers and people who receive services and their families understand this change.

CFSS key messages

DHS recommends assessors and case managers share the following information when they talk to people and families about CFSS:

· CFSS gives people more choice and control over how they receive services.

· People need to choose between a budget model and an agency model for CFSS service delivery. Each model offers different levels of responsibility for people who receive services. Both models allow people who receive services the most control possible to select and receive services.

· CFSS eligibility is the same as PCA eligibility.

· People who receive services can continue to use a provider agency if they select the agency model.

· People who receive services can continue to use their current workers for services.

Information for people who use PCA

With CFSS, people can:

· Have a spouse or parent of a minor serve as a worker.

· Have another person using CFSS serve as a worker.

· Buy goods and services to aid in independence.

· Buy a personal emergency response system (PERS) to provide backup support.

· Use a consultation services provider to help plan services.

For people who currently use PCA, many things stay the same with CFSS, including:

· Support with activities of daily living (e.g., eating, bathing, grooming, transferring).

· Support with health-related tasks.

· Support with instrumental activities of daily living (e.g., shopping, cooking, laundry, assistance with self-administered medications).

· Observation and redirection of behavior.

Information for people who use CSG

With CFSS, people use a consultation services provider to help plan services.

For people who currently use CSG, many things stay the same with CFSS. This includes options to:

· Buy goods and services to aid in independence (some changes may apply).

· Have a spouse or parent of a minor serve as a worker.

· Buy a personal emergency response system (PERS) to provide backup support.

· Have another person using CFSS serve as a worker.

· Have a budget and serve as the employer to workers.

Note: For people who use CSG in place of home care nursing, the lead agency offers a MnCHOICES assessment at their annual reassessment.

CFSS resources

DHS created websites to share CFSS information. For detailed information about services and supports, service models, eligibility and more, refer to DHS – CFSS. For answers to common CFSS questions, refer to DHS – CFSS frequently asked questions.

DHS created short, informational training videos about CFSS. The following videos and more are available under the training tab of DHS – CFSS:

· What is CFSS?

· CFSS: Consultation services.

· CFSS: Agency and budget models.

· CFSS: New potential workers.

· CFSS: Goods, services and PERS.

· CFSS: Transition timelines.

Disability Hub MN shared information about CFSS on Disability Hub MN – CFSS.