AASD and DSD eList announcement

Date: July 28, 2026
To: Counties, Tribal Nations, managed care organization (MCOs) and other interested parties
From: DHS Aging and Adult Services and Disability Services divisions
Purpose: To announce new on-demand conversational interviewing modules and a practice discussion guide
Contact: For questions about MnCHOICES certified assessor training (MnCAT), use the MnCHOICES Help Desk Contact Form, DHS-6979.

New conversational interviewing modules and practice discussion guide

DHS created the following materials to help MnCHOICES certified assessors strengthen their conversational interviewing skills:

· An on-demand version of the three-module training on conversational interviewing, (i.e., MnCHOICES Conversation Interviewing [MNCH9100]).

· A conversational interviewing practice discussion guide to support group exercise facilitation and conversational interviewing discussions.

We announced that these materials would be available later in 2026 in a Dec. 16, 2025, eList announcement.

Target audience

DHS created the on-demand training modules and practice discussion guide for the following people:

· Assessors who need continuing learning units (CLUs) for assessor recertification.

· Lead agency staff, including case managers, who want to improve their conversational interviewing skills or need continuing education units (CEUs).

Note: People working on their initial assessor certification complete the three-module training on conversational interviewing as part of the MnCHOICES certified assessor training (MnCAT).

Conversational interviewing practice discussion guide overview

Lead agencies can use the conversational interviewing practice discussion guide for group interactive trainings. This guide:

· Helps group leaders facilitate discussions that align with the conversational interviewing course (MNCH9100).

· Supports the facilitation of group exercises and discussion. The facilitator can be a supervisor, mentor, trainer or assessor who uses MnCHOICES.

· Offers prompts, practice questions and suggested exercises to reinforce skills taught in the course.

Conversational Interviewing: Practice Discussion Guide, DHS-6791L (PDF) is located in the course content section of MnCHOICES Conversation Interviewing (MNCH9100).

To determine the number of CLUs for group exercises and discussions, refer to MnCAT Step 4 – Recertification: Instructions.

Conversational interviewing during the MnCHOICES assessment process

During the MnCHOICES assessment process, staff use conversational interviewing to:

· Gather information.

· Support meaningful engagement.

· Build trust.

· Promote person-centered interactions.

· Help ensure equitable outcomes for people receiving services.

Conversational interviewing training modules overview

DHS expanded and adapted the concepts and strategies in these online modules from an in-person training offered during the MnCHOICES assessment legacy application (MnA 1.0) launch in 2013. The training consists of three modules.

Module 1: Introduction to conversational interviewing

Module one covers:

· The fundamentals of conversational interviewing and why it matters.

· How to effectively prepare for an assessment.

· Assessors’ important role in shaping the experience and setting the foundation for meaningful, person-centered interactions.

Module 2: Managing the interview

Module two covers:

· Practical techniques for managing assessment visits.

· Strategies for guiding conversations and centering the interview on the person’s needs and preferences.

Module 3: Advanced strategies and scenarios

Module three covers:

· Reflective practices (e.g., reflective listening and inquiry).

· Strategies for adapting the interview to complex situations (e.g., communication differences, inconsistent information, remote interviews).

Demonstration videos

The demonstration videos in this training feature actors with disabilities, an older adult and current MnCHOICES certified assessors. DHS partnered with Interact Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, a program that supports actors with disabilities, many of whom have firsthand experience receiving MnCHOICES assessments. We also partnered with Dellwood Gardens Assisted Living in St. Paul for one of the demonstration videos to authentically represent the aging population.

Other training availability

We announced the following training materials in a Dec. 16, 2025, eList announcement:

· Conversational interviewing modules in the required MnCAT curriculum for initial assessor certification as part of MnCAT step 3 in TrainLink.

· Related updates on PartnerLink – MnCHOICES application: MnCAT instructions for lead agencies and MnCHOICES new mentor training (MNCH9000) course: Mentors who facilitate assessor certification module.

Previous eList announcements

AASD LEAD AGENCY ARCHIVE | DSD LEAD AGENCY ARCHIVE | DSD STAKEHOLDER ARCHIVE